Deck 11: Theories of Personality

Question 1

While taking the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Vince notices that it contains certain questions that are asked several times in different ways. He asks his daughter, who is a graduate student in psychology, why that is. What is his daughter likely to say?

A) Truly psychotic individuals expect to find "strange" items on tests.
B) Those items contain hidden content that is not apparent to normal people.
C) Some items are used to determine if test takers are trying to "fake" the test by not reading.
D) The MMPI contains a number of experimental items that are used in developing future versions of the test.

Answer 1

Some items are used to determine if test takers are trying to "fake" the test by not reading.

Question 2

In Sigmund Freud's theory, the _______ operates according to the pleasure principle.

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

Answer 2

id

Question 3

A person's responses to a projective test are thought to reflect ____________.

A) current events
B) daydreaming themes
C) maladaptive patterns of behavior
D) unconscious thoughts and feelings

Answer 3

unconscious thoughts and feelings

Question 4

As part of an application for a job, Dan is asked to complete some psychological tests including one in which he responds true or false to items such as "I feel sad most of the time," or "I had a good childhood." What type of psychological test is Dan taking?

A) a behavioral log
B) the TAT
C) a projective test
D) an inventory

Question 5

The age at which a baby was weaned would have most impact on the ____ stage.

A) oral
B) anal
C) phallic
D) genital

Question 6

What is Freud's term for the primitive side of personality?

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

Question 7

What did Raymond Cattell call the underlying traits that direct surface traits?

A) source traits
B) secondary traits
C) background traits
D) subordinate traits

Question 8

When one thinks of "value judgment" in relation to moral or ethical behavior, one is thinking about ____________.

A) soul
B) character
C) temperament
D) conscience

Question 9

Carl Rogers believed people question themselves and experience negative effects on their self-concept when they receive ______.

A) conditional esteem
B) unconditional esteem
C) conditional positive regard
D) unconditional positive regard

Question 10

Freud believed that the _____________ was the most important determining factor in human behavior and personality.

A) id
B) preconscious mind
C) manifest awareness
D) unconscious mind

Question 11

Probably the biggest problem with personality assessments by behaviorists is the _____.

A) observer effect
B) subject bias
C) experimenter bias
D) test bias

Question 12

_____________ theory is called the "third force" in personality theory.

A) Psychoanalytic
B) Behaviorist
C) Cognitive
D) Humanistic

Question 13

You are about to undergo delicate brain surgery that requires great skill on the part of the surgeon. As the surgical team wheels you into the operating room, you hope the surgeon has a high level of _____.

A) ego
B) extraversion
C) self-efficacy
D) superego

Question 14

Mary just received a traffic ticket but decided it is not worth being upset about. Mary just made a ________.

A) primary appraisal
B) secondary appraisal
C) stress-related decision
D) hassle-related decision

Question 15

What do Abraham Maslow's and Carl Rogers's theories have in common?

A) They are both stage theories.
B) They focus on unconscious motivation.
C) They both fit in the learning/cognitive perspective.
D) They believe that each human being is free to choose his or her own destiny.

Question 16

Jung believed that there were two levels to the unconscious mind, the personal and the ________.

A) collective
B) animus
C) anima
D) preconscious

Question 17

Your teacher organizes a debate on Freudian theory. You are assigned to be on the anti-Freud side and, therefore, must point out problems in the theory. Which of the following will be at the top of your list?

A) Children do not have sexual motives.
B) Psychodynamic concepts are difficult to test.
C) Defense mechanisms actually increase anxiety.
D) Psychoanalytic therapy is effective for treating psychotics only.

Question 18

Adoption studies focusing on the heritability of traits have _____________.

A) disputed the findings of twin studies
B) been attacked for ethical reasons
C) confirmed what twin studies have shown
D) shown that twin studies have methods that need to be reexamined

Question 19

According to Hofstede's dimensions of cultural personality, cultures that are __________ are assertive and competitive.

