Question 1

What is the purpose of a defense mechanism from the psychodynamic perspective?

Accepted Answer

According to the psychodynamic perspective, defense mechanisms are used to keep unpleasant thoughts and motivations in our unconscious mind. This is done to protect our conscious mind from being overwhelmed by negative emotions and impulses.

Question 2

Sigmund Freud is the original theorist whose work influenced the __________ perspective of personality development.

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychoanalysis and his theories heavily influenced the psychodynamic perspective of personality development, which focuses on the roles of unconscious motivations and early childhood experiences.

Question 3

One graphical representation of Freud's theory of the mind presents his ideas as being akin to a(n)__________.

Accepted Answer

Freud's theory of the mind is often represented graphically as an iceberg, where the tip of the iceberg represents the conscious mind, the visible part above the water, while the larger part that is submerged represents the unconscious mind, which includes repressed thoughts, memories, and desires. This analogy emphasizes the idea that much of our behavior and thoughts are influenced by unconscious processes that are hidden and not readily accessible to our conscious awareness, similar to the hidden part of the iceberg underwater.

Question 4

__________ is a focus on one particular erogenous zone of the body.

Accepted Answer

Fixation refers to getting "stuck" at a particular stage of psychosexual development, where the individual becomes overly focused on one particular erogenous zone (e.g. the mouth, anus, or genitals). This can lead to issues in later development and personality formation. The other options are not related to this concept.

Question 5

The __________ is the part of the psyche that tries to identify the basic drive that the id wants to fulfill and to come up with a realistic plan for satisfying that drive.

Accepted Answer

The ego is responsible for mediating between the unconscious desires of the id and the reality of the external world. It tries to find ways to satisfy the basic drives of the id while taking into account the constraints and demands of the environment.

Question 6

The __________ theory of personality focuses on the interaction of mental,often unconscious,forces.

Accepted Answer

The psychodynamic theory of personality focuses on mental and often unconscious forces, such as repressed emotions and unresolved conflicts, that interact to shape behavior and thoughts. This theory, developed by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes the role of early childhood experiences and the unconscious mind in shaping personality.

Question 7

According to Freud,the personality develops over the course of ___ psychosexual stages.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, the personality develops over the course of five psychosexual stages: oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital. Each stage is characterized by a different focus of the libido and conflicts that must be resolved for healthy personality development.

Question 8

Larika's friends tried to get her to go out on Friday night,but she simply refused."I have so much studying to do,and the house is a mess,and I really want to get my laundry done so I don't have to worry about it this weekend," she protested.Her friends,disappointed that Larika's __________ was preventing her from going out and having fun,had to hit the town without her!

Accepted Answer

Larika's refusal to go out with her friends due to her sense of responsibility and prioritization of duties over pleasure is indicative of the influence of the superego. The superego represents the moral component of the personality, which strives for perfection and is responsible for feelings of guilt and the imposition of self-imposed duties, such as studying and housekeeping, over the desire for immediate gratification or leisure activities.

Question 9

The method of psychological treatment that was developed by Sigmund Freud is called __________,and requires a patient to talk with a trained therapist who listens to and interprets each word.

Accepted Answer

The method of psychological treatment developed by Sigmund Freud is called psychoanalysis. It involves a patient talking with a trained therapist who listens to and interprets each word in order to uncover unconscious desires and conflicts.

Question 10

Which of the three major systems of the personality operates on the pleasure principle,according to the theory of the psychodynamic perspective?

Accepted Answer

According to the psychodynamic perspective, the id is the only one of the three major systems of the personality that operates on the pleasure principle. The id is the impulsive and instinctual part of the personality that seeks immediate gratification of basic needs and desires.

Question 11

One criticism of the trait perspective of personality is the _________ controversy,which focuses on the question of whether individual behaviors are more influenced by contextual factors than by personality traits.

Accepted Answer

The person-situation controversy is one of the criticisms of the trait perspective of personality. It questions whether individual behavior is more influenced by situational factors or personality traits. This controversy suggests that our behavior is a result of both our personality traits and the context in which the behavior occurs.

