Deck 11: Personality

Question 1

Kierston and Missy are studying together for their psychology final. Kierston asks Missy, "Okay, now tell me Freud's components of personality and how they develop." Missy correctly responds,

A)"Everyone is born with an id and a superego, and the ego develops over time to deal with conflicts between those two components of the personality."
B)"Everyone is born with an id, and the ego and then the superego develop as the person interacts with the world around him or her."
C)"Everyone is born with an id, ego, and superego. The manner in which the person is raised determines whether the three components maintain a healthy balance of power."
D)"Everyone is born a blank slate, but through interacting with the world around him or her, the ego, then the id, and finally the superego will develop in the individual."

Answer 1

"Everyone is born with an id, and the ego and then the superego develop as the person interacts with the world around him or her."

Question 2

You have begun to feel guilty because you are sometimes rude to your roommate. A little voice keeps telling you that you should always be polite and should never hurt another person's feelings. According to Freud, this little voice most likely comes from your

A)id.
B)ego.
C)superego.
D)libido.

Answer 2

superego.

Question 3

Freud argued that the primary job of the ego, which operates on what he called reality principle, is to

A)prevent anxiety or guilt that comes from id impulses that violate superego restrictions.
B)quiet the pleasure demands of the id so that we become responsible rather than self-indulgent.
C)quiet the moral demands of the superego so that we have fun in life rather than being too serious and "up tight."
D)push us toward resolution of the five psychosexual stages of development as quickly as possible.

Answer 3

prevent anxiety or guilt that comes from id impulses that violate superego restrictions.

Question 4

When Stacey's husband has had a frustrating day at work, he is easily irritated and sometimes screams at her. According to Freud, when Stacey's husband yells at her, he is employing the defense mechanism known as

A)displacement.
B)rationalization.
C)sublimation.
D)repression.

Question 5

Your textbook defines personality as

A)the unique pattern of characteristics and behaviors by which a person can be compared and contrasted with others.
B)a collection of character traits that are unchanging over the course of the lifespan.
C)a driving force that guides human behavior and pushes people toward positive growth.
D)the collection of experiences and traits that make people the way they are that are learned from birth.

Question 6

According to Freud, id functions are __________, while superego functions are __________.

A)innate; learned
B)sexual; aggressive
C)rational; irrational
D)based on the pleasure principle; based on the reality principle

Question 7

Reece really wants to have sex with his girlfriend Marjorie. According to the psychodynamic approach to personality, Reece's __________ will make compromises between his __________, which demands immediate satisfaction, and his __________, which tells him he should wait until he is married.

A)id; ego; superego
B)ego; superego; id
C)ego; id; superego
D)superego; id; ego

Question 8

Kevin was mugged at gunpoint in the park while walking his dog. He was so overcome with fear that he unconsciously pushed the traumatic experience out of his awareness so that he does not have to feel that fear on an ongoing basis. Kevin appears to be utilizing which ego defense mechanism?

A)Repression
B)Denial
C)Suppression
D)Rationalization

Question 9

Alonzo was playing baseball and made a mistake. His coach yelled at him. Alonzo was angry, but instead of yelling back, he screamed at his little sister when he returned home. Alonzo displayed the defense mechanism of

A)rationalization.
B)displacement.
C)compensation.
D)reaction formation.

Question 10

Dr. Collins studies the patterns of psychological and behavioral characteristics by which each person can be compared and contrasted with other people. Dr. Collins is best classified as a __________ psychologist.

A)clinical
B)personality
C)behavioral
D)social

Question 11

According to psychodynamic principles, a little boy who continuously and mistakenly calls his teacher "Mom" probably

A)has been influenced by the Thanatos instinct of sex and pleasure.
B)has not successfully completed the oral and anal stages of development.
C)is making an age-appropriate developmental mistake.
D)has some unconscious conflicts concerning his mother.

Question 12

According to the theory of Sigmund Freud, which component of personality operates according to the desire to gain immediate pleasure without regard for the rules of society or the rights and feelings of others?

A)The superego
B)The conscience
C)The ego
D)The id

Question 13

Regina and Haoli saw a person on the quad dancing naked, painted all over like a lava lamp. Because Regina views the scene from the __________ theory of personality, she believes that the dancer's behavior must be meaningful to him. Haoli, however, views the scene from the __________ theory of personality, and she believes that some aspect of the dancer's personality is failing to control his impulses.

