Deck 8: Personality

Question 1

In Maslow's theory of motives, which group of motives are said to be uniquely human?

A) deficiency motives
B) being motives
C) physiological motives
D) homeostatic motives

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What does Vaillant call the stage he has added to Erikson's model of development?

A) career consolidation
B) occupational achievement versus discouragement
C) work striving
D) early 30s transition

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What happens to our personality as we go through adulthood?

A) It remains stable.
B) It changes in a highly consistent, age-related manner.
C) It depends on both the personality trait and the individual.
D) a and b

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What evidence most clearly demonstrates a genetic component in personality consistency in adulthood?

A) similarities between parents and children in personality
B) similarity of fraternal twins in personality
C) greater similarity in the personalities of fraternal than of identical twins
D) greater similarities in the personalities of identical than of fraternal twins

Question 5

Behavior geneticists estimate that between _____ and _____ percent of the variation in personality can be accounted for by genetic differences.

A) 20; 30
B) 40; 60
C) 10; 30
D) 60; 80

Question 6

Which characteristic in Soldz and Vaillant's study of trait stability is NOT positively related to "openness"?

A) playing a musical instrument
B) psychiatric distress
C) holding patents on inventions
D) All are related to openness.

Question 7

An adult is preoccupied with a need to "make his mark" on the world. Which of Erikson's dilemmas (stages) is this adult grappling with?

A) identity versus role confusion
B) intimacy versus isolation
C) generativity versus stagnation
D) ego integrity versus despair

Question 8

Costa and McCrae have demonstrated the validity of their factor personality structure across _______.

A) age
B) gender
C) cultural background
D) all of the above

Question 9

Ryan and Deci have identified 3 basic needs that must be satisfied across the life span in order to experience the state of eudaimonia. Which one of the following is NOT one of the basic needs?

A) competence
B) autonomy
C) confidence
D) relatedness

Question 10

. Research on Gutmann's theory of gender crossover is best captured by the statement that _______.

A) the evidence seems to support a blending of men's and women's personality traits, but not a crossover
B) Helson and her colleagues found support for Gutmann's theory in young men
C) the cause for this crossover or blending is limited to those who have children
D) All the above statements correctly summarize the results of the research.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a trait found to be stable by Costa and McCrae?

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) rigidity
D) openness

Question 12

which statement is not an element of Erikson's Stage 7, his view of generativity?

A) serving as a mentor for younger colleagues
B) doing charitable work in society
C) excelling as a professional
D) bearing and rearing of children

Question 13

Which is the highest level of development in Jane Loevinger's theory?

A) self-aware level
B) conscientious stage
C) individualistic stage
D) autonomous stage

Question 14

A tendency to show consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions are _____; short-lived patterns are known as _____; and _____ are groups of traits that occur together.

A) factors; states; traits
B) factors; traits; states
C) traits; states; factors
D) states; traits; factors

Question 15

Which of the following statements best describes our current knowledge about the consistency of personality or motivation over the adult years?

A) There is high consistency on the "big 5" personality measures over the full 50 or 60 years of adult life, but not on any other dimensions of personality.
B) There is high consistency on the "big 5" personality measures and somewhat lower consistency on many other personality measures.
C) Consistency in personality exists but only over relatively short periods of time, such as 4 or 5 years.
D) There is no demonstrable consistency of personality in adulthood.

Question 16

How a person typically behaves in social situations, whether people are retiring or outgoing is an example of a ________________________.

A) Personality stage
B) Differential continuity
C) Personality Trait
D) Personality dilemma

Question 17

Ravenna is a 5year-old female who has been a participant in the Mills College women's longitudinal study of personality characteristics thought to be associated with Erikson's stages of development. Which set of characteristics probably increased for Ravenna over the years?

A) increase in dominance, stability, conscientiousness
B) increase in dependence, competence, dominance
C) decrease in dominance and dependence; increase in competence
D) decrease in self-confidence, increase in dominance

Question 18

Costa and McCrae's findings confirm the assumption that older adults are _______.

A) socially withdrawn
B) rigid in their attitudes
C) self-centered
D) None of the above descriptors are consistent with their findings.

