Deck 23: Personality: Theory, Research, and Assessment Part 1

Question 1

When psychologists use personality to explain why not everyone acts the same in similar situations which quality of the concept are they are using?

A) consistency
B) distinctiveness
C) situational shifts
D) interpersonal similarities

Answer 1

distinctiveness

Question 2

According to the five-factor model of personality, people who score high in ____ tend to be sympathetic, trusting, cooperative, and modest.

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) agreeableness

Answer 2

agreeableness

Question 3

Nikolas is a non-conformist who is daring and likes to try new things. He is extremely imaginative and has a wide range of interests. Based on the five factor model of personality, Nikolas would probably score

A) high in openness.
B) low in neuroticism.
C) high in extraversion.
D) high in agreeableness.

Answer 3

high in openness.

Question 4

____ is a statistical procedure used by researchers to identify closely related clusters of variables.

A) Chi-square
B) Factor analysis
C) Deviation analysis
D) Analysis of variance

Question 5

According to the five-factor model of personality, people who score high in ____ are characterized as outgoing, sociable, upbeat, friendly, and assertive.

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) openness to experience

Question 6

Michael is well known throughout his middle school for being a bright student who frequently disrupts class by answering a teacher's question with a somewhat appropriate wise crack. He behaves much the same when at baseball practice and boy scout meetings. His tendency to be a "class clown" in many situations relates to the ____ aspect of personality.

A) appropriateness
B) consistency
C) distinctiveness
D) variableness

Question 7

The two aspects of an individual's behavior that are central to the concept of personality are

A) appropriateness and typicalness.
B) appropriateness and distinctiveness.
C) consistency and typicalness.
D) consistency and distinctiveness.

Question 8

Which of the following traits is MOST associated with childhood temperament?

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) agreeableness

Question 9

When we say that Gordon is quiet and unassuming, we are describing his

A) unconscious motives
B) personality traits
C) philosophy of life
D) perception of himself

Question 10

An individual's unique constellation of consistent behavioral traits is known as

A) collectivism.
B) individualism.
C) personality.
D) an archetype.

Question 11

According to the five-factor model of personality, people who score high in ____ are characterized as curious, flexible, imaginative and generally hold unconventional attitudes.

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) openness to experience

Question 12

Joan is an unfailingly polite person who always considers the feelings of others. This tendency to act in a similar manner across situations is indicative of which of the following qualities of personality?

A) consistency
B) distinctiveness
C) reflexivity
D) social desirability

Question 13

According to the five-factor model of personality, people who score high in ____ are characterized as anxious, hostile, self-conscious, insecure and vulnerable.

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) openness to experience

Question 14

Raymond Cattell used factor analysis to reduce a huge list of personality traits compiled by Gordon Allport to ____ basic dimensions of personality.

A) five
B) ten
C) sixteen
D) twenty-seven

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT consistent with the text's definition of personality?

A) a focus on an individual's "consistent tendencies"
B) a focus on an individual's "uniqueness or distinctiveness"
C) a focus on an individual's "main motivations"
D) a focus on an individual's "behavioral traits"

Question 16

Marcos is very quiet and avoids large groups. Some people consider him unfriendly, and he seldom takes a stand or acts assertively. Based on the five-factor model of personality, Macros would probably score

A) low in extraversion.
B) low in agreeableness.
C) high in neuroticism.
D) low in openness.

Question 17

According to the five-factor model of personality, people who score high in ____ tend to be diligent, disciplined, well organized, and punctual.

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) agreeableness

Question 18

While many of the personality traits a person has may be relatively common, the overall combination of traits exhibited by that person is unique. This relates to the ____ aspect of personality.

A) appropriateness
B) distinctiveness
C) consistency
D) variableness

Question 19

Janelle is suspicious and uncooperative. Her friends think she is a boastful person who is seldom sympathetic. Based on the five-factor model of personality, Janelle would probably score

A) low in openness.
B) low in agreeableness.
C) high in neuroticism.
D) low in extraversion.

