Question 1

Which statement about personality would Freud most likely agree with?

Accepted Answer

Freud's psychoanalytic theory emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping personality, suggesting that much of what influences personality lies beneath the surface of observable behavior.

Question 2

In cartoons, when a character faces a moral dilemma, an angel often appears over one shoulder and a devil appears over the other shoulder, with both giving advice. According to Freud, the angel is similar to the ____, whereas the devil is similar to the ____.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's theory of the psyche, the superego is the part of the mind that represents internalized moral and ethical standards. It can be seen as the "angel" figure, guiding behavior towards what is deemed socially acceptable and morally right. In contrast, the id is the part of the mind that operates on the principle of immediate gratification and instinctual impulses, which can be seen as the "devil" figure urging immediate and often socially unacceptable actions.

Question 3

According to Freud, the ego, which evolves from the id and creates ways to get what one wants in a world full of rules, operates on the ____ principle.

Accepted Answer

The ego operates on the reality principle, which involves negotiating between the desires of the id and the limitations and demands of the external world. Rather than focusing solely on immediate pleasure (as the id does), the ego seeks to satisfy desires in ways that are realistic, practical, and socially acceptable. Therefore, the best choice is A) reality.

Question 4

Your text defines personality as ____.

Accepted Answer

Personality is defined as the unique pattern of characteristics by which a person can be compared with others. It encompasses a variety of traits, habits, attitudes, and behaviors that make up an individual's overall personality.

Question 5

Reece really wants to have sex with his girlfriend Marjorie. According to the psychodynamic approach to personality, Reece's ____ will make compromises between his ____, which demands immediate satisfaction, and his ____, which tells him he should wait until he is married.

Accepted Answer

The psychodynamic approach to personality, developed by Sigmund Freud, posits that personality is composed of three elements: the id, ego, and superego. The id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains sexual and aggressive drives and hidden memories, the superego operates as a moral conscience, and the ego is the realistic part that mediates between the desires of the id and the superego. In this scenario, Reece's ego is making compromises between his id, which demands immediate satisfaction (his desire to have sex), and his superego, which tells him he should wait until he is married.

Question 6

If Cindy is displaying the ego defense mechanism of repression, she would most likely ____.

Accepted Answer

Repression involves pushing a traumatic or uncomfortable experience into the unconscious mind and forgetting or forgetting it consciously. Option A represents this defense mechanism.

Question 7

Vincent has a bad day at work and unconsciously wants to punch his boss. However, instead Vincent goes home and energetically paints a picture of the devil, and he feels much better afterward. In this example, Vincent is using the defense mechanism known as ____.

Accepted Answer

Sublimation is a defense mechanism where an unacceptable impulse or emotion is unconsciously transformed into a socially acceptable and even productive outlet. In this example, Vincent's unconscious desire to punch his boss is transformed into the productive outlet of painting, allowing him to process and release his negative emotions in a healthy way.

Question 8

According to Freud, id functions are ____, while superego functions are ____.

Accepted Answer

Id functions are considered innate as they are present from birth, embodying the basic instinctual drives. The superego, on the other hand, is learned and develops through interactions with caregivers and society, embodying moral standards and ideals.

Question 9

Kierston and Missy are studying together for their psychology final. Kierston asks Missy, "Okay, now tell me Freud's components of personality and how they develop." Which response would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Freud's theory states that everyone is born with an id, which is the primitive and instinctual part of the personality. The ego then develops as the individual interacts with the world around them and learns to deal with conflicts between the id and the external world. Finally, the superego develops as the individual internalizes societal norms and values. Therefore, option B is the most appropriate response as it accurately reflects the order in which the components of the personality develop according to Freud's theory.

Question 10

Which psychological approach states that being able to effectively resolve internal conflicts leads to normal, adaptive behavior?

Accepted Answer

The psychodynamic approach is centered around the idea that unconscious conflicts and repressed emotions from childhood experiences can manifest in maladaptive behavior. The goal of psychodynamic therapy is to uncover and resolve these conflicts through techniques such as free association and dream analysis, ultimately leading to more normal and adaptive behavior.

Question 11

When Stacey's husband has had a frustrating day at work, he is easily irritated and sometimes screams at her. According to Freud, when Stacey's husband yells at her, he is employing the defense mechanism known as ____.

Accepted Answer

Displacement is a defense mechanism where the individual redirects their emotions or impulses from the original source of frustration or conflict to a less threatening target. In this case, Stacey's husband may be displacing his frustration from work onto her by screaming at her.

Question 12

After his girlfriend rejects his sexual advances, Elsworth goes to the park and plays the best game of basketball he's ever played. Elsworth's sexual energy could have been unconsciously converted to athletic prowess, according to which psychodynamic defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Sublimation is the psychodynamic defense mechanism in which unconscious impulses, such as sexual energy, are redirected into socially acceptable activities, such as playing basketball.