Question 19

Ravenna is a 5year-old female who has been a participant in a longitudinal study of personality characteristics. Which set of characteristics probably increased for Ravenna over the years?

A) increase in dominance, stability, conscientiousness
B) increase in social vitality, stability, dominance
C) decrease in dominance and agreeableness; increase in conscientiousness
D) decrease in conscientiousness, increase in dominance

Question 20

Mean-level stability is usually measured by what type of study?

A) cross-sectional
B) longitudinal
C) experimental
D) qualitative

Question 21

Ruthann is described by her friends as seeing things clearly and freshly, accepting of herself as she is, deeply sympathetic, compassionate toward others, creative, and with a strong sense of her need for privacy. How might Maslow have labeled Ruthann?

A) self-confident
B) self-assured
C) self-actualized
D) self-absorbed

Question 22

Tyrone has a very outgoing, extraverted personality. His job supervisors and coworkers find him very easy to deal with, and he has been promoted several times in only a few years. Such promotions could be thought of as reinforcements of Tyrone's personality traits, which would tend to create more personality continuity. Which type of continuity does this illustrate?

A) reactive transaction
B) evocative transaction
C) proactive transaction
D) transformative transaction

Question 23

Each of us tends to choose environments or situations in which our existing personality traits will be reinforced or supported. Caspi and Elder refer to this as _________.

A) evocative transactions
B) proactive transactions
C) genetic transactions
D) causal transactions

Question 24

Which of the following statements best describes our current knowledge about the consistency of personality or motivation over the adult years?

A) There is high consistency on the "big 5" personality measures over the full 50 or 60 years of adult life, but not on any other dimensions of personality.
B) There is high consistency on the "big 5" personality measures and somewhat lower consistency on many other personality measures.
C) Consistency in personality exists but only over relatively short periods of time, such as 4 or 5 years.
D) There is no demonstrable consistency of personality in adulthood.

Question 25

Increases in assertiveness and independence between early and middle adulthood occur _________.

A) among both men and women
B) only among men
C) only among women
D) among neither men nor women

Question 26

In the findings from meta-analyses on personality change, which of the following personality dimensions showed change with age?

A) introversion/extraversion
B) agreeableness/disagreeableness
C) high neuroticism/low neuroticism
D) all of the above

Question 27

According to Ryan and Deci's theory, the basic need of competence centers around effectiveness. Which of the following slogans aptly describes their concept?

A) the U.S. Army slogan, it's important to "be all that you can be"
B) Discover's by-line, It pays to discover"
C) Samsung's "Turn on Tomorrow"
D) Saab's slogan, "whether you think it's different or expected, you're right"

Question 28

What evidence most clearly demonstrates a genetic component in personality consistency in adulthood?

A) similarities between parents and children in personality
B) similarity of fraternal twins in personality
C) greater similarity in the personalities of fraternal than of identical twins
D) greater similarity in the personalities of identical than of fraternal twins

Question 29

Which of the following findings is most clearly INCONSISTENT with the generalization that adults become more open to themselves as they move toward midlife?

A) Women become more androgynous at midlife.
B) Transitions at midlife are reported to include greater awareness of inner change.
C) Men become more feminine at midlife.
D) Both men and women become less flexible at midlife.

Question 30

Which of the following motives or needs would Maslow classify as a "being motive"?

A) attachment
B) security
C) altruism
D) self-esteem

Question 31

Trust, altruism, straightforwardness, and kindness are characteristics of which personality trait?

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

Question 32

Which of the following is a characteristic of the self-actualized individual?

A) high need for privacy
B) high need for reassurance
C) low level of introspection
D) low level of humor

Question 33

Anxiety, hostility, worry, depression, and self-consciousness are characteristics of which personality trait?

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

Question 34

Which of the following pieces of data would be a good argument in favor of the proposition that age-linked personality changes in adulthood are really the result of role changes correlated with age?

A) Working women of whatever age are more independent and assertive than are homemakers.
B) The majority of women studied have reported a major life transition at roughly age 30.
C) The decreases in autonomy and independence between midlife and old age is accompanied by a loss of roles.
D) There is strong consistency over time in traits such as extraversion.

Question 35

Self-actualization, according to Maslow's theory, occurs _________.