Question 20

In an emergency, we would all react differently from one another because we all have different personalities and experiences. This quality of personality is called

A) consistency.
B) differentiation.
C) constancy.
D) distinctiveness.

Question 21

Psychodynamic personality theories focus on

A) an individual's freedom and potential for growth.
B) genetic factors.
C) unconscious mental forces.
D) learning.

Question 22

The id can be BEST described as having which of the following statements as its motto?

A) Mom always liked you best
B) do the right thing
C) we can work it out
D) if it feels good, do it

Question 23

It has been argued which of the following should be recognized as a fundamental sixth factor in personality?

A) honesty-humility
B) curiosity-flexibility
C) pensiveness-hesitancy
D) synergy-cooperativeness

Question 24

Which of the big-five personality traits is most associated with higher college grade point averages?

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) agreeableness

Question 25

The component of personality that operates according to the reality principle is the

A) conscious.
B) superego.
C) ego.
D) id.

Question 26

According to the five-factor model of personality, people who score high in ____ tend to be happier than other people.

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) openness to experience

Question 27

The superego is Freud's term for

A) the moral component of personality.
B) the biological impulses that drive our behavior.
C) the mediating agent between the other two components of personality.
D) the unconscious aspect of personality.

Question 28

Julio is extremely dependable and productive, and his friends think he is great at organizing events. Based on the five-factor model of personality, Julio would probably score

A) high in agreeableness.
B) low in neuroticism.
C) high in conscientiousness.
D) high in openness.

Question 29

Which personality traits have been found to reduce the probability of divorce?

A) agreeableness and openness to experience
B) extraversion and agreeableness
C) agreeableness and conscientiousness
D) extraversion and openness to experience

Question 30

A person who tends to be selfish, demanding and disregards the rights of other people would appear to have a stronger ____ than ____.

A) ego; superego
B) unconscious; conscious
C) superego; id
D) id; superego

Question 31

Assume all of the following adjectives describe John. Which term does NOT describe one of John's personality traits?

A) sloppy
B) assertive
C) athletic
D) honest

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a criticism of the five-factor model of personality?

A) There are important traits that do not fit into the model.
B) It overemphasizes the role of unconscious motivation in personality.
C) It is limited by the number of specific traits that are measured in the first place.
D) More than five traits are necessary to account for the variation seen in human personality.

Question 33

The majority view among psychologists today is that most aspects of personality are derived from ____ basic traits.

A) 5
B) 16
C) approximately 50
D) over 4500

Question 34

Evidence suggest that people high in openness to experience tend to.

A) highly diligent in the workplace.
B) less quarrelsome than other people.
C) be happier than other people.
D) exhibit less prejudice than others.

Question 35

Which of the following traits is MOST likely to be associated with high levels of productivity in a job setting?

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) conscientiousness
D) agreeableness

Question 36

Jason just sat down to work on his term paper when his friends called and invited him to a party. If Jason decides he will only go to the party after he finishes outlining the term paper, his decision reflects the functioning of his

A) id.
B) superego.
C) ego.
D) preconscious.

Question 37

A durable disposition or tendency to behave in a particular way in a variety of situations defines

A) distinctiveness.
B) a descriptive adjective.
C) personality.
D) a personality trait.

Question 38

Which of the following personality traits is NOT one of the "Big Five" traits?

A) emotional
B) conscientious
C) open to experience
D) neuroticism

Question 39

The id is

A) a developmental period that leaves its mark on adult personality.
B) the moral component of personality.
C) the decision-making component of personality.
D) the primitive, instinctive component of personality.

Question 40

Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality focuses on all of the following EXCEPT

A) methods used to cope with sexual and aggressive urges.
B) the potential for personal growth.
C) the influence of childhood experiences.
D) unconscious motives and conflicts.

Question 41

Freud's contemporaries were uncomfortable with his theory for all of the following reasons, EXCEPT his argument that

A) people's behavior is governed by unconscious factors of which they are unaware.
B) individuals are masters of their own minds.
C) adult personalities are shaped by childhood experierences and other factors beyond their control.
D) he emphasized how people cope with their sexual urges.