Question 13

Roland is hungry, so he goes to McFood Place. But when he gets in line, he realizes he doesn't have any money. He sees a woman set her French fries down on a table, then walk away. Roland quickly grabs the fries and left. According to Freud, Roland's actions are driven by his ____, which operates on the ____ principle.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the id is the primitive and instinctual part of the personality, which operates on the pleasure principle - seeking immediate gratification of basic needs and desires without concern for consequences or morality. Roland's action of grabbing someone else's fries without thinking about the consequences or moral implications reflects the impulsive nature of the id.

Question 14

Kevin is mugged at gunpoint in the park while walking his dog. He was so overcome with fear that he unconsciously pushes the traumatic experience out of his awareness. Kevin appears to be utilizing which ego defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Repression is the unconscious process of pushing unwanted or unpleasant memories, thoughts, or feelings into the unconscious mind. In this case, Kevin is so overwhelmed with fear that he unconsciously represses the memory of being mugged in order to protect himself from the anxiety and stress associated with the experience. This is a common defense mechanism utilized by individuals who have experienced trauma or other highly stressful events.

Question 15

Regina and Haoli see a person on the quad dancing naked, painted all over like a lava lamp. Because Regina views the scene from the ____ theory of personality, she believes that the dancer's behavior must be meaningful to him. Haoli, however, views the scene from the ____ theory of personality, and she believes that some aspect of the dancer's personality is failing to control his impulses.

Accepted Answer

Regina's view is consistent with the humanistic theory of personality, which emphasizes the importance of subjective experience and personal growth. From this perspective, the dancer's behavior may be seen as an expression of his inner self, and therefore potentially meaningful.

Haoli's view is consistent with the psychodynamic theory of personality, which emphasizes the role of unconscious impulses and conflicts in behavior. From this perspective, the dancer's behavior may be seen as a failure of his unconscious mechanisms to control his impulses in a socially appropriate way.

Question 16

Dominic has a very active set of defense mechanisms that constantly affect his thoughts and behavior. The defense mechanisms are ____.

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological strategies that individuals use to protect themselves from anxiety and guilt caused by conflicting thoughts and feelings. The ego uses defense mechanisms to manage these emotions and reduce stress. Therefore, option C, which states that defense mechanisms are the ego's attempt to control anxiety and guilt, is the best answer. Options A and B are incorrect because they both refer to the id and the superego, respectively, which are components of the psychoanalytic theory of personality and do not directly play a role in defense mechanisms. Option D is only a type of defense mechanism and does not capture the full spectrum of defense mechanisms that an individual may use.

Question 17

You begin to feel guilty because you are sometimes rude to your roommate. A little voice keeps telling you that you should always be polite and should never hurt another person's feelings. According to Freud, this little voice most likely comes from your ____.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's structural model of the psyche, the superego is the part of the psyche that represents one's internalized sense of morality and societal standards. The little voice telling you to always be polite and not hurt others' feelings corresponds to the superego's influence on your behavior.

Question 18

Dr. Collins studies the patterns of psychological and behavioral characteristics by which each person can be compared and contrasted with other people. Dr. Collins is best classified as a ____ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Collins focuses on psychological and behavioral characteristics which are primarily related to personality. Clinical psychologists focus on diagnosing and treating mental disorders, behavioral psychologists focus on behavior modification, and social psychologists study how people interact with one another in social settings.

Question 19

Blitzen does not like Rudolph and is angered to see Santa talking and laughing with Rudolph. Blitzen stomps his hoof, thinking, " Rudolph thinks he's too good for the rest of us. No wonder he doesn't like me." What defense mechanism is Blitzen displaying?

Accepted Answer

Blitzen is projecting his own feelings of inadequacy onto Rudolph, assuming that Rudolph thinks he's too good for the rest of them because Blitzen feels like Rudolph doesn't like him.

Question 20

As a child, Raoul loved to prance around the neighborhood wearing silly outfits. As he gets older, he realizes that he can't continue this kind of behavior unless he finds some way for it to be viewed as more socially acceptable. Thus, Raoul decides to pursue a career as a circus clown. According to Freud, Raoul's ____, which operates on the ____ principle, is responsible for finding a socially acceptable outlet for his desire to run around wearing silly outfits.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the ego is responsible for dealing with reality and finding ways to satisfy the id's desires in socially acceptable ways. In this scenario, Raoul's desire to wear silly outfits is a manifestation of his id, and his decision to become a circus clown is an example of the ego finding a socially acceptable outlet for that desire. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Quiz 13: Personality