Deck 14: Theories of Personality

Question 1

Dawn and Ken are expecting their first child. Dawn mentions one day that she plans on raising a child who is extroverted, conscientious, and agreeable. What three lines of evidence suggest that Dawn will not be able to determine the personality of her child?

Answer 1

A good answer will include the following key points.
- Shared environment has little or no effect on personality.
- Parents are not consistent when they are raising their child.
- Even if the parent is consistent, there may be little relationship between what the parent does and the personality the child develops.

Question 2

Ashton and Hayden are fraternal twins. Ashton has been labelled as reactive whereas Hayden has been labelled as nonreactive. When in a stressful situation, what physiological response will each boy have?

Answer 2

A good answer will include the following key points.
− Ashton, who is reactive, will have a greater physiological response to stress than Hayden.
- Ashton is likely to have a greater increase in heart rate, heightened brain activity, and a greater production of stress hormones than Hayden.

Question 3

In psychoanalysis, the part of the personality that represents reason, good sense, and rational self-control is called:

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

Answer 3

the ego.

Question 4

Describe the ways in which the object-relations school departs from Freudian theory in regard to the nature of male and female development.

Question 5

What did psychologists discover when, in a study discussed in your textbook, they surveyed freshman at Cornell University regarding their behaviours and their interactions with parents?

Question 6

Describe Jung's concept of the collective unconscious.

Question 7

What is meant by a "culture of honour"? According to Richard Nisbett, what role does one's means of livelihood (herding versus agriculture) play in this culture?

Question 8

_______________ is a habitual way of behaving, thinking, and feeling.

A) A personality
B) A trait
C) An archetype
D) A temperament

Question 9

Neuroticism is one of the Big Five personality traits. Compare the specific qualities of an individual who scores high in neuroticism with the qualities found in an emotionally stable person.

Question 10

In behavioural-genetic research, what is the "nonshared environment"?

Question 11

What does the empirical evidence show about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator's ability to predict a person's behaviour on the job or in relationships?

A) The evidence supports its use to predict job performance, but not behaviours in relationships.
B) The evidence does not support it.
C) The evidence does not support its use to predict job performance, but it does make useful predictions about behaviour in relationships.
D) The test has been clearly established as strong and reliable for both job performance and relationship predictions.

Question 12

Critics of psychodynamic theories argue that these theories are guilty of three scientific failings. Name the failings discussed in your textbook and then share your personal reaction to psychodynamic theory and its critics.

Question 13

What are the three systems that comprise personality according to Sigmund Freud? Briefly describe them.

Question 14

Maya is 10 years old. She is very quiet and kind at home but her teacher calls one day to report that Maya appears to be a ringleader of a gang of girls who are vandalizing the restrooms and preventing younger children from using the playground. What might be the reason for her personality change?

Question 15

According to Freud, the psychosexual stage that occurs during the grade school years until puberty is called the:

A) latency stage.
B) oral stage.
C) anal stage.
D) phallic stage.

Question 16

Define heritability. Describe an example of a highly heritable trait and an example of a trait that would have low heritability.

Question 17

Which of the following is one of the Big Five personality traits?

A) boringness
B) openness to experience
C) cleanliness
D) psychopathy

Question 18

Describe the ways in which humanist psychologists argue they have added balance to the study of personality.

Question 19

In behavioural-genetic research, what is "shared environment"?

Question 20

_______________ occurs when people refuse to admit to an event, feeling, or memory that causes them anxiety or distress.

A) Projection
B) Sublimation
C) Displacement
D) Denial

Question 21

Raymond Cattell advanced the study of personality by:

A) developing case-study analysis.
B) rejecting early Greek theories of personality.
C) devising the Myers-Briggs inventory.
D) using factor analysis.

Question 22

Members of individualist cultures:

A) give priority to personal goals.
B) value obligation and security.
C) place responsibilities to the group above personal goals.
D) tend to explain behaviours through group norms.

Question 23

For Gordon Allport, our personalities reflect:

A) five to ten central traits and additional secondary traits.
B) the ways we cope with the struggle to find meaning in existence.
C) whether or not a person received unconditional positive regard throughout childhood.
D) a gradual progression toward self-actualization.

Question 24

In psychoanalysis, which component of personality is present at birth and is the reservoir of unconscious psychological energy and the motives to avoid pain and obtain pleasure?

