Question 1

According to Sigmund and Anna Freud, which of the following is true about psychological defense mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies brought into play by the unconscious mind to manipulate, deny, or distort reality in order to defend against feelings of anxiety and unacceptable impulses, thus providing a refuge from a situation with which one cannot currently cope. They are not compulsive behaviors, nor do they operate on a moralistic principle, and they do not motivate most of our speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions directly.

Question 2

Nina feels needy and does not allow her boyfriend to move to another city. She makes him feel sorry for her by projecting herself as the "poor little me." Generally, she has a tendency to cling on to the people in her life. Karen Horney's theory suggests that Nina has a neurotic trend of ________.

Accepted Answer

Nina's behavior of feeling needy, not allowing her boyfriend to move, and clinging to people in her life aligns with Karen Horney's neurotic trend of "moving toward others." This trend involves an excessive need for approval, affection, and a fear of being abandoned or alone.

Question 3

In the context of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic perspective of personality, which of the following is true of the superego?

Accepted Answer

The superego operates on the "moralistic principle," acting as the moral compass of the personality by incorporating the values and morals of society learned from parents and others. It strives to make the ego behave morally, rather than realistically or pleasurably.

Question 4

According to behavioral observation, a measure of how much agreement there is in ratings when using two or more coders to rank personality or behavior in other people is known as the ________.

Accepted Answer

Inter-rater reliability is the measure used to assess the degree of agreement among raters or observers, ensuring that the assessment of personality or behavior is consistent across different individuals rating the same subjects.

Question 5

Among the three provinces of the human mind derived by Freud that control and regulate impulses, the ________ is the only part of the mind that is in direct contact with the outside world.

Accepted Answer

The ego is the component of the mind that Freud believed deals with reality and has direct contact with the outside world, mediating between the desires of the id, the demands of the superego, and external reality.

Question 6

Susan has a low behavioral threshold for feeling shy. On the basis of this statement, which of the following is most likely true about Susan?

Accepted Answer

Susan having a low behavioral threshold for feeling shy means that it takes very little to trigger her shyness. This implies that she easily feels shy in situations that might not affect others as much.

Question 7

The long version of which of the following genes is associated with less efficient dopamine production?

Accepted Answer

The long version of the DRD4 gene is associated with less efficient dopamine production. DRD4 is a dopamine receptor gene, and variations in this gene can affect the dopamine signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in the brain's reward and pleasure centers.

Question 8

Which of the following refers to the internal and specific cognitive, motivational, or personality systems that solve specific problems of survival and reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Psychological mechanisms refer to the internal and specific cognitive, motivational, or personality systems that are designed to solve specific problems related to survival and reproduction. These mechanisms are a key concept in evolutionary psychology, where they are thought to be evolved responses to environmental challenges faced by our ancestors.

Question 9

Greg is attending a lecture on the principles of management at the local community hall. In the middle of the session, he begins to feel very hungry and wants to leave. However, he realizes that leaving would disrupt the class and perhaps insult the speaker. He decides to wait until the lecture is over and then get a snack. According to Freudian psychoanalytic theory on the human mind, Greg's mind has a highly developed ________.

Accepted Answer

Greg's decision to wait until the lecture is over before getting a snack, despite feeling very hungry, demonstrates a highly developed superego. The superego is the part of the mind in Freudian psychoanalytic theory that is responsible for upholding moral standards and ideals, often at the expense of immediate gratification or desires, which are typically governed by the id. In this scenario, Greg's superego is guiding him to act in a socially appropriate and considerate manner, overriding the demands of the id for immediate satisfaction of his hunger.

Question 10

Antonio and Candra are five-year-old twins who live in Brooklyn with their parents and elder sister. Which of the following is most likely an example of an unshared environment for the family ________.

Accepted Answer

Birth order is an example of an unshared environment because it affects each child in a unique way, influencing their experiences and development differently within the same family.

Question 11

Which of the following animals shares a distinct conscientiousness dimension with humans?

Accepted Answer

Chimpanzees share a distinct conscientiousness dimension with humans, reflecting similarities in social behavior and cognitive abilities.

Question 12

In the context of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic perspective of personality, identify a true statement about the superego.

Accepted Answer

The superego acts as the moral component of personality, incorporating the values and morals of society which are learned from one's parents and others. It strives to suppress the urges of the id and tries to make the ego behave morally, rather than realistically, which aligns with the description of it frequently applying brakes to the impulses of the id.

Question 13

On the basis of research examining universal changes in personality change across cultures, it has been found that people usually become ________ from early to mid-adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that people generally become more open to experiences from early to mid-adulthood, reflecting increased openness to new ideas and experiences.

Question 14

Very often, Vincent likes to carry a ladies' purse, and his body language is primarily characterized by feminine mannerisms. Proponents of Carl Jung's theory might say that Vincent is unable to repress his ________.

Accepted Answer

According to Carl Jung's theory, the "anima" represents the unconscious feminine side of a man, which Vincent seems to be expressing through his actions and mannerisms.

Question 15

The main idea behind Hans Eysenck's model of personality is that ________.

Accepted Answer

Eysenck's model of personality emphasizes the biological basis of personality traits, suggesting that genetic differences lead to variations in arousal and sensitivity to stimulation, which in turn influence personality.

Question 16

Which of the following psychologists founded the movement known as psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychoanalysis, a method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst.

Question 17

Alan dislikes his elder brother, Sebastian, because he feels that his parents are partial toward him. He is always eager to pick a fight with Sebastian but he tells his friends that Sebastian does not like him and is always looking for ways to get back at him. According to Freudian psychoanalytic theory, Alan's behavior best exemplifies ________.

Accepted Answer

Alan's behavior exemplifies projection, where he attributes his own feelings of hostility towards Sebastian to Sebastian instead, suggesting that it is Sebastian who harbors negative feelings towards him. This is a defense mechanism where individuals attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and motives to another person.

Question 18

The humanistic movement was rekindled in the 1990s and relabeled ________.

Accepted Answer

The humanistic movement was rekindled in the 1990s and relabeled as positive psychology, focusing on the study of positive human functioning and flourishing on multiple levels.

Question 19

Efren is not thinking about his girlfriend at this very moment. However, someone asks him to describe her, and without much thought, he describes her eyes, hair, and smile. Thus, according to Freud's three levels of consciousness, this information about his girlfriend is likely to be stored in the ________ layer of Efren's consciousness.

Accepted Answer

Efren was not actively thinking about his girlfriend, but he could easily access memories of her when asked. This indicates that the information was in the preconscious layer of his consciousness, which contains thoughts and information that are not currently in awareness but can be brought to consciousness readily.

Question 20

Identify an assumption of the humanistic-positive perspective of personality.

Accepted Answer

Humanistic-positive psychology emphasizes the inherent drive towards self-actualization and personal growth, suggesting that individuals naturally strive to become the best versions of themselves.

Quiz 12: Personality: The Uniqueness of the Individual