Question 1

Which is the most commonly used personality inventory?

Accepted Answer

The MMPI-2-RF (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form) is the most commonly used personality inventory. It is a widely used self-report measure of personality and psychopathology in adults. It assesses a wide range of personality traits and clinical conditions such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.

Question 2

What is the main advantage of personality inventories over projective tests and interviews?

Accepted Answer

The main advantage of personality inventories over projective tests and interviews is that inventories are standardized, meaning that all individuals are administered the same questions in the same order using the same response scales. This reduces variability in the administration of the test and increases reliability and validity. In contrast, projective tests and interviews can vary in the stimuli presented, the interpretation of responses, and the skills of the assessor administering the test.

Question 3

As part of the initial screening for possible employment, a nuclear power company administers a psychological test that yields scores on tendencies toward depression and schizophrenia. What is the name of this psychological test?

Accepted Answer

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a psychological test commonly used by employers to screen potential employees. It measures various personality traits, including tendencies toward depression and schizophrenia, which could potentially impact job performance in a nuclear power plant setting. The MMPI is widely regarded as a reliable and valid test for employment screening purposes.

Question 4

If you are completing a paper-and-pencil test that requires you to read statements and respond "true" or "false" to indicate whether or not the statements apply to you, then you are likely taking a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

The description given matches that of a personality inventory, which is a type of self-report questionnaire that asks individuals to respond to statements about themselves. The individual is typically asked to indicate the degree to which they agree or disagree with each statement using a Likert-type scale. The true/false format is one example of a Likert-type scale. Examples of personality inventories include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Big Five Inventory (BFI).

Question 5

Which of the following is a projective test?

Accepted Answer

The Rorschach is a projective test that presents individuals with inkblot images and asks them to describe what they see, allowing for interpretation of their responses to gain insight into their personality and psychological functioning. The other choices listed (MMPI-2-RF, 16PF, and NEO-PI-3) are self-report personality inventories, not projective tests.

Question 6

The tendency to form a favorable or unfavorable impression of someone at the first meeting is called the __________.

Accepted Answer

The tendency to form a favorable or unfavorable impression of someone at the first meeting is called the halo effect. This occurs when a single trait or characteristic of a person dominates the perception of the entire personality.

Question 7

Problems with behavioral assessments can include the __________ (when a person's behavior is affected by being watched).

Accepted Answer

The observer effect is when a person's behavior is affected by being watched, which can create problems with the accuracy of behavioral assessments. Subject bias, experimenter bias, and observer bias are all related to the potential for biases to impact the results of assessments, but they are not specifically related to the observer effect.

Question 8

When Aimee looks at some modern artwork at the museum, she often thinks she sees human figures or faces and likes to make up stories about them. When she tells the stories to her friend, her friend says that the stories reflect Aimee's unconscious thoughts. In psychological terms, what Aimee does is most similar to __________.

Accepted Answer

Aimee's process of seeing human figures and faces in modern artwork and creating stories about them reflects the technique used in projective tests, where individuals are asked to respond to ambiguous stimuli in a way that reveals their unconscious thoughts and feelings. Aimee is projecting her own thoughts and emotions onto the artwork, much like how individuals completing projective tests project their own internal conflicts onto the presented stimuli.

Question 9

Which assessment technique requires people to respond to unstructured or ambiguous stimuli?

Accepted Answer

Projective assessment techniques ask participants to respond to unstructured or ambiguous stimuli, such as inkblots or incomplete sentences, in order to reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings. Dynamic assessments involve observing a person's problem-solving ability and potential for learning. Objective assessments use standardized measures and have clear, predetermined answers. Predictive assessments are used to forecast future behavior or outcomes based on current data.

Question 10

While taking the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Jennifer notices that it contains certain questions that are asked several times in different ways. She asks her son Sean, a graduate student in psychology, why that is. What is Sean likely to say?

Accepted Answer

The MMPI contains repeated questions that are used to determine if test takers are trying to "fake" the test. By including similar questions multiple times, the test creators can identify people who may be trying to manipulate their responses to the test. This helps ensure the validity and accuracy of the results.