Question 12

How do genes influence our personality? One model that attempts to explain this relationship says that genes,in fact,influence our __________ - the characteristics and traits with which we are born - and those in turn influence the way we behave.

Accepted Answer

According to the model mentioned in the question, genes influence our temperament - the innate characteristics and traits we are born with - which, in turn, can influence our behavior and ultimately contribute to our personality.

Question 13

If the id acts like a child,then the __________ acts like a parent.

Accepted Answer

The superego acts like a parent to the id. It represents our internalized ideals, morality, and values learned from society and parents. The superego helps control the impulses of the id and encourages behavior that is morally and socially acceptable.

Question 14

Which of the three interacting systems of the personality is concerned with moral behavior and operating according to standards of right and wrong?

Accepted Answer

The superego is responsible for moral behavior and operates according to ethical and social standards. It is the part of personality that represents the internalized ideals and values of society, and strives to act in a socially acceptable manner. The id, on the other hand, is the instinctual and primitive part of personality that seeks immediate satisfaction of basic needs and desires, while the ego mediates between the id and the outside world to try to find a realistic balance between the two. The reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual behaves in the opposite way of their true feelings, thoughts or beliefs.

Question 15

The concept that unconscious processes underlie all conscious thoughts and actions is called psychic __________.

Accepted Answer

The concept that unconscious processes underlie all conscious thoughts and actions is called psychic determinism. Option B is incorrect because predestination refers to the belief that all events are predetermined by a higher power. Option C is too broad and does not specifically relate to the concept of unconscious processes influencing conscious behavior. Option D refers to a specific defense mechanism in which an individual defends against an unconscious impulse by forming the opposite attitude or behavior.

Question 16

Which of the following is one of the three interacting systems of the mind,according to Freud?

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, the three interacting systems of the mind are the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of basic drives such as hunger and sexual desire. The ego is the rational part of the mind that mediates between the id and external reality, seeking to satisfy the id's demands in socially acceptable ways. The superego is the moral part of the mind that internalizes societal norms and values and strives to uphold them, often leading to a conflict with the id.

Question 17

Maybe you remember the classic Saturday morning cartoons - you know the ones with the animals that sometimes fought and sometimes got along? Do you remember the one where a character would have to decide between good and bad choices,and there would be an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other? In psychodynamic theory,the force that balances the needs of the angel and the devil is called the

Accepted Answer

According to psychodynamic theory, the ego is the force that balances the conflicting demands of the id (our primitive desires) and the superego (our sense of morality and right and wrong), much like the character in the cartoon with the angel and devil on their shoulder. Therefore, the best choice is C) ego.

Question 18

If the id operates according to the pleasure principle,then the ego operates according to the __________ principle.

Accepted Answer

The ego operates according to the reality principle, which means it balances the desires of the id with the demands of the external world. It seeks to satisfy the id's impulses in a way that is realistic and socially appropriate. The ego uses logical thinking and problem-solving skills to find realistic ways to satisfy the id's desires while considering the constraints of the external world.

Question 19

The __________ is the part of the psyche that tries to satisfy a person's basic drives and survival instincts.

Accepted Answer

The id is the part of the psyche that operates on the pleasure principle and drives a person's basic instincts and needs, such as hunger and thirst. It seeks immediate gratification without consideration for social norms or consequences.

Question 20

Young Desirae is always asking her mother for things."Mommy,can I have a cookie?" "Mommy,can I have a new toy?" "Mommy,can I have a drink of water?" "Mommy,I want to stay up late." The fact that Desirae is not at all interested in what her Mommy wants,and instead focuses only on her own pleasure needs,suggests that she operates mostly from the __________ component of her personality.

Accepted Answer

The id is the part of the personality that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of instincts and desires without considering the consequences or the needs of others. Desirae's constant focus on her own pleasure needs, without regard for her mother's wants or needs, suggests that she is primarily operating from the id.

Quiz 16: Personality and Individual Differences