Question 1

A widely held stereotype of Canadians' personalities is that they are low in neuroticism and high in agreeableness compared to people of other cultures. Research suggests that Canadians are:

Accepted Answer

While the stereotype of Canadians being low in neuroticism and high in agreeableness may persist, research suggests that Canadians are actually similar to people of other cultures in terms of these personality traits. Studies have found that there is no significant difference between Canadians and individuals from other countries in terms of their levels of neuroticism and agreeableness.

Question 2

Cataline is from Zimbabwe in Africa. Wakako is from Japan. Which person is likely to rate herself higher on agreeableness?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that individuals from African cultures, such as Zimbabwe, may rate themselves higher on agreeableness compared to individuals from East Asian cultures, like Japan, where modesty and humility are more emphasized.

Question 3

In terms of gender differences in personality:

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that women generally score higher on traits like agreeableness and neuroticism compared to men.

Question 4

Janelle found that when asked to describe her friends' personalities, she was good at it. When asked to describe her own personality, it took her a while to organize her thoughts and respond. Her difficulty in responding to questions about her own personality provides evidence for which research finding?

Accepted Answer

This finding is consistent with the idea of the self-concept, which is the set of beliefs and assumptions that individuals hold about their own personality traits and patterns of behaviour. The self-concept is developed through interactions with others, and thus people are often more accurate in their descriptions of others' personalities than their own. This may be due to the fact that people tend to rely on observations of their own behaviour, which can be limited or biased, while they have more access to observation of other people's behaviour.

Question 5

Why would a psychodynamic psychotherapist be against giving an objective personality test to a client?

Accepted Answer

Psychodynamic psychotherapists work with the unconscious aspects of a person's personality and behavior. Objective personality tests measure conscious, observable traits and behaviors, while psychodynamic therapy aims to uncover unconscious conflicts and underlying emotional experiences. Therefore, giving an objective personality test may not provide the therapist with relevant information for their approach.

Question 6

In predicting the behaviour of those we know, research has shown that we:

Accepted Answer

We are more accurate in predicting the behavior of those we know than in predicting our own behavior.

Question 7

According to your textbook, scoring low on the trait of ____________ is associated with relatively high consistency in your behaviour across situations.

Accepted Answer

Self-monitoring is the trait that refers to the extent to which people are sensitive to and adapt their behaviour to fit different social situations. People who score high on self-monitoring are able to adjust their behaviour to fit the context and are therefore less consistent in their behaviour across situations. Conversely, people who score low on self-monitoring are less sensitive to social cues and therefore have a more consistent behaviour across situations.

Question 8

Using standardized questionnaires which provide reliable assessment of broad personality traits is essential for:

Accepted Answer

Standardized questionnaires that assess broad personality traits are useful in evaluating the similarities and differences across cultures. Understanding these differences can provide insights into how personality develops in different environments and can inform cross-cultural communication and understanding.

Question 9

In studies of cultural differences in personality, a good summary is that:

Accepted Answer

Studies have found modest but consistent differences in the five broad personality dimensions (Big Five) across cultures. However, it is important to note that these differences should not be used to support cultural stereotypes, as personality is complex and multi-dimensional. It is also important to consider factors such as the context and environment in which individuals are raised when interpreting cultural differences in personality.

Question 10

Which of the following is an accurate list of typical "male" personality characteristics found in research?

Accepted Answer

Research has found that men tend to score higher on measures of assertiveness, activity level, and sensation-seeking compared to women. However, it is important to note that individual differences exist and not all men exhibit these characteristics. Therefore, it is not accurate to generalize these traits as "typical" for all men.

Question 11

Anna is a university student from Canada and Michiko is a university student from Japan. Both have taken the same personality assessment as part of a psychology research study. Which of these young women is likely to score higher in neuroticism and why?

Accepted Answer

Japanese culture often emphasizes modesty and self-criticism, which can lead individuals to report higher levels of neuroticism on self-assessments.

Question 12

One response to Mischel's situationism critique of trait theory is to argue that:

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are valid responses to Mischel's critique. Traits may be more predictive of behavior if they are central rather than peripheral or secondary. Additionally, some individuals may be more consistent in their behavior than others. Finally, when behaviors are averaged across many situations, traits may be better predictors of behavior. Therefore, choosing all of the above is the best response to the situationism critique.

Question 13

As part of the general testing done in your psychology class, you turn out to be very high on the trait of self-monitoring while your roommate scores low on this trait. What should others expect regarding the consistency in your and your roommate's behaviours?

Accepted Answer

Individuals high in self-monitoring tend to adjust their behavior according to the social situation, leading to less consistency. In contrast, those low in self-monitoring, like your roommate, tend to behave more consistently across different situations.

Question 14

Naoko is a university student from Japan and as part of a psychology research study has just taken a personality trait assessment. How is Naoko likely to rate herself on the dimensions of agreeableness and neuroticism, compared to the average university student in Canada?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Naoko is a university student from Japan...

Question 15

Maria Isabel always believed she was a kind and good-hearted person. Others, however, perceived her as somewhat cold and aloof. Who would give the most accurate description of Maria Isabel's personality in a given situation?

Accepted Answer

Her adult children, who have lived with her for decades, would likely provide the most accurate description of her personality, as they have observed her behavior in various situations over a long period.

Question 16

Mischel has been a major critic of trait theories of personality in arguing that behaviour is:

Accepted Answer

Mischel's argument is that behavior is not as consistent as trait theorists predict. So, option C aligns with Mischel's views.

Question 17

Imagine that you have just met the person who is going to be your roommate next year. On the basis of what psychologists know about judgments of personality, to whom would you address questions about what the new roommate is like, and why?

Accepted Answer

Research has found that people are not always objective about their own behaviour, so it would be best to ask the new roommate's current close acquaintances.

Question 18

Fowsia and Ahmed live in Somalia, and Anna and Frank live in Canada. Based on what you've learned about personality, you can safely assume that ____________ will show more gender-based differences in personality.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that gender-based personality differences tend to be more pronounced in individualistic cultures, such as Canada, where Anna and Frank live. In collectivistic cultures, such as Somalia where Fowsia and Ahmed live, there tends to be less emphasis on individual differences and more on group harmony and cooperation.

Question 19

Mischel has argued that trait theories have difficulty predicting behaviour because:

Accepted Answer

Mischel has argued that behaviour is more responsive to situational variables than trait theories assume, which makes it difficult for trait theories to predict behaviour accurately.

Question 20

Many studies show that personality traits are predictive of behaviour. For instance, a person who has very high levels of neuroticism will likely show:

Accepted Answer

High levels of neuroticism have been linked to negative outcomes such as increased risk of marital dissatisfaction and divorce. It is not associated with decreased risk of depression or illness, or increased levels of optimism and happiness.

Quiz 13: Personality