Question 1

At one time or another, you may have noticed that when you say, "I think people feel...," you may be expressing your own feelings. This is similar to which type of measure used in psychological assessment?

Accepted Answer

This is similar to projection, a defense mechanism and psychological concept where individuals attribute their own thoughts, feelings, or motives to another person. In psychological assessments, projective tests are used to uncover unconscious desires, feelings, or struggles by interpreting people's responses to ambiguous stimuli.

Question 2

Jon is in the office of a potential employer. The conversation with his potential boss is informal with topics being taken up freely as they arise. Jon is undergoing a(n)

Accepted Answer

Jon is undergoing an unstructured interview, characterized by a conversational style and topics that arise spontaneously rather than a set list of questions.

Question 3

At one time or another, you have probably "sized up" a potential date, friend, or roommate by engaging them in conversation, which would be similar to which type of measure used in psychological assessment?

Accepted Answer

Engaging someone in conversation to "size them up" is similar to an interview in psychological assessment, where direct interaction and conversation are used to gather information about the individual.

Question 4

Formal personality measures

Accepted Answer

Formal personality measures are developed through systematic research and refinement of casual observations and judgments about people's behavior and traits, making them more structured and reliable than informal, everyday assessments.

Question 5

Which two of the following theories have the opposite view of human nature with one viewing human nature as inherently good and the other theory viewing human nature as inherently bad?

Accepted Answer

The humanistic theory views human nature as inherently good, emphasizing personal growth and self-actualization, while the psychoanalytic theory often views human nature as driven by unconscious desires and conflicts, which can be seen as inherently negative.

Question 6

At one time or another, you have probably asked a friend, "When I am delayed I get angry. Do you?" This interaction is similar to which type of measure used in psychological assessment?

Accepted Answer

Asking a friend about their reactions or feelings directly mirrors the method of using questionnaires in psychological assessments, where individuals are asked to respond to specific questions or statements to gather information about their psychological state.

Question 7

Regarding the four major theories of personality, the challenge now facing personality theorists is to determine

Accepted Answer

The challenge for personality theorists is to integrate the four major perspectives into a unified, systematic explanation of personality, rather than focusing solely on validation, prediction, or assessment. This approach acknowledges the complexity of personality and the value of diverse perspectives.

Question 8

To assess personality, psychologists tend to use

Accepted Answer

Psychologists use a combination of interviews, observation, questionnaires, and projective tests to assess personality, as each method provides unique insights and data.

Question 9

Which of the following theories minimize the role of the unconscious and\or view it as practically nonexistent?

Accepted Answer

All of these theories (trait, behaviorist, and humanistic) minimize the role of the unconscious or view it as practically nonexistent. Trait theory focuses on identifying and measuring individual personality characteristics. Behaviorist theory emphasizes observable behaviors and the ways they're learned. Humanistic theory centers on individual potential and stress the importance of growth and self-actualization. None of these theories emphasize the unconscious mind as a significant factor in human behavior.

Question 10

In an unstructured interview,

Accepted Answer

In an unstructured interview, the conversation is informal and the interviewer determines what subjects are discussed.

Question 11

Information about personality is obtained by asking a pre-planned set of questions in

Accepted Answer

Structured interviews involve a pre-planned set of questions designed to gather information systematically, including aspects of an individual's personality. This method ensures that the same information is collected from each interviewee, allowing for comparisons and analyses.

Question 12

In humanistic theories, the developmental emphasis involves

Accepted Answer

Humanistic theories, particularly those associated with psychologists like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, focus on the development of self-image, self-esteem, and the realization of one's full potential. These theories emphasize personal growth, self-actualization, and the concept of the self, rather than stages of development or learning through imitation.

Question 13

Which of the following involves direct questioning to learn about a person's life history, personality traits, or current mental state?

Accepted Answer

Interviews involve direct questioning to learn about a person's life history, personality traits, or current mental state, making them a primary method for gathering this type of information.

Question 14

The behaviorists and the social learning theorists believe that the structure of the personality consists of

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists and social learning theorists focus on observable behaviors and the effects of learning and environmental factors on personality. They emphasize habits, which are learned responses, and expectancies, which are predictions about future outcomes based on past experiences.

Question 15

By measuring personality at work, at school, and in therapy, we are able to

Accepted Answer

Measuring personality helps in predicting future behaviors by understanding consistent patterns in how individuals typically respond to various situations.

Question 16

At one time or another, you have watched your professors when they are angry or embarrassed and learned what they are "really" like when they're caught off-guard. This is similar to which type of measure used in psychological assessment?

Accepted Answer

Observation involves watching someone's behavior in certain situations to understand their characteristics or reactions, similar to observing professors' reactions when they are angry or embarrassed.

Question 17

Psychoanalytic theorists believe that the structure of the personality consists of

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic theory, founded by Sigmund Freud, posits that the personality is structured into three parts: the id, ego, and superego. These components interact to influence an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Question 18

Which of the following theories stress(es)that people have free will regarding their behavior rather than their behavior being determined?

Accepted Answer

Humanistic theories emphasize that people have free will and are capable of making choices that affect their lives, in contrast to theories that suggest behavior is determined by unconscious forces, environmental factors, or fixed traits.

Question 19

According to behaviorist theorists, barriers to personal growth include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Behaviorist theorists focus on observable behaviors and how they're learned through interactions with the environment. Maladaptive habits are considered barriers to personal growth because they are learned behaviors that are not beneficial and can hinder an individual's ability to adapt and grow.

Question 20

The developmental emphasis in psychoanalytic theory is the

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic theory, particularly that of Sigmund Freud, emphasizes the psychosexual stages of development, which include the oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages. These stages are central to Freud's view on how personality develops in childhood.

Quiz 12: Personality