A) collectivistic
B) masculine
C) high in power distance
D) high in uncertainty avoidance

Question 20

Which of the following is correct concerning cross-cultural studies on trait theories?

A) No evidence has been found to support these theories.
B) Research in this area is too new to report any findings.
C) Evidence for the five trait dimensions has been found in several cultures.
D) Most cultural research methods are too vague to be validated.

Question 21

Charise and Noreen were having a conversation about men. "You know," Noreen said, "I think my husband tries to annoy me! Even though he tries to do what I ask, I think that subconsciously he really enjoys ticking me off to see the reactions he'll get. Freud must have been right!" Charise, who has just studied personality psychology in school, corrects Noreen by saying which of the following?

A) "You're probably right, Noreen. Freud was really into subconscious motives."
B) "Freud's theory has absolutely no validity in the modern times, Noreen. Stop analyzing your husband!"
C) "Freud really didn't address the psychological functioning of men, Noreen, only women."
D) "Well, Noreen, there really is no 'subconscious' in Freud's theory!"

Question 22

One limitation of the trait perspective compared to many of the other perspectives is there is not much ________.

A) description
B) research
C) material
D) explanation

Question 23

Which of the following statements describes the relationship between temperament and personality?

A) Temperament and personality are the exact same thing.
B) Personality, which we are born with, is the basis upon which one's temperament is built.
C) Temperament, which we are born with, is the basis upon which one's personality is built.
D) Temperament refers to negative personal characteristics, while personality refers to positive personal characteristics.

Question 24

When one thinks of "value judgment" in relation to moral or ethical behavior, one is thinking about ____________.

A) soul
B) character
C) temperament
D) conscience

Question 25

Sigmund Freud's theory came at a time in history when the predominant attitude toward sex was _____________.

A) liberal
B) open
C) repressed
D) obsessed

Question 26

The _____________ theory of personality has its basis in the theories of learning, and focuses on the effects of environment on one's personal characteristics and actions.

A) psychodynamic
B) humanistic
C) trait
D) behaviorist

Question 27

For Freud, ideas, thoughts, and feelings of which we are currently aware are in the ______ mind.

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

Question 28

A patient waiting for an appointment with Sigmund Freud looks around the room to see who else is waiting. Who among the following is most likely to have been one of Freud's patients?

A) Hal, a coal-mine worker who is severely depressed
B) Angela, a maid, who is severely depressed
C) Sue, a wealthy woman who is suffering from sexual repression
D) Mario, a soldier who is suffering from a hysterical disorder

Question 29

"What did you have for lunch an hour ago?" Before I asked you that question, the information was in your _______________ mind.

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

Question 30

Which theory of personality was a direct reaction against the psychoanalytic and behaviorist perspectives?

A) humanistic perspective
B) trait perspective
C) projective perspective
D) inventory perspective

Question 31

Freud named the most primitive part of the personality the id, which is a Latin word that means __________.

A) "sex"
B) "pleasure"
C) "I"
D) "it"

Question 32

For Freud, the mind is divided into ______ levels.

A) one
B) two
C) three
D) four

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT one of the layers of consciousness proposed by Sigmund Freud?

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

Question 34

Sigmund Freud proposed that his patients' disorders resulted most often from psychological conflicts related to ______________.

A) sex
B) denial
C) marriage
D) depression

Question 35

Freud believed that the _____________ was the most important determining factor in human behavior and personality.

A) id
B) preconscious mind
C) manifest awareness
D) unconscious mind

Question 36

For Freud, material that we are not currently aware of but that can be easily recalled is in the ______ mind.

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

Question 37

For Freud, thoughts and feelings that are well below the surface of awareness and cannot normally be recalled are in the ______ mind.

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

Question 38

The unique ways in which each individual thinks, acts, and feels is called __________.