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

Question 25

A person's personality can affect the way they perceive an experience. Conversely, different experiences can change the way a person's perceptions take place. This is an example of which concept?

A) social-cognitive interaction
B) nature-nurture theory
C) heritability
D) reciprocal determinism

Question 26

The first psychodynamic theory of personality was developed by:

A) Sigmund Freud.
B) John Watson.
C) Abraham Maslow.
D) Carl Jung.

Question 27

Which of the following theories of personality would be most likely to emphasize the freedom of individuals to choose to act in particular ways?

A) humanist
B) behaviourist
C) psychodynamic
D) collectivist

Question 28

_______________, one of the oldest theories of personality, was very influential and still appeals to some psychologists today.

A) Humanist theory
B) Genetic theory
C) Psychoanalytic theory
D) Cognitive theory

Question 29

Phrases such as "displacing one's anger," "being in denial," and "repressing a memory" are all based on ideas related to:

A) social-cognitive learning theory.
B) psychodynamic theory.
C) humanist theory.
D) trait theory.

Question 30

_______________ is defined as a distinctive and relatively stable pattern of behaviours, thoughts, motives, and emotions that characterizes an individual.

A) A trait
B) Personality
C) Reciprocal determinism
D) Ego

Question 31

_______________ is a habitual way of behaving, thinking, and feeling.

A) A personality
B) A trait
C) An archetype
D) A temperament

Question 32

When childrearing methods are studied, researchers have found that:

A) almost all children have lasting emotional damage if their parents use abusive methods.
B) loving parents who are consistent in their childrearing seldom have troubled children.
C) the shared environment of the home has little if any influence on personality.
D) parents adopt a preferred method of childrearing and seldom vary it from child to child.

Question 33

Innate physiological dispositions to respond to the environment in certain ways that are present in infancy are called:

A) personalities.
B) aptitudes.
C) temperaments.
D) traits.

Question 34

Which of the following is an emphasis shared by all psychodynamic theories?

A) an emphasis on unconscious processes within the mind
B) an emphasis on our uniquely human capacity to determine our own actions and futures
C) an emphasis on adult experiences as the cause of ongoing problems
D) an emphasis on the heritability of temperaments

Question 35

According to the ____________ view of personality, the story we tell about ourselves shapes who we are.

A) humanist
B) social-cognitive learning
C) narrative
D) psychoanalytic

Question 36

Mark is angry when his teacher blames him for misbehaving when it actually was the child behind him who had been acting up. As he leaves after school, he shoves another boy who gets in his way. Freud would say that Mark is unconsciously using the defence mechanism of:

A) displacement.
B) repression.
C) projection.
D) denial.

Question 37

_______________ is a statistical estimate of the proportion of the total variance in some trait among individuals within a group that is attributable to genetic differences.

A) Reciprocal determinism
B) Heritability
C) Factor analysis
D) Congruence

Question 38

_______________ is defined as a distinctive and relatively stable pattern of behaviours, thoughts, motives, and emotions that characterizes an individual throughout life.

A) A trait
B) Personality
C) Temperament
D) The ego

Question 39

Penny is a folklorist who studies myths and stories from different cultures around the world. She notices that there are some character types that appear frequently, despite the fact that the cultures she studies have had little to no contact with each other. Whose work would Penny likely cite to explain this observation?

A) Karen Horney
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Melanie Klein
D) Carl Jung

Question 40

After twelve years of attending the same schools, Holly and Amy chose to attend colleges in different states. Holly remembered Amy as a shy but friendly girl who rarely took risks, and so Holly was surprised when her friend sent an email describing the thrill of skydiving. Holly's surprise occurred because Amy's behaviours don't match the ________________ that Holly had observed in high school.

A) peak experiences
B) personality traits
C) archetypes
D) defence mechanisms

Question 41

Mark is angry when his teacher blames him for misbehaving when it actually was the child behind him who had been acting up. As he leaves after school, he shoves another boy who gets in his way. Freud would say that Mark is unconsciously using the defence mechanism of:

A) displacement.
B) repression.
C) projection.
D) denial.

Question 42

_______________ occurs when people direct their emotions toward objects, animals, or people that are not the real object of their emotion.

