Question 1

The two-way interaction between aspects of the environment and aspects of the individual in the shaping of personality traits is called:

Accepted Answer

Reciprocal determinism is the theory that personality is shaped both by the individual and the environment and that they interact in a dynamic, two-way relationship. This theory is based on the idea that individuals are not passive recipients of their environment, but they actively shape their environment as well. Classical conditioning, congruence, and displacement are not specific theories related to the interaction between the environment and personality traits.

Question 2

A psychologist is studying how a society's shared rules, along with the values, beliefs, and attitudes shared by most members of that community, affect the behavior of individuals. This research could be described as investigating the effect of _____________ on behavior.

Accepted Answer

The shared rules, values, beliefs, and attitudes of a community are all components of its culture. Therefore, the research is investigating the effect of culture on behavior.

Question 3

Dee Dee's parents place a high value on academic achievement, but her peers do not. In this situation, Dee Dee is most likely to:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dee Dee's parents place a high value...

Question 4

Cross-cultural research revealed that the most altruistic children come from societies in which:

Accepted Answer

In societies where children's work makes a genuine contribution to the well-being of the family, children learn the importance of cooperation, interdependence, and contributing to the greater good. This fosters a more altruistic mindset and behavior. In contrast, societies that emphasize individual achievement and self-fulfillment may prioritize competition and individualism over cooperation and altruism. Additionally, societies that prioritize play over work may not provide as many opportunities for children to develop a sense of responsibility and commitment to others.

Question 5

People who depend economically on agriculture tend to:

Accepted Answer

People who depend economically on agriculture tend to work together and rely on each other for success, which fosters cooperative strategies. This is because agriculture is often a highly unpredictable industry, and farmers need to work together to overcome challenges like drought, pests, and disease. While there may be pressures to defend one's honor or reputation, extreme vigilance is not necessarily a characteristic of agricultural communities.

Question 6

In a study comparing Japanese and Americans, the Japanese reported that their sense of self, in different situations, changes:

Accepted Answer

The Japanese reported that their sense of self changes significantly, between 90 percent to 99 percent, in different situations, reflecting a more context-dependent self-concept compared to Americans.

Question 7

Members of collectivist cultures:

Accepted Answer

Members of collectivist cultures value duty, obligation, and security over personal goals.

Question 8

When childrearing methods are studied, researchers have found that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of When childrearing methods are studied, researchers have...

Question 9

In a cross-cultural study of children's altruism, researchers found that the least altruistic children were from _______________.

Accepted Answer

The study found that children from the United States were the least altruistic compared to children from Mexico, the Philippines, and Kenya.

Question 10

Members of individualist cultures:

Accepted Answer

Members of individualist cultures prioritize personal goals over obligations to the group.

Question 11

Developmental psychologists have attempted to identify the effects of many specific childrearing practices on children's personality traits. The problem with this line of research, which was discussed in the textbook, is that:

Accepted Answer

The problem with identifying the effects of specific childrearing practices on children's personality traits is that parents can be inconsistent in their behavior towards their children from day to day and over the years. This inconsistency makes it difficult to determine if a specific practice is having a consistent impact on a child's personality.

Question 12

Research on aggressiveness has shown that:

Accepted Answer

Male aggression is more influenced by cultural factors than biological ones, as research indicates that the norms, values, and expectations of a society play a significant role in shaping aggressive behaviors among men.

Question 13

In Kaiti's culture, the wishes of the individual take precedence over group harmony. It is most likely that Kaiti defines her "self":

Accepted Answer

Kaiti's emphasis on individual wishes indicates that she defines her "self" based on her own personality traits, rather than in the context of a group or relationships.

Question 14

_______________ cultures are those in which the self is regarded as autonomous, and a person's goals are prized above duty to the group.

Accepted Answer

Individualist cultures give importance to individual goals and autonomy rather than duty towards the group.

Question 15

In Ana's culture, group harmony takes precedence over the wishes of the individual. It is most likely that Ana defines her "self":

Accepted Answer

In a culture where group harmony is valued over individual wishes, it is likely that Ana defines herself in the context of her relationships with others. This means that her identity, goals, and personality traits are all shaped by her role in her social group and how she relates to others within that group. Occupational goals and personality traits may still be important to her, but they would likely be viewed in the context of how they contribute to or affect her relationships with others.

Question 16

In behavioral genetic research, _______________ includes personal experiences, such as winning the lead in the school play.

Accepted Answer

The nonshared environment includes personal experiences that are unique to each individual, such as winning the lead in a school play. The shared environment refers to experiences that siblings or family members share, such as growing up in the same household. The individualist and collectivist cultures refer to broader cultural values and beliefs, and are not directly related to the concept of nonshared environment.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of an individualist culture?

Accepted Answer

Individualist cultures emphasize personal freedom and autonomy, often at the expense of group harmony or collective goals. The individual's needs and desires are generally considered more important than group needs. This contrasts with collectivist cultures, where cooperation and social harmony are emphasized and the needs of the group are prioritized over individual freedoms.

Question 18

Peter was raised in the southern United States. When he feels that he has been insulted, it is likely that:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that individuals from the southern United States often experience a heightened stress response when they feel insulted, leading to an increase in cortisol production.

Question 19

In behavioral genetic research, _______________ includes the family background in which you grew up and the experiences you shared with your siblings and parents.

Accepted Answer

The shared environment refers to experiences that family members have in common, such as parenting practices, family income and education, and cultural background. This can contribute to similarities in behavior and personality among family members.

Question 20

When two psychologists surveyed 275 freshmen at Cornell University, they found that:

Accepted Answer

The correct choice is A because the survey found that most freshmen had aspects of their lives or "secret lives" that they did not share with their parents. This indicates a common behavior among the freshmen surveyed, where they kept certain information or experiences hidden from their parents.

Quiz 14: Theories of Personality