A) personality
B) nurture
C) a trait
D) nature

Question 39

Many have compared Freud's idea of the mind to an iceberg. If that were the case, and you were standing on the deck of a ship in Alaska, what part of the mind would you see above the water?

A) ego
B) anima
C) id
D) preconscious

Question 40

Jonas was filling out a job application and was required to disclose his home address, social security number and email address. According to Freud, this kind of general information in our memory that can be easily recalled is stored in the ________ mind.

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

Question 41

What is Freud's term for the primitive side of personality that contains all of our biological drives?

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

Question 42

Derrick is an executive with a large financial firm. Any time his investments do poorly, he throws temper tantrums and breaks things. Then he starts barking orders at his secretary. Which personality structure would Freud say is exerting control?

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

Question 43

The pleasure principle is associated with which element of Freud's personality theory?

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

Question 44

There were three friends. Harry was rational, logical, and cunning. Hermione was rule-oriented, moral, and always ethical. Ron was pleasure seeking, found it hard to delay gratification, and usually just did what he wanted. According to Freud, Ron was mostly ___________.

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

Question 45

A personality that consisted of only the ego and the id would be completely ______.

A) illogical
B) selfless
C) rational
D) amoral

Question 46

Jessie becomes furious when her favorite hockey player is intentionally hurt by an opponent. According to Freud's model of the mind, her id would unconsciously say:

A) "Thou shalt not kill!"
B) "I'm going to tear this program in half!"
C) "What, me angry? I never get angry!"
D) "I'm so angry I could kill that player!"

Question 47

When Freud referred to the sexual drive of babies and young children, to what was he really referring?

A) the fact that sexual orientation is established from birth
B) the fact that children focus on their bodies to give them physical pleasure
C) the fact that children need to be taught about sexual morality from a very early age
D) the fact that children have genitals that distinguish them as male or female from birth

Question 48

In Sigmund Freud's theory, the _______ operates according to the pleasure principle.

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

Question 49

There were three friends. Harry was rational, logical, and cunning. Hermione was rule-oriented, moral, and always ethical. Ron was pleasure seeking, found it hard to delay gratification, and usually just did what he wanted. According to Freud, Harry was mostly ____________.

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

Question 50

According to Freud, rationality, logical thinking, and reasoning are controlled by the ______.

A) pleasure principle
B) ego
C) superego
D) animus

Question 51

There were three friends. Harry was rational, logical, and cunning. Hermione was rule-oriented, moral, and always ethical. Ron was pleasure seeking, found it hard to delay gratification, and usually just did what he wanted. According to Freud, Hermione was mostly ___________.

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

Question 52

"If it feels good, do it" best describes the ______________.

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

Question 53

Yongmei is studying for her math test. Her boyfriend Marcus asks if she can go to the movies with him. She would love to go, but she knows she has to study for the math test in order to pass the class. What part of Yongmei's personality will tell her to stay home and study because passing the class is necessary for her to graduate?

A) her ego, because it is the moral conscience of her personality
B) her id, because studying is what she really wants to do
C) her libido, because she knows her boyfriend will love her more if she studies
D) her superego, because it is this part of the personality that is the moral conscience

Question 54

For Freud, the only personality structure present at birth is the ______.

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

Question 55

The job of the _________ is to find practical ways for the _________ to get its pleasure needs met without offending the morality of the ________.

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

Question 56

The ______ controls the satisfaction of the id's drives in a socially acceptable manner.

A) personal unconscious
B) ego
C) superego
D) persona

Question 57

What is Freud's term for the executive of the personality that has a realistic plan for obtaining gratification of an individual's desires?

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

Question 58

Which component of a person's personality is responsible for the continuing desire to engage in sex indiscriminately?

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

Question 59

In Freud's theory, the id is to fun as the superego is to ____________.

A) guilt
B) pride
C) rules
D) freedom

Question 60

You are quite hungry but don't have any money. If you were described as "all id and only id," what would you do?

