Question 1

Which of the following theories predicts that people living in dangerous situations would exhibit more discrimination against other groups?

Accepted Answer

Terror management theory suggests that when people are reminded of their mortality or are in dangerous situations, they tend to cling more strongly to their cultural worldviews and exhibit increased discrimination against out-groups to manage existential anxiety.

Question 2

Which of the following unifying themes of your text illustrates the fact that there are literally dozens of insightful theories of personality?

Accepted Answer

The unifying theme of "Psychology is theoretically diverse" best illustrates the fact that there are dozens of insightful theories of personality, as the field of psychology encompasses a multitude of theoretical perspectives and approaches to understanding human behaviour and personality.

Question 3

You have just taken a test that involved answering pages of questions about your characteristic behaviour. What type of test is this likely to be?

Accepted Answer

A self-report personality inventory asks test-takers to rate or describe themselves on a range of characteristics or behaviors, which would involve answering pages of questions about their characteristic behavior. Intelligence tests usually involve problem-solving tasks or questions that gauge cognitive abilities, achievement tests measure knowledge or skills in a particular domain, and projective tests ask participants to interpret ambiguous stimuli to reveal deeper aspects of their personality.

Question 4

Which of the following would you probably use if you needed a personality inventory capable of measuring a person's degree of psychopathology?

Accepted Answer

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is specifically designed to measure psychopathology and is widely used in clinical and forensic settings. It includes a scale to assess for potential over-reporting or under-reporting of symptoms, and has been extensively researched and validated for use in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Choices A, B, and D are not specifically designed to assess psychopathology.

Question 5

Dr. Illustra is using a personality test to determine whether certain conscientiousness is predictive of graduation GPA across 10 years in her university. Students complete the personality inventory in their first year of university, then Dr. Illustra keeps track of their grades and likelihood of graduating. What type of personality test use is this considered to be?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of using a personality test for psychological research, specifically to determine whether conscientiousness in the first year of university is predictive of graduation GPA across 10 years.

Question 6

According to research comparing American and Asian children, what are parents in Asian cultures most likely to teach their children to do?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that parents in Asian cultures are more likely to teach their children to rely on family and friends, whereas American parents are more likely to focus on teaching individualism and self-reliance. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they reflect values typically emphasized in American culture, not Asian culture.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT one of the main uses of personality scales?

Accepted Answer

While personality scales may be used in college admissions for some programs or scholarships, it is not one of the main uses of these scales. The main uses are clinical diagnosis, psychological research, and personnel selection.

Question 8

Which of the following unifying themes of your textbook illustrates the fact that Sigmund Freud's theory of personality was influenced to a degree by his reaction to the hostilities of World War I?

Accepted Answer

The unifying theme of "Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context" emphasizes the influence of cultural and historical events on the development of psychological theories. Freud's experience during World War I is an example of how sociohistorical events can shape a psychologist's thinking and approach to their work.

Question 9

Why was the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) originally designed?

Accepted Answer

The MMPI was originally designed as an aid for clinical diagnosis, particularly in the psychiatric setting.

Question 10

According to research comparing American and Asian children, what are American parents least likely to teach their children to do?

Accepted Answer

Research comparing American and Asian children found that American parents are less likely to teach their children to be modest about their personal accomplishments, whereas Asian parents typically emphasize modesty and downplaying individual achievements.

Question 11

Ernie tells you that his psychologist asked him to complete a lengthy questionnaire that contained over 500 true-or-false statements. He would like to find out more about this particular test, but he didn't see the name of the test on the form that he filled out. Which of the following did he likely complete?

Accepted Answer

The MMPI is a widely used personality assessment tool that contains over 500 true-or-false statements. It is often used by psychologists to diagnose and treat a range of mental health conditions.

Question 12

What aspect of personality is fairly consistent across cultures, according to research findings?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the basic trait structure, such as the Big Five personality traits, is fairly consistent across different cultures.

Question 13

A friend tells you that he recently responded to a personality inventory with about 550 items which indicated that his level of depression was above normal. Which of the following did he likely complete?

Accepted Answer

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a commonly used personality inventory that includes over 550 items and can assess a wide range of psychological disorders, including depression.

Question 14

Which of the following is predicted by terror management theory?

Accepted Answer

Terror management theory suggests that reminders of mortality can lead people to avoid situations that make them think about death, such as going to the doctor, to manage their existential anxiety.

Question 15

What is the role of self-esteem, according to terror management theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the role of self-esteem, according...

Question 16

Which of the following unifying themes of your text is illustrated by the tendency for Chinese individuals to engage in less self-enhancement than American individuals?

Accepted Answer

This is because the tendency for Chinese individuals to engage in less self-enhancement than American individuals is an example of how our behavior is shaped by our cultural heritage. Chinese culture tends to value modesty and group harmony over individual achievement and self-promotion, which results in less self-enhancement behaviors.

Question 17

Dr. Franken uses the MMPI to determine whether convicted criminals show evidence of antisocial tendencies. This information becomes part of each inmate's record. For what purpose is Dr. Franken using a personality test?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Franken is using the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) for clinical diagnosis to determine if convicted criminals have antisocial tendencies, which is a clinical assessment of their psychological state.

Question 18

Which of the following traits is most likely to differ across cultures?

Accepted Answer

Self-enhancement, which refers to the tendency to promote one's positive qualities and downplay negative ones, varies greatly across cultures. In some cultures, such as Asian cultures, modesty and avoiding self-promotion is valued, while in Western cultures, self-enhancement is often seen as a positive trait. The other traits listed (neuroticism, sensation seeking, and self-monitoring) tend to have more consistent cross-cultural patterns.

Question 19

According to research comparing American and Asian children, how do Asian children tend to define themselves?

Accepted Answer

Asian children tend to define themselves more in terms of the groups they belong to, reflecting a more collectivist cultural perspective compared to the more individualistic perspective often found in American culture.

Question 20

Which of the following tests would you choose if you were going to choose a personality test that allows you to infer whether an individual is at risk for particular disorders?

Accepted Answer

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a commonly used personality test that includes specialized scales to assess for various mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. Therefore, it would be the best choice for inferring an individual's risk for particular disorders.

Quiz 12: A: Personality: Theory, Research, and Assessment