A) in a small fraction of individuals whose deficiency needs have been met
B) in a large percentage of individuals over the age of 50
C) for nearly everyone after the age of 65
D) in those individuals who have faced the largest amount of stress or crisis

Question 36

Recent research on personality consistency suggests higher consistency in some periods of adult life than others. During which age period does personality appear to be LEAST consistent?

A) early adulthood
B) middle adulthood
C) late adulthood
D) late late adulthood

Question 37

In Maslow's system, love needs are to self-actualization needs as, in Erikson's system, _______.

A) intimacy is to identity
B) intimacy is to integrity
C) generativity is to intimacy
D) identity is to integrity

Question 38

. Which of the following are distinctly human, according to Maslow's theories concerning positive well-being?

A) deficiency motives
B) being motives
C) health problems
D) homeostasis

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT one of the types of changes in personality between early and middle adulthood most clearly shown by current research?

A) increase in self-confidence
B) decrease in immature defenses
C) decrease in rigidity
D) increase in assertiveness

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a trait found to be stable by Costa and McCrae?

A) neuroticism
B) extraversion
C) rigidity
D) openness

Question 41

With what stage does Erikson associate the potential strength of care?

A) intimacy versus isolation
B) industry versus inferiority
C) ego integrity versus despair
D) generativity versus stagnation

Question 42

What potential strength does Erikson associate with the stage of intimacy versus isolation?

A) love
B) care
C) wisdom
D) fidelity

Question 43

Which is the highest level of development in Jane Loevinger's theory?

A) self-aware level
B) conscientious stage
C) individualistic stage
D) autonomous stage

Question 44

An adult is preoccupied with a need to "make his mark" on the world. Which of Erikson's dilemmas (stages) is this adult grappling with?

A) identity versus role confusion
B) intimacy versus isolation
C) generativity versus stagnation
D) ego integrity versus despair

Question 45

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development states that personality development takes place in ______________ that represents a conflict the individual must try to resolve.

A) regular cyclical periods of approximately 7 years throughout life
B) spurts that correspond to physical growth periods
C) distinct stages over the life span
D) distinct stages until adolescence

Question 46

A childless, middle-aged adult who becomes a "Big Brother" or "Big Sister" at age 35 is trying to find a way to deal with which of Erikson's dilemmas?

A) intimacy vs. isolation
B) ego integrity vs. despair
C) identity vs. role confusion
D) generativity vs. stagnation

Question 47

In which of Erikson's stages is fidelity the potential strength to be gained?

A) identity
B) intimacy
C) generativity
D) integrity

Question 48

What is the final stage of development in Erik Erikson's theory of adult development?

A) industry versus inferiority
B) ego integrity versus despair
C) intimacy versus isolation
D) generativity versus stagnation

Question 49

Vaillant recently published an article in the well-respected American Psychology Association journal suggesting that his levels of defense mechanisms are a way to measure psychological maturity and well-being. Which of the following is an argument he probably offered in support of this assertion?

A) All individuals consistently demonstrate the same defense mechanisms in identical situations.
B) The association between mature defenses and mental health is present across a number of indicators (occupational success, maturity, happiness).
C) Individuals under severe stress do not revert to less mature mechanisms.
D) The levels of defense mechanisms are sequential and stage-like.

Question 50

An adult describes a friend as "a small-town girl; a good person." What stage or level in Loevinger's model does such a description typify?

A) conformist stage
B) individualistic level
C) integrated stage
D) self-protective stage

Question 51

In Maslow's theory of motives, which group of motives are said to be found in all animals?

A) deficiency motives
B) being motives
C) physiological motives
D) homeostatic motives

Question 52

If an adult said, "What I learned at home and in my church is what I live by. The approval of my friends and the stability of my family matter the most to me," this adult is most likely functioning at which level or stage in Loevinger's model of ego development?

A) self-protective stage
B) conformist stage
C) individualistic level
D) autonomous stage

Question 53

An article written by Erik Erickson would NOT emphasize development that _______.

A) progresses over the lifetime
B) results from interactions between inner drives and outer, societal demands
C) results in a gradual, step-wise sense of identity
D) centers around adaptation to unique life experiences

Question 54

Which of the following is a valid statement of a difference between Erikson's stage theory and Loevinger's stage theory of development?

