Question 1

_______________ is a fundamental personality dimension that describes the extent to which people are imaginative and questioning, or conforming and predictable.

Accepted Answer

Openness to experience is the fundamental personality dimension that describes the extent to which people are imaginative and questioning, or conforming and predictable. This dimension also includes attributes such as creativity, curiosity, and appreciation for art and beauty.

Question 2

During a mildly stressful task, reactive children are more likely than nonreactive to show:

Accepted Answer

Reactive children tend to have a higher reactivity to stress, which means they are more likely to release higher levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. Nonreactive children, on the other hand, tend to have a lower reactivity to stress and therefore may not show a significant increase in stress hormone levels during a mildly stressful task.

Question 3

Amir is constantly worrying about things, even though he really doesn't have anything to worry about. He constantly complains about his coursework and gives up on difficult projects easily. Amir is best described as highly:

Accepted Answer

Amir's behavior of constantly worrying and giving up easily on difficult tasks are classic signs of neuroticism.

Question 4

_______________ is a fundamental personality dimension that describes the extent to which people are anxious and impulsive.

Accepted Answer

Neuroticism versus emotional stability is the personality dimension that describes the extent to which people are anxious and impulsive. The other options (agreeableness versus antagonism, extroversion versus introversion, and openness to experience versus resistance to new experience) describe different personality dimensions.

Question 5

At the age of four months, Zach was excitable and fearful. His dad taped a colorful picture beside the changing table to entertain Zach during diaper changes. Zach overreacted to the picture and became agitated and nervous. Zach is most likely to be classified as a(n) ___________ child.

Accepted Answer

The description of Zach being excitable and fearful, and having an overreaction to the picture, suggest that he is a reactive child. Reactive children tend to have strong emotional reactions and may be easily distressed by unfamiliar or stimulating stimuli.

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

The concept described in the question is reciprocal determinism, which is the concept that a person's behavior, environment, and personal factors all interact and influence each other in a continuous and reciprocal manner. People's personalities and perceptions can be shaped by their experiences, and their experiences can also be influenced by their personalities and perceptions. This interactive process is at the heart of reciprocal determinism.

Question 7

Behavioral geneticists are finding that within a group of people, about _______________ of the variation in personality traits such as happiness is attributable to genetic differences.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral geneticists have found that around 50 percent of the variation in personality traits such as happiness is due to genetic differences within a group of people. Other factors like life experiences, culture, and environment also play a role in shaping personality traits.

Question 8

_______________ is a fundamental personality dimension that describes whether people are cooperative and secure, or irritable and abrasive.

Accepted Answer

The dimension described in the question is agreeableness versus antagonism, which is one of the five fundamental personality traits in the Five Factor Model. Extroversion versus introversion, neuroticism versus emotional stability, and openness to experience versus resistance to new experience are also personality dimensions in the Five Factor Model but do not directly relate to the description in the question.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

In the study of dogs and their owners, Samuel Gosling and his colleagues found that:

Accepted Answer

The study found that both the dog owners and the neutral observers agreed strongly in their ratings of the dogs' personalities along four of the Big Five dimensions (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness). This suggests that dogs do have personalities and that these personalities are consistent across different raters.

Question 11

Which of the following describes the general relationship between genes and personality?

Accepted Answer

While genes can play a role in shaping personality traits and predispositions, it is important to note that genetics do not determine personality entirely. Environmental factors and experiences can also impact personality development and expression. Therefore, having a genetic predisposition to a certain personality trait or disorder does not necessarily mean that it will inevitably occur, as environmental factors can influence whether or not those traits are expressed.

Question 12

As an infant, Melanie would lie in her crib without fussing and would rarely cry. As a toddler, she was curious and fairly extroverted. Melanie would most likely be classified as a ___________ child.

Accepted Answer

A nonreactive child is one who is generally calm, self-soothing, and doesn't react or respond strongly to new stimuli. This description fits Melanie, who did not fuss as an infant and was curious as a toddler. A precocious child is one who is advanced beyond their years, which is not mentioned in the description of Melanie. Reactive and responsive children are more likely to have strong emotional or behavioral reactions to stimuli, which is not mentioned as a characteristic of Melanie.

Question 13

_______________, according to many clinical psychologists, is an important trait that is not included among the Big Five.

Accepted Answer

Self-absorption is an important trait that is not included among the Big Five personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism). Neuroticism is actually one of the Big Five, while carelessness and suspicion are not considered separate major personality traits in this model.

Question 14

_______________, according to personality researchers, is an important trait that is not included among the Big Five.

Accepted Answer

Religiosity is not included among the Big Five personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism), but has been identified as an important and distinct trait by personality researchers.

Question 15

_______________ is a fundamental personality dimension that describes whether people are steadfast and persevering, or fickle and careless.

Accepted Answer

Conscientiousness is the fundamental personality dimension that describes whether people are steadfast and persevering or fickle and careless. It is characterized by traits such as organization, attention to detail, and responsibility. People who score high in conscientiousness are dependable, reliable, and achievement-oriented, while those who score low may be careless, forgetful, and irresponsible. The other options (A, B, and D) may impact personality traits but do not directly describe the steadfastness or carelessness of an individual.

Question 16

Estimates of the heritability of personality traits are typically about:

Accepted Answer

Estimates of the heritability of personality traits are typically about .50, indicating that roughly half of the variation in personality traits among individuals can be attributed to genetic differences.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Innate physiological dispositions to respond to the environment in certain ways that are present in infancy are called temperaments. Personality, aptitudes, and traits develop over time through a combination of nature and nurture.

Question 18

Regarding the Big Five, most psychologists would probably agree with the statement that:

Accepted Answer

The Big Five personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) are believed to be universal and apply to individuals across cultures and countries. Research has found that these traits are stable across an individual's lifetime, further supporting their importance in understanding personality. While some traits related to mental disorders may overlap with the Big Five, the focus of the Big Five is on broad personality traits rather than specific clinical diagnoses.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

The Big Five personality traits are openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Of the given options, only "openness to experience" is one of the Big Five personality traits. "Boringness" and "cleanliness" are not personality traits, and "psychopathy" is a personality disorder and not a trait within the Big Five framework.

Question 20

Which trait among the Big Five typically decreases by age 30?

Accepted Answer

Neuroticism tends to decrease as people age, particularly around or by the age of 30, as individuals often become more emotionally stable.

Quiz 14: Theories of Personality