A)humanistic; psychodynamic
B)psychodynamic; humanistic
C)social-cognitive; humanistic
D)trait; psychodynamic

Question 14

As a child, Raoul loved to prance around the neighborhood wearing silly outfits. As he got older, he realized that he couldn't continue this kind of behavior unless he found some way for it to be viewed as more socially acceptable. On realizing this, Raoul decides to pursue a career as a circus clown. According to Freud, Raoul's __________, which operates on the __________ principle, is responsible for finding a socially acceptable outlet for his desire to run around wearing silly outfits.

A)id; pleasure
B)ego; reality
C)superego; morality
D)defense mechanism; denial

Question 15

If Cindy is displaying the ego defense mechanism of repression, she would most likely

A)unconsciously forget a traumatic experience.
B)project her negative feelings onto another person.
C)provide a convincing motive for her unacceptable behavior.
D)express her unconscious conflicts in a socially desirable way.

Question 16

Which of the following psychological approaches would reason that effective resolution of internal, unconscious conflicts would result in normal, adaptive behavior?

A)Psychodynamic
B)Cognitive behavioral
C)Trait
D)Humanistic

Question 17

With which of the following statements about personality would Freud most likely agree?

A)"Behavior and personality are closely related. However, one must address conscious thought processes."
B)"Outward behavior is a very small part of personality."
C)"Conscious thoughts play a major role in personality development."
D)"Personality can be observed (and assessed)through one's outward behavior."

Question 18

Roland was hungry, so he went to McFood Place. However, when he got in line, he realized he didn't have any money. He saw a woman set her French fries down on a table, then walk away. Roland quickly grabbed the fries and left. According to Freud, Roland's actions were driven by his __________, which operates on the __________ principle.

A)id; pleasure
B)id; reality
C)ego; pleasure
D)ego; reality

Question 19

Sigmund Freud believed that personality and behavior are determined more by psychological factors than by biological conditions or current events. The name for this belief is ________.

A)logical positivism
B)catharctic influence
C)psychic determinism
D)nomothetic affect

Question 20

In cartoons, when a character faces a moral dilemma, an angel often appears over one shoulder and a devil appears over the other shoulder, with both giving advice. According to Freud, the angel is similar to the __________, whereas the devil is similar to the __________.

A)superego; id
B)ego; id
C)id; ego
D)ego; superego

Question 21

According to Freud's theory, an oral fixation might be the result of

A)early or late weaning from breastfeeding.
B)parents who do not speak to the child enough and leave it feeling understimulated.
C)underattention to potty training needs.
D)inadequate resolution of the Oedipus complex.

Question 22

Cole has a difficult time maintaining relationships, especially with authority figures. According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, Cole is most likely fixated at the __________ psychosexual stage of development.

A)oral
B)anal
C)phallic
D)genital

Question 23

Cameron is under a great deal of stress at work because of several upcoming deadlines. He is worried that he might be fired if he cannot meet the deadlines. He has reacted to his anxiety by smoking constantly and overeating. According to Freud, Cameron is fixated at the __________ stage of psychosexual development.

A)phallic
B)genital
C)anal
D)oral

Question 24

Karson's parents always told him he was stupid, and he developed a fear of appearing stupid to other people. Thus, Karson works very hard at school and is excited when he is accepted to graduate school in a highly regarded doctoral program. According to Freud, Karson's hard work in school is an example of the __________ defense mechanism.

A)rationalization
B)compensation
C)sublimation
D)projection

Question 25

After his girlfriend rejects his sexual advances, Elsworth goes to the park and plays the best game of basketball he's ever played. Elsworth's sexual energy could have been unconsciously converted to athletic prowess, according to which psychodynamic defense mechanism?

A)Sublimation
B)Displacement
C)Projection
D)Reaction formation

Question 26

Gary is a very sloppy person. His side of the dorm room is always a mess, with clothing thrown all over the floor. In contrast, his roommate, Rajesh, is an extremely neat person. For Rajesh, everything on his side of the room must be in its place, with books and video games organized alphabetically. Freud would say Gary is fixated in the __________ stage, and Rajesh is fixated in the __________ stage.