A) Loevinger thinks movement to the next stage occurs only when the previous stage has been mastered; Erikson thinks stage movement occurs when social or biological circumstances force new issues.
B) Erikson thinks movement to the next stage occurs only when the previous stage has been mastered; Loevinger thinks stage movement occurs when social or biological circumstances force new issues.
C) Loevinger's stages are age-linked, while Erikson's are not.
D) Loevinger assumes that all adults move through all stages, while Erikson does not.

Question 55

Enduring ways of thinking, feeling, and acting are referred to as _______.

A) personality traits
B) personality structures
C) personality dimensions
D) personality affiliations

Question 56

An adult says: "I've been independent from my parents for a long time now, supporting myself and my family, out there in the world being a grownup. It's only recently that I realized that I'm still dependent on my parents in other ways-that I'm not really a grownup yet." What stage or level does such thinking reflect in Loevinger's model?

A) conformist stage
B) individualistic level
C) integrated stage
D) self-protective stage

Question 57

Which theorist would be most likely to say, "Stages are hierarchical; an adult does not move on to the next stage until the earlier stages have been completed or resolved"?

A) Jane Loevinger
B) Erik Erikson
C) Daniel Levinson
D) Paul Baltes

Question 58

Which of the following stages in Erikson's theory does NOT typically occur in adulthood?

A) intimacy versus isolation
B) generativity versus stagnation
C) ego integrity versus despair
D) initiative versus guilt

Question 59

What does Vaillant call the stage he has added to Erikson's model of development?

A) career consolidation
B) occupational achievement versus discouragement
C) work striving
D) early 30s transition

Question 60

According to Erikson's theory, which is the second major stage of adulthood?

A) identity versus role confusion
B) intimacy versus isolation
C) generativity versus stagnation
D) ego integrity versus despair

Question 61

Diagram Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Question 62

List and describe briefly at least six different characteristics Maslow considered to be attributes of a self-actualized (or self-actualizing) person.

Question 63

To what extent do you think that cohort differences can account for the pattern of change in personality described in the text? Give specific examples.

Question 64

List several strengths and several weaknesses of stage theories of adulthood.

Question 65

McAdams has suggested that we can understand simultaneous consistency and change in personality by proposing "layers" or "levels" of personality. Briefly sketch McAdams's ideas.

Question 66

The text posits three explanations for the trend in personality change from middle to late adulthood. Describe these changes.

Question 67

Cross-cultural studies suggest that today's older adults are more likely to be generous than are today's younger adults. What alternative explanations can you offer for such a finding?

Question 68

One possible explanation of the age-linked changes with personality is that they are driven primarily or solely by role changes, rather than reflecting some deeper developmental process. What sort of findings would support such a conclusion? What would refute it?

Question 69

Which theory of adult development, in your view, is most consistent with the evidence on personality change in adulthood? Give examples.

Question 70

List three dimensions of personality that appear to be consistent over (at a minimum) decades of adult life. What explanations of such consistency can you offer?

Question 71

Discuss the genetic influences on personality. Make sure you include relevant research.

Question 72

Describe two similarities and two differences between Loevinger and Vaillant's theories of adult development.

Question 73

Describe the major changes in personality that appear to occur between early and middle adulthood, and give at least one research example to illustrate each change.

Question 74

Describe two methodological explanations for the "change" in personality over adulthood.

Question 75

List the appropriate stage with which each of the following strengths are associated in Erikson's theory:

Question 76

Briefly describe two change theories and two developmental theories. Compare and contrast these perspectives.

Question 77

List and describe the "big five" personality dimensions.

Question 78

Some theorists have argued that the observed changes in personality over the years of adulthood can be understood entirely in terms of changes in the demands of various roles. What is the evidence for and against such an assertion?

Question 79

Suppose a researcher studies a group of adults longitudinally over a ten-year period and finds that the average score on a measure of rigidity goes up steadily over time. What, if anything, does this finding tell us about individual consistency in rigidity?

Question 80

List the stages described by Loevinger, the stages described by Erikson, and the sequences of motives described by Maslow; then link the three lists to one another.