Question 1

A personality researcher tells her associates that her goal is to identify the smallest number of enduring tendencies that can describe all the differences between personalities.This researcher appears to subscribe to which theory of personality?

Accepted Answer

The goal of identifying the smallest number of enduring tendencies that can describe all the differences between personalities is a characteristic of the trait theory of personality.

Question 2

Which of the following is not one of the five groups of traits in the five-factor model used to describe personality?

Accepted Answer

Intelligence is not one of the five groups of traits in the five-factor model used to describe personality. The five groups are neuroticism, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.

Question 3

When making decisions,Kevin doesn't systematically consider options and their possible consequences.In fact,you could say he makes decisions carelessly.Which of The Big Five traits is most relevant to Kevin?

Accepted Answer

Conscientiousness is the personality trait that involves being organized, responsible, and diligent. Kevin's tendency to make careless decisions suggests a lack of conscientiousness in his decision-making process.

Question 4

An approach aimed at understanding the structure of personality by measuring,identifying,and classifying similarities and differences in personality is called:

Accepted Answer

Trait theory is the approach that measures, identifies and classifies similarities and differences in personality based on traits or characteristics. This theory assumes that people have stable and enduring personality traits that can be identified and measured. The other options (social cognitive theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, and psychodynamic theory) are all different approaches to explaining personality but do not specifically focus on measuring and categorizing traits.

Question 5

Cattell utilized factor analysis to reduce Allport's lengthy list of traits down to:

Accepted Answer

Cattell utilized factor analysis to uncover underlying source traits, which allowed him to reduce Allport's extensive list of traits into a more manageable number of broad dimensions of personality.

Question 6

Ellie,a college sophomore,doesn't enjoy going to social events.She would prefer to stay at home.Which of The Big Five traits is most relevant to Ellie?

Accepted Answer

Extraversion is the Big Five trait that refers to social behaviors, such as enjoyment of socializing and seeking out excitement. Since Ellie doesn't like to attend social events and prefers to stay at home, it's clear that she is low in extraversion.

Question 7

Officer Taylor is a 20-year veteran of the police department.If he is typical of male police officers,his traits would include:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that male police officers tend to possess more assertive and aggressive traits, as compared to more empathetic traits like sympathy and compassion. Diplomacy may also be a useful trait for officers, but assertiveness is a more common and defining trait.

Question 8

The statistical technique that reveals relationships among different items and then puts similar items into groups is called:

Accepted Answer

Factor analysis is specifically designed to identify underlying dimensions that exist among groups of variables. It aims to reduce a large number of variables to a smaller number of factors or clusters that represent the underlying structure of the data. Correlation, standard deviation, and linear regression are other statistical techniques that do not involve grouping similar items.

Question 9

Jeremy is very outgoing.He enjoys taking risks and being involved in any social activities.He prefers to be with people and dislikes jobs where he has to work alone.Jeremy would be classified being high on the ______ factor of the Big Five model.

Accepted Answer

Extraversion is the factor in the Big Five personality model that reflects an individual's sociability, outgoingness, and preference for being with others. Based on the description given in the question, Jeremy enjoys taking risks and being involved in social activities, indicating a high level of extraversion.

Question 10

Just as Professor Snyder is dismissing class,she says,"Tomorrow we will look at relatively stable and enduring tendencies to behave in particular ways." Since you've done the assigned reading already,you know that tomorrow the professor will be presenting the topic of ____ theory.

Accepted Answer

The description given by Professor Snyder closely aligns with the definition of trait theory, which focuses on identifying and describing patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion that are consistent and stable across different situations and over time. Social cognitive theory emphasizes the role of cognitive processes, learning, and social influences in shaping behavior. Psychodynamic theory emphasizes unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences that shape personality. Humanistic theory emphasizes individual growth and self-actualization.

Question 11

A relatively stable and enduring tendency to behave in a particular way is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

A trait is defined as a relatively stable and enduring tendency to behave in a particular way. Options A, C, and D do not accurately describe this concept. Self-concept refers to one's beliefs and attitudes about oneself, internal locus of control refers to the extent to which individuals believe they have control over their lives, and a factor is a variable that contributes to a particular outcome or phenomenon.

Question 12

In the Big Five,each factor represents:

Accepted Answer

The Big Five is a model of personality that describes five broad dimensions of personality traits. Each factor represents a continuum of behavior rather than a dichotomy, and these dimensions are measurable and observable. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 13

Which names are most associated with the trait theory of personality?

Accepted Answer

Gordon Allport and Raymond Cattell are most associated with the trait theory of personality. Allport identified over 4,000 different traits and found that each individual possesses a unique combination of these traits, while Cattell identified 16 core personality traits that he called the "16PF" (16 Personality Factors) using statistical analysis.

Question 14

During a meeting,Howard presents an idea for a new product.Bobby,who has a tendency to have narrow interests,says,"That new product Howard talks about,it will never work.Never,never,never and you can bet on that!" Which of the following traits would be most applicable to Bobby?

Accepted Answer

Bobby's response indicates a lack of openness to new ideas, as he dismisses Howard's idea without consideration.

Question 15

A term used to describe female police officers is ____,while male police officers are described as ____.

Accepted Answer

The terms "peacekeepers" and "enforcers" do not specifically refer to female and male police officers, respectively. This question seems to be based on stereotypes or incorrect information, as there are no widely recognized terms that differentiate police officers based on gender in this manner.

Question 16

In the 1930s,Gordon Allport found ____ traits in the dictionary.

Accepted Answer

Gordon Allport identified approximately 4,500 traits in the dictionary that he believed were central to personality.

Question 17

What was the disadvantage to the list of traits developed by Gordon Allport?

Accepted Answer

Gordon Allport's list of traits was considered too long, making it impractical for use in research and application.

Question 18

The acronym OCEAN refers to:

Accepted Answer

The acronym OCEAN refers to the Big Five personality traits which include Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. This is a widely accepted model for measuring personality traits. Options A, B, and D are not correct as they do not refer to the OCEAN acronym.

Question 19

Using personality characteristics that are relatively stable and enduring to explain behavior is called:

Accepted Answer

The trait approach is based on the idea that personality is comprised of stable and enduring traits, which are used to explain behavior. This approach emphasizes the importance of individual differences and focuses on identifying and measuring specific traits that are consistent across different situations and over time.

Question 20

Who was it that constructed a list of traits that was considered too long and therefore impractical to use in research?

Accepted Answer

Gordon Allport constructed a list of over 18,000 personality traits, which he later refined to a list of 4,000. This list was still considered too long and impractical to use in research, leading Allport to advocate for a more focused and streamlined approach to studying personality.

Quiz 20: Social and Cognitive and Trait Theories