A)anal; anal
B)oral; oral
C)oral; anal
D)phallic; oral

Question 27

Pamela's father is very racist, and regularly makes disparaging remarks about African Americans. Pamela loves her father very much but hates his racist tendencies. When she is away at college, she finds herself very attracted to John, who is African American, and she starts dating him in secret. Pamela's attraction to John may be explained, at least in part, by the defense mechanism of

A)reaction formation.
B)rationalization.
C)denial.
D)regression.

Question 28

Felix has always been attracted to his best friend's girlfriend Rita. Unconsciously he knows that it would be wrong to flirt with her and risk alienating his friend, and so Felix regularly treats her badly. When Felix demonstrates the opposite of his internal impulses, Felix is likely employing what defense mechanism?

A)Reaction formation
B)Displacement
C)Sublimation
D)Repression

Question 29

Darth Vader had the Death Star built to destroy planets, but unconsciously the space station made up for his feeling inferior to his old Jedi master, Obi Wan. Darth Vader is exhibiting the __________ ego defense mechanism.

A)projection
B)sublimation
C)reaction formation
D)compensation

Question 30

Carlos talks excessively throughout the day. He also eats too much and drinks a lot. If you were a Freudian psychologist, you would most likely say that Carlos has

A)too much libido.
B)an Oedipal complex.
C)a defective id.
D)an oral fixation.

Question 31

Blitzen does not like Rudolph and is angered to see Santa talking and laughing with Rudolph. Blitzen stomps his hoof, thinking, "That Rudolph thinks he's too good for the rest of us. No wonder he doesn't like me." What defense mechanism is Blitzen displaying?

A)Physical restructuring
B)Displacement
C)Projection
D)Rationalization

Question 32

Vincent has a bad day at work and unconsciously wants to punch his boss. However, instead Vincent goes home and energetically paints a picture of his boss but gives the face devil horns. Afterward, he feels much better as he laughs at his painting. In this example, Vincent is using the defense mechanism known as

A)sublimation.
B)compensation.
C)displacement.
D)projection.

Question 33

Darrin always feels angry. However, instead of recognizing his anger, Darrin believes that the people around him are angry. He is utilizing the defense mechanism of

A)projection.
B)rationalization.
C)sublimation.
D)displacement.

Question 34

After Daniel had ballooned to a weight of 450 pounds, he became much stressed. When confronted about his stress and weight problem by his wife, he said, "It is healthy for me to maintain this weight because I'll live longer if a famine occurs." What defense mechanism is Daniel using?

A)Repression
B)Rationalization
C)Displacement
D)Projection

Question 35

Mickey has been drinking more and more alcohol lately and his fraternity brothers have noticed. He used to have one or two beers a night, but lately he's up to 5 or 6. When they confront him and suggest that he should tone down his drinking, Mickey laughs and says "Guys, it's a fraternity. I don't have a problem!" and he goes back to his room to have a beer. Mickey may be using the defense mechanism of ________.

A)intellectualization
B)compensation
C)sublimation
D)denial

Question 36

One afternoon, Aaron ate hours-old Chinese food out of a garbage can. When his more sensible co-workers voiced their shock and disgust, Aaron replied, "It was in a styrofoam container, and there was nothing but paper in the trash can!" What defense mechanism was Aaron using?

A)Sublimation
B)Reaction formation
C)Displacement
D)Rationalization

Question 37

A teacher is excessively neat, always insists on washing the blackboard before and after class, and always cleans the classroom after his lectures. According to Freudian theory, the teacher may be experiencing a(n)

A)anal fixation.
B)repressed superego.
C)oral fixation.
D)phallic symbol fixation.

Question 38

In Freudian theory, a person who is compulsively neat or excessively sloppy may have a fixation at the ________ stage of psychosexual development.

A)latency
B)phallic
C)genital
D)anal

Question 39

Little Rashidat gets out of his bed and tries to get into his parents' bed so he can snuggle with Mommy. Yesterday he threw a tantrum because Mommy would not let him shower with her. He has also been acting fearful toward his father. According to psychodynamic theory, little Rashidat is going through the __________ stage.

