Question 1

Which of the following people is most closely associated with the concept of locus of control?

Accepted Answer

Rotter is most closely associated with the concept of locus of control, which refers to an individual's belief about the extent to which their actions can influence outcomes in their life. Rotter's social learning theory emphasizes the importance of both internal (personality, abilities) and external (environmental factors) factors in shaping behavior and outcomes.

Question 2

Cognitive-social theories have been particularly useful in treating ________.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-social theories focus on the interaction between cognitive processes and social factors, and how they contribute to the development and maintenance of psychological problems such as depression. While these theories may also be applied to other disorders, such as personality disorders and schizophrenia, they have been particularly useful in understanding and treating depression.

Question 3

Barney believes that he does not have control over his own fate. He believes that chance, luck, and the behavior of others control his life. According to Rotter, Barney has a(n) ________ locus of control.

Accepted Answer

Barney's belief that external factors control his life is indicative of an external locus of control. This means that he sees his fate as being shaped by forces beyond his control, such as luck, chance, or the actions of others. A person with an internal locus of control would tend to see their fate as being shaped more by their own actions and decisions.

Question 4

According to Rotter, expectancy about whether reinforcement is under internal or external control is ________.

Accepted Answer

Rotter's theory of personality includes the concept of locus of control, which refers to an individual's expectancy about whether reinforcement is under internal or external control. This expectation can influence a person's behavior and motivation. Therefore, the correct choice is D, locus of control. Choices A, B, and C do not accurately describe Rotter's concept of expectancy for locus of control.

Question 5

The best kind of personality test is one that is ________.

Accepted Answer

The best kind of personality test is one that is both valid and reliable. Validity refers to the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure, while reliability refers to the consistency and stability of test results over time. A personality test that is both valid and reliable will provide accurate and consistent assessments of an individual's personality traits, making it a useful tool for personal growth and development, as well as for research purposes.

Question 6

According to Bandura, the expectancy that one's efforts will be successful is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Bandura's concept of self-efficacy refers to the belief that one's efforts will be successful in achieving a desired outcome. It is a key construct in his social cognitive theory, which emphasizes the role of cognitive processes and observational learning in human behavior. Self-efficacy can influence motivation, performance, and emotional well-being, as individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to persevere in the face of challenges and difficult tasks.

Question 7

A study of 1939 to 1944 Harvard graduates found that by age 65, optimists were ________ than pessimists.

Accepted Answer

The study found that by age 65, optimists were healthier than pessimists.

Question 8

Which of the following has key concepts that can be defined and scientifically studied?

Accepted Answer

The key concepts of cognitive-social theory, such as cognitive processes, social learning, and behavior modification, can be defined and scientifically studied through empirical research methods. The other theories listed contain more abstract and subjective concepts that may not be as easily measurable or testable through traditional scientific approaches.

Question 9

Which of the following is not one of the four basic types of tools used by psychologists to measure personality?

Accepted Answer

The four basic types of tools used by psychologists to measure personality are personal interviews, projective tests, objective tests, and behavioral assessments. Aptitude tests measure a person's ability to learn or acquire new skills, and are not considered a tool to measure personality.

Question 10

For both Bandura and Rotter, a person's expectancies become a critical part of his or her ________.

Accepted Answer

Bandura and Rotter both emphasize the importance of expectancies in a person's explanatory style, or the way in which they perceive and explain events in their lives. These expectancies can influence a person's behavior and decision-making.

Question 11

Interviews in which the interviewer asks questions about any material that comes up, and asks follow-up questions whenever appropriate are known as ________ interviews.

Accepted Answer

Unstructured interviews allow for flexibility in questioning and follow-up questions based on the responses of the interviewee. The other choices either do not accurately describe this type of interview or are not commonly used terms in interviewing.

Question 12

Testing personality is much like testing intelligence, in that in both cases we are trying to measure something that is ________.

Accepted Answer

Both personality and intelligence are internal characteristics that cannot be directly observed or physically measured. They can only be inferred through behavior and performance. Therefore, they are intangible and invisible.

Question 13

Explanatory style and internal expectancies would be most important to which of the following theorists?

Accepted Answer

The concept of explanatory style and internal expectancies is most closely associated with Albert Bandura and his social cognitive theory.

Question 14

Barney is a person who believes he can control his own fate. He feels that by hard work, skill, and training it is possible to avoid punishments and find rewards. Rotter would say that Barney has a(n) ________ locus of control.

Accepted Answer

Rotter's theory of locus of control proposes that individuals either have an internal or external locus of control. Individuals with an internal locus of control believe that their behavior and actions can influence outcomes, while those with an external locus of control attribute outcomes to external factors such as luck or fate. Therefore, Barney's belief that he can control his own fate and achieve rewards through hard work, skill, and training indicates an internal locus of control.

Question 15

In assessing personality, we are most interested in a person's ________ behavior.

Accepted Answer

In assessing personality, we are most interested in a person's typical behavior. This is because our aim is to identify the patterns of behavior that are characteristic of an individual and are exhibited consistently across different situations. Studying a person's typical behavior can help us understand their personality traits and tendencies. Examining atypical behavior may be valuable in certain situations, but it is not the primary focus of personality assessment. Examining a person's best or worst behavior may provide limited information about their overall personality, as these behaviors may not be representative of their typical behavior.

Question 16

Because he is a math professor's son, Jack has developed a high standard for achievement in mathematics. However, he does not have a high mathematical aptitude and feels frustrated that he cannot meet that standard. Bandura would say that Jack is likely to experience a low sense of ________.

Accepted Answer

Bandura's theory emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy, which refers to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in a particular task or area of life. In this scenario, Jack's frustration suggests that he has a low sense of self-efficacy in mathematics. Self-realization and self-actualization are unrelated to this scenario, and while self-esteem may also be affected, Bandura's theory specifically focuses on self-efficacy.

Question 17

The researcher most closely linked to the concept of self-efficacy is ________.

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy is a concept developed by Albert Bandura, who proposed that people's beliefs in their ability to perform a specific task or behavior plays a crucial role in their motivation and effort to accomplish those tasks or behaviors.

Question 18

Many studies, conducted over more than 20 years, have found ________ between self-efficacy and performance in workplaces, schools, and clinical settings.

Accepted Answer

The sentence states that "Many studies... have found a positive correlation between self-efficacy and performance in workplaces, schools, and clinical settings." Therefore, the best choice is D, a positive correlation.

Question 19

A math professor's daughter is very talented in math and has a high standard for achievement in math. Since she will probably achieve great success in mathematics, Bandura would say that she will have a high sense of ________.

Accepted Answer

Bandura's theory of self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to achieve a certain goal or task. In this scenario, the math professor's daughter is likely to have a high sense of self-efficacy in math due to her talent and high standards for achievement. Self-actualization, self-realization, and self-esteem are all different concepts that do not specifically relate to the daughter's potential success in math.

Question 20

According to cognitive-social theorists, ________.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-social theorists emphasize that underlying personality traits, such as traits related to self-concept and belief systems, are relatively stable and enduring, while behavior may vary depending on situational factors. This suggests that personality is more stable than behavior.

Quiz 10: Personality