Question 1

Tim and Heidi are both applying for an exclusive school. Relieved after making it through the selection process, they compared experiences and were surprised to discover that each had been asked the same questions. Their school selection committee had obviously used the __________ technique for screening applicants.

Accepted Answer

The fact that both Tim and Heidi were asked the same questions indicates that the school selection committee used a structured interview technique. This involves asking all candidates the same set of predetermined questions in a standardized manner, making it easier to compare and evaluate responses.

Question 2

Behavioral psychologists prefer __________ to other methods of personality assessment

Accepted Answer

Behavioral psychologists focus on observable behavior, therefore they prefer to assess personality through direct observation rather than relying on self-report or other indirect methods. While structured interviews can also be useful, they still rely on self-report and may not always provide an accurate picture of an individual's behavior. Projective tests and psychotherapy are not typically used for personality assessment by behavioral psychologists.

Question 3

Which of the following does NOT belong among the three broad categories of personality assessment methods?

Accepted Answer

The three broad categories of personality assessment methods are inventories (such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), observation, interviews and rating scales, and projective tests (such as the Rorschach inkblot test). Achievement tests are not a category of personality assessment methods, but rather measures of an individual's knowledge or proficiency in a specific area, such as academic subjects or job skills.

Question 4

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 __________

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers to a person's belief in their ability to successfully perform a task. In this scenario, a high level of self-efficacy on the part of the surgeon would suggest that they have confidence in their ability to perform the delicate brain surgery skillfully. Ego, extraversion, and superego are not necessarily related to surgical skill.

Question 5

Lisa reads her horoscope every day to see what the day will bring. Once her morning paper didn't come and Lisa was frantic. However could she make any decisions? She decided to stay home from work so that she wouldn't do anything wrong. Rotter would argue that Lisa has __________

Accepted Answer

Rotter's theory of locus of control suggests that individuals can have an internal or external locus of control. Individuals with an external locus of control believe that events in their life are largely determined by external factors such as luck, fate, or others. Lisa's behavior suggests that she believes she has no control over the situation and is relying on external sources (her horoscope) to make decisions. This indicates an external locus of control.

Question 6

__________ is a good example of someone with high self-efficacy.

Accepted Answer

High self-efficacy refers to the belief in one's ability to accomplish tasks and overcome obstacles. Amasa, who is applying for a National Science Foundation grant because she believes her research is worth the investment, demonstrates high self-efficacy. She has confidence in her abilities and believes she can succeed in obtaining the grant. Choices A, B, and D demonstrate low self-efficacy.

Question 7

Bandura's notion that cognitive factors, one's behavior, and the external environment all influence each other is called __________

Accepted Answer

Bandura's notion that cognitive factors, behavior, and the external environment all influence each other is called reciprocal determinism. The concept emphasizes that behavior does not just rely on the environmental factors but also on cognitive factors like personal beliefs, morals, values, and expectations. The external determinants on individuals also influence their internal factors, leading to an ongoing interaction between the individual and the external environment, hence the term reciprocal.

Question 8

Which of the following is not one of the limitations of behavioral assessment?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral assessment can be used with people in institutions as long as it is conducted in an ethical and appropriate manner. The other options are all recognized limitations of behavioral assessment.

Question 9

Personality assessments conducted by behaviorists rely primarily on __________

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists focus on observable and measurable behavior, so they rely primarily on direct observation to assess personality.

Question 10

Sharon feels that her poor performance on her English test is due to her lack of preparation. She believes that if she is to do better, she must study more. This is an example of __________

Accepted Answer

Sharon's belief that her performance is determined by her own actions (studying more) suggests an internal locus of control.

Question 11

According to Albert Bandura, a person's belief about his or her skills and ability to perform certain behaviors is known as __________

Accepted Answer

Bandura defines self-efficacy as the belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish specific tasks. It is a core concept in social cognitive theory and plays a significant role in determining an individual's motivation, behavior, and emotions. Self-efficacy is not the same as locus of control, phenomenology, or reciprocal determinism, which are separate constructs in social psychology.