A)oral
B)anal
C)phallic
D)genital

Question 40

At about age four, Bart begins to find his mother Marge quite sexually attractive. He feels the urge to kill his father Homer, so that he doesn't have to share his mother. However, Bart fears that Homer might get angry and retaliate against him. According to Freud, Bart is experiencing the __________ complex, which occurs during the __________ stage of development.

A)Electra; anal
B)Oedipal; genital
C)castration; sensorimotor
D)Oedipal; phallic

Question 41

Jolene comes home from a hard day at school and complains that Bill, a fellow sixth-grader she likes, doesn't seem to like her. In fact, she says, he isn't interested in any girls and all he seems to want to do is solve math problems and play kickball. Jolene's mother just laughs and says, "Bill must still be in the ________."

A)oral stage
B)anal stage
C)latency period
D)genital stage

Question 42

Freudian theory has been criticized for which of the following reasons?

A)It is a very narrow theory that cannot explain much of human behavior.
B)It offers little to help us understand or explain past behavior.
C)It is useful as an abstract theory, but it is seldom used in clinical settings.
D)It explains many things in ways that cannot be tested and disproved.

Question 43

Object relations theorists focus on the influence of __________ on personality development.

A)womb envy
B)tendencies toward introversion and extraversion
C)attachment to caregivers
D)unconscious psychosexual conflicts

Question 44

Oedipus has gotten over his unconscious desire for his mother and is consciously experiencing strong sexual feelings for girls his own age. According to Freud's psychosexual stages, Oedipus is most likely in the __________ stage.

A)oral
B)anal
C)phallic
D)genital

Question 45

Which of the following is not an assumption of the trait approach to personality?

A)Inconsistent or incompatible behaviors occur because traits are situation-specific.
B)Traits are stable and long-lasting.
C)Traits are general and occur in diverse situations.
D)Each person has his or her own set of traits that form a unique pattern of personality.

Question 46

Five-year-old Tauja says she wants to be a stockbroker just like her mother and marry a man just like her father when she grows up. A Freudian would say that Tauja is showing evidence of

A)the Oedipal complex.
B)the Electra complex.
C)striving for superiority.
D)object relations.

Question 47

Greg, Peter, and Colin enjoy playing together. The ten-year olds regularly meet after school and go to each other's houses. They share an interest in sports, and none of them have any interest in playing with girls. Which of the following statements would be a psychodynamic explanation for this group of kids?

A)They are in the latency period of personality development.
B)They have all experienced in adequate resolution of the Oedipal complex.
C)Although they are young, they are all demonstrating latent homosexual tendencies.
D)They are all successfully resolving the genital stage of psychosexual development.

Question 48

The trait approach to studying personality is based on three main foundations. They include all but which of the following?

A)Personality trends are consistent and stable across time.
B)No two people are exactly alike in their various personality traits.
C)Personality traits are consistent and stable across situations.
D)People are often unaware of why they are behaving in a specific manner.

Question 49

Dr. Akash is a contemporary psychodynamic theorist who focuses on the attachment theory. Therefore, Dr. Akash would likely disagree with which of the following statements?

A)Children who miss the opportunity for secure attachment are not likely to suffer severe disturbances in adult relationships.
B)The nature of attachment affects the shaping of a person's self-image and identity.
C)Women who had been securely attached as children are more likely to have happy marriages as adults.
D)Experiencing abuse as a child can affect how a person forms social relationships during late adulthood.

Question 50

Freud explains that the stage in which sexual desires become conscious is called the __________ stage.

A)phallic
B)latency
C)genital
D)anal

Question 51

Karen Horney, a neo-Freudian, believed that __________, and not penis envy, played a major role in personality development.

A)cultural factors
B)heredity
C)instincts
D)object relations

Question 52

This noted Neo-Freudian theorist developed an approach called analytic psychology, and suggested that people gradually develop different levels of introversion or extraversion, as well as other psychological tools for interacting with the world around them.

A)Jung
B)Adler
C)Erikson
D)Fromm

Question 53

Dr. Newhart identified 369 traits that are apparent in each individual's personality. He then used a mathematical tool determined which traits were correlated with others, and he was able to reduce his list to fourteen major traits. In other words, Dr. Newhart used __________ to identify the trait clusters.