Question 11

As part of an application for a job, Antwan is asked to complete some psychological tests, including one in which he responds "true" or "false" to items such as "I feel sad most of the time" and "I had a good childhood." What type of psychological test is Antwan taking?

Accepted Answer

Antwan is taking an inventory, specifically a self-report inventory. These types of tests ask individuals to report on their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as opposed to projective tests which ask individuals to respond to ambiguous stimuli in order to reveal unconscious thoughts and motives. The TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) is also a projective test, while a behavioral log is a type of observational recording of behavior.

Question 12

Zaahir has devised a test in which people look at clouds and talk about what they see. What type of test would psychologists call this?

Accepted Answer

The description of the test resembles a projective test, in which ambiguous stimuli (in this case, clouds) are presented and the individual's responses reveal their unconscious thoughts, feelings, and attitudes.

Question 13

A person's responses to a projective test are thought to reflect __________.

Accepted Answer

Projective tests are designed to tap into a person's unconscious thoughts and feelings by presenting ambiguous stimuli and asking the individual to respond with their own interpretations. The idea is that a person's responses will reveal buried emotions, fears, and desires that they may not be aware of consciously. This can provide insights into their personality and behavior patterns.

Question 14

Which psychological test asks the subject to tell a story based on a picture of one or more people in which it is unclear what is going on?

Accepted Answer

The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) involves showing the subject a series of pictures, typically ambiguous in nature, and asking them to create a story about what is happening in the picture. This test is designed to reveal a person's unconscious thoughts, motivations, and desires. The other options listed (Rorschach test, California Psychological Inventory, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) involve different types of assessments, but do not involve the use of pictures for interpretation.

Question 15

Someone interested in an inventory that might be helpful in making a career choice should try __________.

Accepted Answer

The MBTI is a widely used personality inventory that can help individuals discover their strengths, interests, and preferences in terms of career choices. It categorizes people into one of 16 personality types, each of which has associated career options that may be a good fit. The other options listed, such as the TAT, Rorschach test, and MMPI, are not specifically designed to help with career choice and may focus more on mental health or personality traits.

Question 16

Projective tests make use of __________ stimuli.

Accepted Answer

Projective tests use ambiguous stimuli such as inkblots or pictures in order to reveal the unconscious thoughts and feelings of the individual being tested. The ambiguity allows the individual to project their own thoughts and feelings onto the stimuli, giving insight into their personality and emotional state.

Question 17

Freud's refusal to believe his patients who said they were sexually molested as children is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

Freud's refusal to believe his patients who reported being sexually molested as children is an example of interviewer bias. Freud was biased against believing that sexual abuse had occurred because it conflicted with his theory of the unconscious mind and repressed desires. Therefore, he dismissed the reports as fantasies or untruthful.

Question 18

Which personality test relies on the interpretation of inkblots to understand personality?

Accepted Answer

The Rorschach test relies on the interpretation of inkblots to understand personality. The MMPI-2-RF and 16PF are both self-report questionnaires while the TAT uses storytelling to understand personality.

Question 19

What is one purpose of the validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)?

Accepted Answer

The validity scales of the MMPI are meant to detect the tendencies of test takers to present themselves in a favorable light, also known as social desirability bias. This helps ensure that responses on the test are accurate and not distorted by the individual's desire to present themselves in a certain way. The other options (A, B, and D) are not relevant to the purpose of the validity scales.

Question 20

Ebony and Austin are looking at an abstract painting in a museum. Ebony describes objects and people she thinks she sees in the painting. Austin says, "It's a bunch of paint thrown on a canvas." Ebony responds, "No, there is so much here that you just don't see." During lunch, they agree that their experience reminds them of what concept they learned in introductory psychology?

Accepted Answer

Ebony's interpretation of the abstract painting, seeing specific objects and people, and Austin's inability to see beyond the literal paint, reflect the concept of projective testing. This psychological concept involves individuals projecting their own perceptions, thoughts, and feelings onto ambiguous stimuli, such as an abstract painting, revealing their inner thoughts or feelings.

Quiz 13: Theories of Personality