Question 12

Personality assessments conducted by behaviorists sometimes make use of __________

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists rely on observable behaviors and therefore rating scales, which quantify observable behaviors are often used in their assessments. Projective tests require interpretation of subjective responses and thus are not typically utilized by behaviorists. Introjective tests involve self-reflection and insight, which again is not in line with the behaviorist approach. Reports by friends may be subjective and biased, and therefore may not be the most reliable source of information for behaviorists.

Question 13

People with __________ believe that they have a hand in what happens to them, so they are less likely to think that good luck plays a role in their lives.

Accepted Answer

People with an internal locus of control believe that they are in control of their own lives and the outcomes that they experience. As a result, they are less likely to attribute good luck or bad luck to external forces and instead take responsibility for their successes and failures.

Question 14

The tendency to form a favorable or unfavorable impression of someone at the first meeting is called the __________

Accepted Answer

The halo effect refers to the tendency for our initial overall impression of a person to influence our perceptions of their specific traits and characteristics. This means that if we have a positive initial impression of someone, we may be more likely to view them as kind, intelligent, and trustworthy, regardless of whether or not they actually possess these traits. Conversely, if we have a negative initial impression of someone, we may be more likely to view them as unkind, unintelligent, and untrustworthy, regardless of their true attributes. The other options (A, B, and D) do not accurately describe this phenomenon.

Question 15

What is the most serious problem with using the observation technique to assess personality?

Accepted Answer

The presence of the observer can alter the behavior being observed. This is known as the observer effect and can affect the accuracy of the assessment. It is important for researchers and clinicians to be aware of this potential bias and to account for it in their observations.

Question 16

Michelle was hired for a job although she did not have the qualifications for the position. During the interview the man interviewing her kept remarking that she reminded him of his third grade teacher on whom he'd had a crush so many years ago. Michelle seems to have benefitted from __________

Accepted Answer

Michelle seems to have benefitted from the halo effect, which is the tendency to generalize positive or negative impressions of a person based on a single trait or characteristic. In this case, the interviewer's positive association with his third grade teacher may have influenced his overall impression of Michelle, leading him to overlook her lack of qualifications for the job.

Question 17

Cory has put very little effort into his Philosophy class. However, he states that his poor performance is due to the fact that his professor is "boring" and "uninspiring." This is an example of __________

Accepted Answer

Cory's statement that his poor performance is due to the boring and uninspiring professor suggests that he believes external factors are responsible for his outcomes, indicating an external locus of control.

Question 18

A baseball player's son is quite talented; he has received lots of awards over the years. When he gets up to bat he expects to get a hit, and when he is in the field he expects to make every catch. According to Bandura, what characteristic does this young man seem to have?

Accepted Answer

The young man seems to have high self-efficacy, which is the belief in one's own capabilities to achieve a certain goal or task. He expects to succeed and has likely received reinforcement and positive feedback in the past, leading to his confidence in his abilities.

Question 19

The perception that a person has of his or her ability to perform competently whatever is attempted is __________

Accepted Answer

The given description pertains to the concept of self-efficacy, which refers to an individual's belief in his or her ability to successfully carry out a specific task or activity. Locus of control refers to the extent to which individuals believe that they have control over the events in their lives, while reciprocal determinism relates to the influence of the environment and individual behavior on each other. Unconditional positive regard is a concept in humanistic psychology that refers to unconditional acceptance and non-judgment towards oneself and others.

Question 20

A technique used by psychologists to measure personality that involves tracking frequency of particular targeted actions is called __________

Accepted Answer

Behavioral assessment involves measuring a person's actions and behaviors to gain insight into their personality traits and characteristics. This is done by tracking the frequency and intensity of specific actions or behaviors, providing a more objective and observable measure of personality than self-reported measures such as interviews or projective tests. A histogram is a visual representation of data in a graph form, and is not directly related to personality assessment techniques.

Quiz 13: Personality Theory and Assessment