Deck 8: Personality

Question 1

Differential continuity refers to:

A) changes in a group's average score.
B) the stability of individuals' rank order within a group over time.
C) intra-individual variability.
D) The most dominant personality trait for most people in adulthood.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

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 adulthood for women; middle adulthood for men

Answer 2

A

Question 3

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

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

Answer 3

A

Question 4

researchers compared two groups of older adults, those 74-84 and those 85-92, the older group showed higher scores for ________.

A) neuroticism
B) openness
C) self-centeredness
D) agreeableness

Question 5

Juanita, a very extraverted female, just learned that her father's cancer has spread. Weeks before, she had agreed to go with her friend to a party, but while she was there, she was very quiet and withdrawn. This short-lived pattern of being quiet and withdrawn would be considered a _____.

A) state
B) factor
C) trait
D) disposition

Question 6

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

A) greater similarity in personality between parents and children than between fraternal twins
B) similarity of the personalities of adopted children in the same household
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 7

Which person is likely to have the most stable and consolidated personality?

A) Juan, age 25
B) Kareem, age 45
C) Mary, age 35
D) Migueal, age 55

Question 8

Differential continuity refers to:

A) changes in a group's average score.
B) the stability of individuals' rank order within a group over time.
C) intra-individual variability.
D) The most dominant personality trait for most people in adulthood.

Question 9

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 10

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 11

Mean-level change refers to:

A) changes in a group's average scores.
B) differential continuity.
C) intra-individual change.
D) an individual's rank order within a group over time.

Question 12

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

Question 13

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

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

Question 14

Ravenna is a 52-year-old female who has been a participant in the Mills College study of personality characteristics. Ravenna scored very high in conscientiousness. Which of the following is most likely TRUE of Ravenna?

A) She got divorced after five years of marriage.
B) She was highly successful in her career and eventually became a CEO.
C) She took pride in her roles of wife and mother and did not pursue a career.
D) She ended up living just above the poverty line because she did not utilize the skills she had learned in her college years.

Question 15

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 16

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 17

adult is preoccupied with a need to "make his mark" on the world by giving something back. 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 18

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

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

Question 19

Costa and McCrae have demonstrated the validity of their 5-factor personality structure across _______.

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

Question 20

Which of the following was found to decrease with age?

A) neuroticism
B) social dominance
C) agreeable
D) conscientious

Question 21

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 22

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 23

Baruque scores very high on the personality trait of __________. Consistent with research, he has been in a series of dissatisfying and abusive relationships that do not tend to last long.

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

Question 24

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 25

all his six siblings, Bernard lived the longest. All his sisters and brothers died of various illness at much younger ages than Bernard, who died at the age of 92. Bernard was most likely high in the personality trait of:

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

Question 26

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 27

who had wives with high scores on _________ reported better health than those with low-scoring wives.

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

Question 28

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 29

Stewart thinks that he is not very smart and believes that his intelligence is fixed, so it is not likely to change. Which of the following is TRUE regarding research on beliefs about the self?

A) Stewart will be as open to learning and willing to face challenges as his counterparts who believe intelligence is malleable.
B) It is not possible to change some of Stewart's beliefs about his intelligence because they are so engrained in the culture.
C) Fairly simple interventions have been shown to change Stewart's way of thinking and, consequently, traits such as openness and resilience.
D) Fairly simple interventions have been shown to change Stewart's way of thinking and, consequently, traits such as openness and resilience, but only if he is from a high socioeconomic status background.

Question 30

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

A) greater similarity in personality between parents and children than between fraternal twins
B) similarity of the personalities of adopted children in the same household
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 31

David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist, would be most likely to say:

A) "Aging does not represent a loss at midlife, but rather, a gain in personal freedom and new roles within the tribe."
B) "Personality traits have led to important individual differences linked to survival."
C) "Personality traits are important in the development of intimate relationships."
D) "Personality is based on beliefs about the self."

Question 32

person's genetic endowment combines with environmental factors to maintain personality traits over the years of adulthood, a concept known as:

A) generativity.
B) person-environment transactions.
C) heritability.
D) differential continuity.

Question 33

Tyrone has a low self-esteem. When his friends asked him to do something together or go someplace, he responds by saying that they are probably only asking to be polite or because they feel bad for him. These comments make his friends uncomfortable and eventually, they stop making an effort to get together. Tyrone is now sure that he is not a person anyone would want to have as a friend Which type of transaction does this illustrate?

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

Question 34

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 35

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

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

Question 36

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

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

Question 37

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

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

Question 38

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 39

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 40

her first year of college Deneisha was struggling to find herself and mistakenly thought she would find her identity by dating the first guy who showed interest in her. According to Erikson's theory, Deneisha is likely to experience

A) shame and doubt.
B) a sense of isolation.
C) stagnation.
D) role confusion.

Question 41

Vaillant 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 a stage-like progression based on their age.
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 two levels of defense mechanisms are sequential.

Question 42

older adults, ________ is related to higher levels of ego development.

A) larger family size
B) extraversion
C) higher education
D) a feminine gender role

Question 43

adult describes herself as "a small-town, family 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 44

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 45

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 46

(conceptual-263). 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) men become more feminine than women and women become more masculine than 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 47

(factual-264). 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 48

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 49

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 50

Maslow could be considered a:

A) positive psychologist
B) evolutionary psychologist
C) behaviorist
D) cognitive psychologist

Question 51

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

A) getting enough to eat
B) security
C) altruism
D) satisfying thirst

Question 52

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 53

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 stages coincide with specific ages.
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 54

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 55

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 56

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 stage
C) integrated stage
D) self-protective stage

Question 57

a study by McAdams and his colleagues, men who were not fathers scored significantly lower on ___________ than those who were fathers.

A) agreeableness
B) generativity
C) conscientiousness
D) integrity

Question 58

Soldz and Vaillant found that the higher a participant scored on ________, the more money he made.

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

Question 59

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 60

Monique was a participant in Dr. Merrens' study that required her to complete 18 sentence stems, such as "My mother and I….. and "Rules are…." She received a total score that corresponds to a particular level of ego development. Dr. Merrens' research is based on the work of:

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

Question 61

How are stage theories different from theories suggesting sequences? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach?

Question 62

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

Question 63

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 64

List and describe the "big five" personality dimensions.

Question 65

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

Question 66

Discuss two dimensions of personality that have been shown to relate to health (or even the health of one's spouse).

Question 67

Give an example of a humanistic theorist who would be considered to be a positive psychologist. Provide a rationale and be sure to include the focus of the positive psychology movement in your response.

Question 68

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

Question 69

Diagram Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Question 70

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 71

Give two examples of how personality changes from middle to late adulthood..

Question 72

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 73

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"
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question 74

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

Question 75

Discuss the findings of one study that illustrates the genetic influences on personality.

Question 76

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

Question 77

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

Question 78

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.

Question 79

Bjorklund notes that "the link between personality traits and health can take place in a number of ways." Drawing upon research, give two examples.