A)a q-sort
B)factor analysis
C)a functional analysis
D)psychoanalysis

Question 54

Dilbert has many traits that help him to succeed at his job as an engineer. He is organized, efficient, dependable, thorough, and productive. According to the five-factor personality model, Dilbert is high in

A)agreeableness.
B)openness to experience.
C)conscientiousness.
D)extraversion.

Question 55

Mack feels empty because he can never bear children and will play only a small role in raising them. Karen Horney called this

A)womb envy.
B)penis envy.
C)the Electra complex.
D)the Oedipal complex.

Question 56

According to Freud, if conflicts at any given psychosexual stage are unresolved, the

A)person will make a rapid transition to the next stage in the sequence.
B)person will become a chain smoker or an alcoholic.
C)ego will fail to develop.
D)person will become fixated at that stage, which may affect future behaviors.

Question 57

Dr. Wombles considers himself a psychodynamic personality theorist, but he believes that an individual's early relationships with significant people are more important than instinctual sexual impulses in shaping personality. Dr. Wombles focuses on the importance of __________ on personality development.

A)psychosocial stages
B)object relations
C)archetypes
D)extraversion

Question 58

Of the following, which would not be considered a neo-Freudian theorist?

A)Alfred Adler
B)Harry Stack Sullivan
C)Karen Horney
D)Margaret Floy Washburn

Question 59

Thalia is going to apply for admissions to a Master's program in psychology. She asks her advisor, Dr. Shaw, to write her a letter of recommendation. In that letter, Dr. Shaw describes Thalia in glowing terms, noting that she is friendly, conscientious, hard-working, and very dependable. According to Gordon Allport, Dr. Shaw has listed several ________ traits to describe Thalia.

A)source
B)central
C)secondary
D)cardinal

Question 60

Amber says to her friend, "I don't know why you expect Simeon to change. The fact is people behave in stable ways." Amber most likely subscribes to the __________ approach to personality.

A)humanistic psychology
B)trait
C)psychodynamic
D)behavioral

Question 61

Calvin says, "To understand human personality, you have to know if people behave to get rewards or to avoid punishments." Hobbes says, "I think that you also have to take into account each person's unique way of looking at the world and consider how that viewpoint determines personality." Calvin uses the __________ approach, while Hobbes takes the __________ approach to understanding personality.

A)social-cognitive; trait
B)social-cognitive; humanistic psychology
C)psychodynamic; social-cognitive
D)trait; psychodynamic

Question 62

The trait dimension of emotionality-stability in the theory of Hans Eysenck is most similar to the trait of ________ in the five-factor model.

A)agreeableness
B)neuroticism
C)extraversion
D)conscientiousness

Question 63

The results of Demetrius's personality assessment showed that he scored low on extraversion and high on emotionality-stability. Which approach was Demetrius's assessment measure based on?

A)Allport's trait theory
B)Cattell's factor-analytic approach
C)Eysenck's biological trait theory
D)Freud's psychodynamic theory

Question 64

Complete the following personal ad: Seeking an outgoing individual who enjoys social activities. Must also be adventurous and willing to try anything. In other words, must be high in __________ and high in __________.

A)neuroticism; extraversion
B)openness to experience; conscientiousness
C)extraversion; openness to experience
D)conscientiousness; neuroticism

Question 65

Val pries open her sister's diary and is shocked to read that her sister believes Val is an anxious, nervous, and tense person. Upset at this discovery, Val takes a personality test to prove she does not rate high on the dimension of

A)agreeableness.
B)neuroticism.
C)introversion.
D)conscientiousness.

Question 66

Which of the following is not a basic assumption of the social-cognitive approach?

A)All behavior, even if it looks bizarre, is meaningful to the person displaying it.
B)Learned patterns of thought guide our behavior.
C)Much of personality is learned through observing and interacting with others.
D)Behavior is learned, in part, through classical and operant conditioning.

Question 67

After learning about personality in school, Becky came home and told her sister, Darlene, that she was introverted because her brain is relatively insensitive to rewards but highly sensitive to punishment. Darlene does not seem impressed by her sister's knowledge of __________ theory of personality.

A)the five-factor
B)the object relations
C)Eysenck's biological trait
D)Gray's reinforcement sensitivity

Question 68

Roger is an extroverted showman, sensitive to rewards and motivated to obtain exciting and sometimes dangerous video footage of his encounters with crocodiles. He does not worry about whether he might embarrass himself or get injured in front of his television viewers. Roger appears to have a sensitive

A)introversion-neuroticism dimension.
B)emotionality-stability dimension.
C)behavioral approach system.
D)behavioral inhibition system.