Question 42

Michael is an executive for a major corporation. He constantly needs to find ways to meet the corporation's goals and objectives while taking into consideration factors such as laws and financial resources. In making these decisions, Michael is acting most like the portion of the personality that Freud referred to as

A) the ego.
B) the superego.
C) the id.
D) the preconscious.

Question 43

The variety of modern psychodynamic theories of personality all derive from the work of which of the following individuals?

A) Albert Bandura
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Karen Horney
D) Wilhelm Wundt

Question 44

According to Freud, which of the following is entirely unconscious?

A) the self
B) the id
C) the superego
D) the ego

Question 45

Cari often has temper tantrums and pouts when she can't have her own way. She often behaves impulsively and becomes extremely impatient if she can't have the things that she wants immediately. According to Freud's view of the personality, Cari's personality appears to be dominated by

A) her ego.
B) her id.
C) reaction formation.
D) her superego.

Question 46

Which level of awareness contains material just beneath the surface of awareness that can easily be retrieved?

A) unconscious
B) conscious
C) subconscious
D) preconscious

Question 47

According to Freud, the ____ is "like a man on horseback who has to hold in check the superior strength of the horse."

A) ego
B) id
C) superego
D) alter ego

Question 48

Sigmund Freud's method for treating disorders is called

A) systematic desensitization.
B) client-centered therapy.
C) psychoanalysis.
D) primal-scream therapy.

Question 49

Hopefully, right now the words in this exam question are in your ____ awareness.

A) conscious
B) preconscious
C) unconscious
D) subconscious

Question 50

Finding ways to meet instinctual needs and still take into account the conditions of the external, social world defines the ____, the basic operating theme of the ____.

A) reality principle; id
B) reality principle; ego
C) pleasure principle; id
D) pleasure principle; ego

Question 51

Howard sets extremely high standards for both himself and others. He tends to be rigid and inflexible and rarely allows himself to enjoy life. Freud would probably conclude that Howard is dominated by

A) his superego.
B) his id.
C) his ego.
D) penis envy.

Question 52

Which of Freud's personality components is suggested to engage in secondary-process thinking?

A) superego
B) ego
C) id
D) id and ego

Question 53

The portion of the personality that mediates between instinctual demands and the world of reality is the

A) ego.
B) superego.
C) id.
D) ego ideal.

Question 54

According to psychoanalytic theory, a person who is conservative, strict, and moralistic is strongly influenced by her

A) superego.
B) id.
C) ego.
D) preconscious.

Question 55

The thoughts, memories, and desires you have that you do not realize you have are in your ____ awareness.

A) superego
B) preconscious
C) unconscious
D) conscious

Question 56

Primary process thinking is associated with the ____, and secondary process thinking is associated with the ____.

A) ego; superego
B) superego; id
C) ego; id
D) id; ego

Question 57

Id is to pleasure principle as

A) superego is to desire.
B) superego is to repetition principle.
C) ego is to executive principle.
D) ego is to reality principle.

Question 58

Sarah is torn between the need to study for an exam and her desire to go out with her friends. She decides that she will go out later only if she completes her studying. This realistic decision reflects the functioning of Sarah's

A) id.
B) ego.
C) superego.
D) unconscious.

Question 59

Psychoanalytic theory stresses all of the following EXCEPT

A) conscious thought patterns.
B) childhood experiences.
C) internal conflicts.
D) handling of sexual impulses.

Question 60

Ego is to reality principle as

A) superego is to desire.
B) superego is to moral compass.
C) id is to executive principle.
D) id is to moral compass.

Question 61

Gordon hadn't thought about the band "Spider Wings" for several months. However, as soon as Donovon mentioned it, Gordon instantly thought about the great time he had at their last concert. According to Freud, before Donovon mentioned the "Spider Wings," Gordon's memory of the concert was contained in his

A) subconscious mind.
B) preconscious mind.
C) conscious mind.
D) unconscious mind.

Question 62

If she is using the defense mechanisms of reaction formation, a mother who actually hates her son would MOST likely be both unaware of her hatred and

A) direct her hatred toward her daughter.
B) act in an extremely loving way toward her son.
C) act in an extremely critical way toward her son.
D) believe that her son hated her.