A) Distract yourself with images of food.
B) Steal a hot dog from the vendor on the corner.
C) Run all the way home to get something to eat as soon as possible.
D) Use the defense mechanism of denial to thwart the hunger pangs until an appropriate meal can be obtained.

Question 61

Which element in Freud's personality theory contains the conscience?

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

Question 62

In the metaphor of the angel, the devil, and me, the devil is the _________.

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

Question 63

For Freud, the moral guardian of personality is the ______.

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

Question 64

An individual operating on the reality principle seeks ____________.

A) immediate gratification
B) perfect accomplishments
C) to reveal unconscious motivations
D) rational means for obtaining gratification

Question 65

Sigmund Freud's psychosexual stages focus on several parts of the body, identified as _______zones, each of which is responsible for providing pleasurable feelings.

A) focal
B) erogenous
C) pleasure
D) unconscious

Question 66

According to Freud, the result of conflict between the id and superego is ___________.

A) libido
B) depression
C) psychosis
D) anxiety

Question 67

Carolyn took home some printer paper from the office. Later, she felt guilty for stealing it, so she brought some paper to work to replace what she took. Freud would suggest that Carolyn's ________ was influencing her motives and behavior.

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

Question 68

According to Freud, the reality principle is the way in which ______.

A) the ego tries to delay satisfying the id's desires until it can do so safely and successfully
B) the id tries to obtain gratification and avoid pain
C) the ego ideal establishes standards of what one would like to be
D) young children instinctively seek self-actualization

Question 69

Donita is angry with her boss, so she left work a little early in order to run an extra mile before it gets dark. Which defense mechanism is Donita employing?

A) repression
B) reaction formation
C) rationalization
D) sublimation

Question 70

In the metaphor of the angel, the devil, and me, the angel is the ____________.

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

Question 71

Anthony is sick of writing papers and studying for tests, but he knows he needs a college degree if he wants to be successful in his chosen career. So every morning Anthony gives himself a dressing down-in essence, yelling at himself-to make himself get out of bed and go to classes, and every evening he does the same thing to get himself to do his work. According to Freud, which personality structure is in control here?

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

Question 72

According to Freud, the second part of the personality is the ego, which gets its name from the Latin word for __________.

A) "right"
B) "pride"
C) "I"
D) "self"

Question 73

Jeromy has been having an affair with another woman. One afternoon, his wife came home later than usual and Jeromy became angry-accusing his wife of infidelity. Which defense mechanism is behind Jeromy's accusation?

A) denial
B) projection
C) rationalization
D) reaction formation

Question 74

When Candace ordered a hot fudge sundae and a diet soda, she told herself that the calories from the ice cream really were not a big deal because the diet soda sort of balanced it all out. Which of Freud's defense mechanisms is motivating Candace?

A) repression
B) rationalization
C) sublimation
D) projection

Question 75

The superego develops ____________.

A) at birth
B) during infancy
C) during the preschool years
D) during adolescence

Question 76

From what Latin phrase is the term superego derived?

A) "without morals"
B) "above the rules"
C) "beyond me"
D) "over the self"

Question 77

Mahmoud was just told that his father has cancer. Mahmoud's first response is that there must be a mistake and he demands that the doctor repeat his tests. Which defense mechanism is at work here?

A) reaction formation
B) denial
C) repression
D) undoing

Question 78

What is Freud's term for the unconscious efforts by the ego to deny or distort reality for the purpose of protecting itself when conflict becomes too intense?

A) false cognitions
B) coping techniques
C) disordered thinking
D) psychological defense mechanisms

Question 79

When anxiety provoking memories are prevented from reaching conscious awareness, such as not remembering lying to parents, it is called ________.

A) denial
B) sublimation
C) repression
D) regression

Question 80

The ego operates according to the ______.

A) guilt/pride principle
B) reality principle
C) pleasure principle
D) reflex principle