A) Projection
B) Regression
C) Displacement
D) Denial

Question 43

Latasha sees an iPad sitting on a park bench. According to the psychoanalytic view, if her superego had a voice, it would probably tell her:

A) to take the iPad because she really wants it and it will bring her pleasure.
B) that stealing is wrong and she should leave the iPad where it is.
C) that if she wants the iPad, the logical thing to do is save her money so she can by one.
D) it's OK to take the iPad because the owner clearly didn't want it anymore.

Question 44

Vito is angry when the school bus driver blames him for misbehaving, when it actually was the child behind him who had been acting up. As he gets off the bus, he kicks the bus tire. Freud would say that Vito is unconsciously using the defence mechanism of:

A) displacement.
B) repression.
C) projection.
D) denial.

Question 45

During a grade school field trip, Ryan and his friends were running down a hill when he stepped on a snake. He was unharmed but shaken by the experience. When one of his friends mentioned the incident months later, Ryan could not remember running down the hill that day. Sigmund Freud would say that this is an example of:

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

Question 46

Winnie is attracted to her best friend's boyfriend. Despite her friendship, when her friend isn't around, Winnie tries to steal him away. According to Sigmund Freud, which part of the personality would be responsible for this behaviour?

A) the collective unconscious
B) the id
C) the ego
D) the superego

Question 47

Theorists within the psychodynamic tradition would agree that:

A) humans are rational decision makers.
B) personality development is smooth and continuous.
C) psychologists need to rely on objective rather than subjective methods.
D) adult personalities and ongoing problems are formed primarily by experiences in early childhood.

Question 48

In psychoanalytic theory, the inner voice that says you did something morally wrong is called the:

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

Question 49

Cecil is sexually attracted to his middle-school English teacher. He doesn't act on his feelings however, because he realizes that it is unrealistic that his teacher would respond positively to his advances. According to Sigmund Freud, which part of the personality would be responsible for Cecil's restraint?

A) the collective unconscious
B) the id
C) the ego
D) the superego

Question 50

In psychoanalysis, a _______________ is a strategy that denies or distorts reality, but protects us from conflict and anxiety.

A) libido
B) trait
C) defence mechanism
D) complex

Question 51

In psychoanalysis, the psychic energy that fuels sexuality and life instincts is called:

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

Question 52

Which defence mechanism involves unconscious expulsion or conscious suppression of disturbing material from awareness?

A) repression
B) regression
C) displacement
D) projection

Question 53

According to Sigmund Freud, the aspect of personality that is partly conscious, but mostly unconscious, is the:

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

Question 54

Freud's theory is called psychodynamic because it emphasizes the:

A) dynamic interaction between consequences in the environment and the psyche's interpretation of those consequences.
B) importance of family dynamics throughout the lifespan in the development of a healthy personality.
C) movement of psychological energy within the person, in the form of attachments, conflicts, and motivations.
D) existential conflicts that lead a person to seek the meaning of life and to explore his or her personal motivations.

Question 55

During a job interview, Dr. Sarter informs the search committee that she is a psychodynamic theorist. Given this information, the committee realizes that Dr. Sarter most likely believes that:

A) humans are rational decision makers.
B) personality development is smooth and continuous.
C) psychologists need to rely on objective rather than subjective methods.
D) early childhood experiences are critical in shaping a person's adult personality.

Question 56

In psychoanalysis, the part of the personality that represents conscience, morality, and social standards is called:

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

Question 57

In psychoanalysis, which component of personality is present at birth and is the reservoir of unconscious psychological energies and the motives to avoid pain and obtain pleasure?

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

Question 58

In psychoanalysis, which component of personality is a "referee" between the needs of instinct and the demands of society?

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

Question 59

In psychoanalysis, which component of personality represents morality and parental authority?

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

Question 60

In psychoanalysis, the part of the personality that represents reason, good sense, and rational self-control is called:

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

Question 61

If the frustration, conflict, and anxiety associated with a particular psychosexual stage are not properly resolved, Freud believed children may:

A) jump forward to the next stage.
B) regress back to the previous stage.
C) remain fixated, or stuck, at that stage.
D) fail to develop a superego.

Question 62

_______________ said that there is a collective unconscious shared by all human beings, containing universal memories, symbols, and images that are the legacy of human history.

