Question 1

Cognitive-social theories of personality emphasize:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-social theories of personality focus on the role of expectancies, or our beliefs about what will happen in future situations, in guiding our behavior. These theories also take into account how our past experiences with reinforcement (which may have created certain expectancies) and social learning (through observing others) shape our personalities. They do not emphasize biological factors or unconscious processes in social situations.

Question 2

Rotter argues that people differ in their locus of control,by which he means:

Accepted Answer

Rotter defines locus of control as the extent to which individuals believe that their own actions and efforts can influence the outcomes they experience. Therefore, option C - "the extent to which they believe their own efforts will lead to good outcomes" - is the most accurate definition of locus of control among the given options. Option A is not the best choice as understanding one's circumstances may be related to but is not the same as the locus of control. Option B is incorrect as preference for reinforcement techniques is not related to Rotter's concept of locus of control. Option D is opposite to what locus of control represents, as people with an internal locus of control tend to value their personal expectancies and efforts.

Question 3

According to the cognitive-affective personality system,who is likely to do better on an exam,an optimist or a pessimist,and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the cognitive-affective personality system,who is...

Question 4

Factor analysis is useful to psychologists because it allows them to:

Accepted Answer

Factor analysis is useful to psychologists because it allows them to group many similar traits together into a more basic trait, making it easier to understand and study personality characteristics.

Question 5

Martha knows she can succeed at getting into medical school.She says,"All I have to do is figure out how other people got in,select the strategies I can successfully use,and then implement my plan." Martha is showing high levels of:

Accepted Answer

Martha's statement reflects an internal locus of control, as she believes that her success in getting into medical school is based on her own actions and strategies, rather than external factors like luck or chance. This indicates a belief in personal agency and control over her life.

Question 6

A primary advantage of a trait approach to personality is that it provides a method for:

Accepted Answer

A trait approach to personality focuses on identifying and measuring different personality traits, allowing for individuals to be compared based on their levels of each trait. This provides a method for comparing individuals in regard to various personality dispositions.

Question 7

Whereas _____ psychologists are interested in how beliefs,expectancies,and interpretations of social situations influence behavior and personality,Sigmund Freud would have been more interested in _____.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-social psychologists focus on how cognitive processes influence behavior, while Freud focused on conflicts among the id, ego, and superego within personality structures.

Question 8

Bandura's cognitive-social theory of personality sees _____ as an important determinant of behavior.

Accepted Answer

Bandura's cognitive-social theory emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy, which is the belief in one's ability to successfully perform a task or behavior. According to this theory, individuals are more likely to engage in behaviors where they believe they have a high level of self-efficacy, and less likely to engage in behaviors where they believe they have a low level of self-efficacy. Stereotypes, attributional style, and biological predispositions may also influence behavior, but they are not the main focus of Bandura's theory.

Question 9

Bandura's concept of self-efficacy:

Accepted Answer

Bandura's concept of self-efficacy refers to our belief in our ability to achieve specific outcomes. This belief can have a significant impact on our behavior, motivation, and ability to persevere through challenges. This concept has been extensively researched and validated in psychology.

Question 10

In Eysenck's view,people who score low on the emotional stability scale tend to:

Accepted Answer

Eysenck's theory suggests that individuals who score low on emotional stability, also known as high neuroticism, tend to experience frequent mood swings and emotional variability.

Question 11

Two of your fellow students have conflicting views about the principal determinant of personality.John takes the view that personality is determined by unconscious conflicts.Joan asserts that personality is the outcome of learning processes.What famous psychologists would John and Joan likely bring into their arguments?

Accepted Answer

John's view aligns with Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes the role of unconscious conflicts in shaping personality. Joan's assertion aligns with B.F. Skinner's behaviorist theory, which emphasizes the role of learning experiences in shaping personality. Therefore, John would likely bring up Freud, and Joan would likely bring up Skinner in their arguments.