Question 63

Conscious is to aware as unconscious is to

A) unknown.
B) noninfluencial.
C) quick retrieval.
D) sexual.

Question 64

By attributing our own unacceptable feelings to others and saying others have the feelings and not us, we are using

A) epression.
B) reaction formation.
C) displacement.
D) projection.

Question 65

The largely unconscious reactions used to protect a person from unpleasant emotions such as anxiety and guilt are

A) coping mechanisms.
B) defense mechanisms.
C) offense mechanisms.
D) id mechanisms.

Question 66

When people attempt to bolster their self-esteem by forming an imaginary or real alliance with some person or group, they are using

A) regression.
B) displacement.
C) identification.
D) rationalization.

Question 67

The superego is Freud's term for

A) the biological impulses.
B) the mediating agent between "inside" and "outside."
C) the defensive aspect of personality makeup.
D) the moral component of personality.

Question 68

Freud ascribed great importance to sexual and aggressive impulses, mainly because they

A) tend to be routinely frustrated.
B) are essential to the survival of the species.
C) dominate our dreams.
D) tend to be reinforced by others.

Question 69

A key concept in Freudian theory is

A) conflict.
B) self-actualization.
C) reinforcement.
D) personal growth.

Question 70

While cleaning up after her party last night, Angela forgot to put the leftover crab dip in the refrigerator. When she discovered the now spoiled dip in the morning, Angela said she didn't mind having to throw it out because it wasn't that good anyway. MOST likely, Angela is using

A) reaction formation.
B) repression.
C) rationalization.
D) regression.

Question 71

Jalen is currently thinking about all the things she has to do before she goes to her first class. She is mentally making lists of all these things so she will remember to do them on her way to school. According to Freud, these thoughts are contained in Jalen's

A) preconscious mind.
B) unconscious mind.
C) conscious mind.
D) subconscious mind.

Question 72

According to Freud, unresolved unconscious conflicts often produce

A) pleasure.
B) fixation.
C) archetypes.
D) anxiety.

Question 73

Sigmund Freud would have been LEAST likely to make which of the following statements?

A) Most behavior is rooted in the unconscious.
B) Most of our behavior is rationally directed.
C) A great deal of our behavior and thoughts are symbolic of hidden motives.
D) Behavior is the outcome of an interaction among several components of personality.

Question 74

When Braden was nine, he saw one of his classmates fall under the wheels of a school bus as it pulled away from the curb. Today, at the age of 34, he has no memory of the accident. The evening news carried a flashback of the accident that happened 25 years ago, and Braden still didn't remember being at the scene when the accident happened. According to Freud, it seems that Braden's memory of the accident is contained in his

A) subconscious mind.
B) unconscious mind.
C) conscious mind.
D) preconscious mind.

Question 75

If she is using the defense mechanism of projection, a mother who actually hates her son would MOST likely be both unaware of her hatred and

A) direct her hatred toward her daughter.
B) act in an extremely loving way toward her son.
C) act in an extremely critical way toward her son.
D) believe that her son hated her.

Question 76

According to the psychoanalytic view, many important life choices and decisions are based on

A) rationality and logic.
B) unconscious urges and mechanisms.
C) weighing pros and cons of one's actions before behaving.
D) the distinction between the real self and the ideal self.

Question 77

Under stress, a college student cries and throws things. The behavior of the student is an example of

A) regression.
B) reaction formation.
C) displacement.
D) immaturity.

Question 78

Freud believed that conflicts involving which two areas are especially important and often have far-reaching consequences?

A) sexual and aggressive
B) sexual and self-actualization
C) aggressive and security
D) self-actualization and security

Question 79

When people give a false but plausible excuse to justify their unacceptable behavior, they are using

A) reaction formation.
B) displacement.
C) rationalization.
D) projection.

Question 80

According to Freud, a basic defense mechanism that protects a person from anxiety by keeping distressing thoughts and feelings out of the conscious mind is

A) repression.
B) regression.
C) displacement.
D) projection.