A) Carl Jung
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Karen Horney
D) Raymond Cattell

Question 63

Penny is a folklorist who studies myths and stories from different cultures around the world. She notices that there are some character types that appear frequently, despite the fact that the cultures she studies have had little to no contact with each other. Whose work would Penny likely cite to explain this observation?

A) Karen Horney
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Melanie Klein
D) Carl Jung

Question 64

Carl Jung would have agreed that:

A) Darth Vader and dragons represent the shadow archetype.
B) the collective unconscious differs for each person.
C) human personality is mostly driven by "dark" forces.
D) past conflicts provide the only motivation for current behaviours.

Question 65

_______________ occurs when people refuse to admit to an event, feeling, or memory that causes them anxiety or distress.

A) Projection
B) Sublimation
C) Displacement
D) Denial

Question 66

According to Sigmund Freud, which of the following occurs in the phallic stage?

A) the Oedipus complex
B) a period of nonsexuality
C) toilet training
D) the emergence of the superego

Question 67

According to Sigmund Freud, _______________ is the stage of psychosexual development that is present during the first year of life.

A) the oral stage
B) the anal stage
C) the phallic stage
D) the latency stage

Question 68

According to Sigmund Freud, which psychosexual stage is most crucial for the formation of personality?

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

Question 69

A patient confides his homosexual orientation to his psychoanalyst. If the psychoanalyst shares the opinions of Sigmund Freud, he will view this sexual orientation as:

A) a sin.
B) a variation of sexual function.
C) a perversion.
D) something shameful.

Question 70

_______________ occurs when a person's own unacceptable or threatening feelings are repressed and then attributed to someone else.

A) Projection
B) Sublimation
C) Displacement
D) Denial

Question 71

Archetypes are:

A) beliefs about how your own mind and the minds of other people work.
B) habitual ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
C) universal, symbolic images that appear in myths, art, and dreams.
D) strategies to succeed in the world that are not explicitly taught.

Question 72

Making a vow of celibacy was difficult for Andrew when he became a priest, but he remained true to his vow. On his 25th anniversary, the congregation held a reception and displayed several pieces of liturgical art that Andrew had created over the past two decades. According to Freud, Andrew's artistic creations might be the result of:

A) sublimation.
B) regression.
C) denial.
D) projection.

Question 73

Four-year-old Lindsey squeezes between her Mommy and Daddy as they sit together on the couch. She cuddles her Daddy but refuses to kiss her Mommy. Which Freudian concept does this scenario illustrate?

A) the genital stage
B) the Oedipus complex
C) sublimation
D) regression

Question 74

When boys are in the Oedipal stage, according to Freud:

A) they are distressed because when they grow up they won't be able to have babies.
B) they are horrified by naked girls, because they think girls have had their penises cut off.
C) they are distressed to learn that they can never nurse a baby like Mommy can.
D) they do not have a powerful motivation to give up their Oedipal feelings for their mothers.

Question 75

Which defence mechanism involves reversion to an earlier phase of psychological development?

A) repression
B) regression
C) displacement
D) projection

Question 76

The _______________ are the most critical for the inner core of personality, according to objection-relations theorists.

A) first two years of life
B) preadolescent years
C) late adolescent years
D) early adulthood years

Question 77

According to Carl Jung, part of the legacy of human history is a:

A) womb envy shared by all men, consisting of universal symbols of the "Earth Mother."
B) penis envy shared by all women, consisting of universal memories of the "Powerful Father."
C) collective unconscious shared by all human beings containing universal memories, symbols, and images.
D) liturgical unconscious shared by all human beings containing symbols from each of the major world religions.

Question 78

According to Freud, the psychosexual stage that occurs during the grade school years until puberty is called the:

A) latency stage.
B) oral stage.
C) anal stage.
D) phallic stage.

Question 79

Diego hears from the doctor that he has a serious disease. Diego's response is "This can't be true! There's been a mistake. It cannot be me." What Freudian defence mechanism is Diego using?

A) regression
B) projection
C) displacement
D) denial

Question 80

Which of the following statements most closely reflects the current view of Freudian theory?

A) Freud's works have largely been ignored because they are uninteresting.
B) Most psychologists agree that careful scientific study has confirmed most of Freud's ideas.
C) Although many of Freud's ideas have been proven wrong, almost all psychologists agree that he used good scientific methodology.
D) Freud's basic ideas are accepted by some psychologists, but many reject his theories as unscientific.