Question 12

An implicit personality theory is:

Accepted Answer

An implicit personality theory is based on the assumption that certain personality characteristics go together. This means that people tend to assume that if someone has one trait, they are likely to have another related trait. For example, someone who is seen as outgoing may also be assumed to be confident and assertive. Implicit personality theories can help people make quick judgments about others, but they can also lead to stereotypes and bias.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is NOT a specific view taken by humanistic psychologists such as Carl Rogers?

Accepted Answer

Humanistic psychologists, such as Carl Rogers, do not focus on unconscious urges and do not believe that satisfying them leads to healthier personalities. Instead, they focus on conscious experiences and the importance of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and acceptance in fostering personal growth and healthy personalities.

Question 14

In Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality,the most general or superordinate traits are:

Accepted Answer

Eysenck's hierarchical model of personality includes three superordinate traits: introversion/extraversion, emotional stability, and psychoticism. These broad traits are then further divided into more specific facets. Consequently, option A is the correct choice as it lists these three superordinate traits. Option B lists traits that are not included in Eysenck's model, and option C lists the Big Five traits, which is a different theoretical perspective on personality. Option D lists two superordinate traits from Eysenck's model (introversion/extraversion and neuroticism) but includes sociability, which is not considered a superordinate trait.

Question 15

According to cognitive-social theories of personality,which of the following factors do NOT shape our behaviors and personalities?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-social theories emphasize the role of personal beliefs, expectancies, and interpretations of the world in shaping behavior and personality, rather than focusing on other people's expectations.

Question 16

James is very low in Eysenck's personality trait of psychoticism.Thus you would expect him also to be:

Accepted Answer

According to Eysenck's theory, individuals low in psychoticism tend to be caring, empathetic, and have a concern for others. Therefore, the best choice would be C, a caring person. A, somewhat cynical, and B, moderately impulsive, are characteristics more associated with individuals high in psychoticism. D, very outgoing, is not necessarily related to psychoticism as it falls under a different personality trait.

Question 17

Your professor believes that behavior is strongly affected by emotions and by expectations about what might happen in the future.In addition,events in the environment affect one's current expectations and emotions.From a theory of personality perspective,your professor is acting most like a _____ theorist.

Accepted Answer

The professor's belief that behavior is influenced by emotions and expectations aligns with the cognitive-social perspective, which emphasizes the role of cognition (including expectations) and social factors in shaping behavior. This perspective also recognizes the influence of environmental events on emotions and expectations. The psychodynamic perspective focuses more on unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences, the humanistic perspective emphasizes self-actualization and personal growth, and the trait perspective focuses on identifying and measuring personality characteristics.

Question 18

If you were a therapist who endorsed Carl Rogers's person-centered approach to therapy,how would you treat your client?

Accepted Answer

As a therapist who endorses Carl Rogers's person-centered approach to therapy, the treatment would focus on creating a safe and comfortable therapeutic environment that allows the client to freely discuss their problems and concerns as they understand them. The therapist would actively listen, show empathy, and strive to understand the client's perspective. The focus would be on the client's current state, with less emphasis on past events or traumas. Therefore, the best choice for treatment would involve discussing the client's problems and concerns as they understand them.

Question 19

If you were a parent who endorsed Carl Rogers's person-centered approach to personality,how would you treat your child?

Accepted Answer

The person-centered approach emphasizes the importance of unconditional positive regard and empathy in fostering personal growth and self-acceptance. As a parent, this would involve expressing love and support for the child regardless of their behavior, and creating a safe and supportive environment where the child feels comfortable expressing themselves and exploring their interests and abilities. Withholding treats or emphasizing the child's failures can create a sense of shame or anxiety that hinders personal growth, while surrounding the child with positive peers may be helpful but does not take the place of a parent's nurturing and supportive presence.

Question 20

In Eysenck's theory,psychoticism means:

Accepted Answer

Psychoticism, according to Eysenck's theory, refers to a personality dimension characterized by impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and a lack of concern for others, which are traits commonly associated with self-centered behavior. It does not necessarily indicate being criminally insane, showing empathy in inappropriate situations or having dramatic mood swings.

Quiz 13: Personality