Question 69

Andre is very organized and efficient but also very anxious and tense. On which two of the five-factor personality model dimensions would Andre rate highly?

A)Neuroticism and congruence
B)Agreeableness and emotional stability
C)Conscientiousness and neuroticism
D)Extraversion and openness to experience

Question 70

Anastasia is writing a paper about the weaknesses of the trait approach to personality. Which of the following would be the best title for her paper?

A)"Overemphasizing the Role of Unconscious Processes on Behavior."
B)"Describing Behavior But Not Explaining It."
C)"Overemphasizing the Role of Situational Factors on Behavior."
D)"Concepts Too Vague to be Tested Empirically."

Question 71

After Eduardo takes a personality assessment based on the five-factor personality model, the results indicate he is a gregarious and outgoing person who gains energy from being with other people. In other words, Eduardo has scored high on the dimension of

A)emotionality-stability.
B)agreeableness.
C)growth orientation.
D)extraversion.

Question 72

After filling out a personality test, students were given individual personality profiles. Most said that their profiles were fairly good descriptions of themselves, and they were amazed to discover that they had all received the same profile. This illustrates one of the main criticisms of the __________ approach.

A)psychodynamic
B)trait
C)cognitive behavioral
D)humanistic psychology

Question 73

Based on research with adopted children and twins, which of the following is a justifiable statement about the contribution of heredity to personality?

A)There are "personality genes" that determine certain personality traits.
B)Identical twins that have been raised together have similar personality traits because of genetic factors.
C)Birth order is one of the most important influences on personality.
D)People inherit predispositions for certain personality factors.

Question 74

Mookie is outgoing and sociable, seeks excitement, and loves a good time. According to Eysenck, Mookie's personality is a result of all of the following except

A)his bodily reactions to stress.
B)the sensitivity of his nervous system to environmental stimulation.
C)his genetic and biological uniqueness.
D)his level of self-efficacy.

Question 75

Dr. Evil is finally captured and forced to undergo psychological testing. Dr. Evil's results reveal that he shows the characteristics of moodiness, anxiety, and restlessness. If the psychological tests were based on Eysenck's biological trait theory, Dr. Evil has been assessed on the __________ dimension of personality.

A)emotionality-stability
B)conscientiousness
C)introversion-extraversion
D)agreeableness

Question 76

Researchers assessed the personalities of the children who were adopted at an early age by Julene and Jay. The researchers compared the children's personalities to those of their biological and adoptive parents. Based on the studies described in the text, the children's personalities will be most similar to

A)Julene's and Jay's personalities.
B)Julene's, but not Jay's, personality.
C)their biological parents' personalities.
D)their classmates' personalities.

Question 77

After reading the Henry Potter books, Dawn describes Henry Potter as insightful, original, curious, and intellectual, as well as generous, kind, considerate, and forgiving. According to the five-factor personality model, Henry is high in __________ and high in __________.

A)conscientiousness; agreeableness
B)openness to experience; agreeableness
C)conscientiousness; extraversion
D)openness to experience; extraversion

Question 78

You are listening to a psychologist describe her approach to personality. She argues that through past learning, expectations about event outcomes are formed. Further, she suggests that one must consider the person, the environment, and the person-environment interaction. This psychologist follows a __________ theory.

A)social-cognitive
B)psychodynamic
C)trait
D)humanistic

Question 79

Marshall is a harsh, critical person. More often than not, he is in a bad mood and acts grumpily toward other people. According to Gray's reinforcement sensitivity theory, Marshall is more likely to experience more negative emotions because

A)he has a hypoactive behavioral approach system.
B)his brain has too much dopamine activity in its reward centers.
C)he has an active behavioral inhibition system.
D)he has an insensitive punishment system.

Question 80

According to psychologist Jeffrey Gray, the brain's __________ system affects sensitivity to rewards, whereas the __________ system affects sensitivity to punishment and the motivation to avoid punishment.

A)primary; secondary
B)secondary; primary
C)behavioral approach; behavioral inhibition
D)behavioral inhibition; behavioral approach