Question 1

The four components necessary for a complete understanding of personality include each of the following except

Accepted Answer

The four components necessary for a complete understanding of personality include assessment, research, application, and theory/philosophy. Therefore, option C, philosophy, is not necessary for a complete understanding of personality.

Question 2

The component necessary for the study of personality known as assessment is characterized by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Assessment involves the use of inventories (such as surveys or questionnaires), tests (such as intelligence or personality tests), and direct observations to gather information about an individual's personality. A and B are not accurate descriptions of assessment, while C is only one aspect of the process.

Question 3

Early psychologists presented extreme positions on the conscious versus unconscious determinants issue. Which of the following modern psychologists now recognize that much information is processed below awareness?

Accepted Answer

Modern cognitive psychologists recognize that much information is processed below awareness, indicating that the unconscious plays an important role in behavior and cognition.

Question 4

In contrast to the other approaches, in what way are the behavioral/social learning approach and the psychoanalytic approach to personality similar?

Accepted Answer

Both the behavioral/social learning approach and the psychoanalytic approach suggest that individuals may not be fully aware of the underlying causes of their behavior, with the former focusing on learned behaviors and the latter on unconscious processes.

Question 5

Which of the four components necessary for the study of personality is characterized by inventories, direct observations, and tests?

Accepted Answer

The component characterized by inventories, direct observations, and tests is Assessment, which is one of the four necessary components for the study of personality, along with Theory, Research, and Application.

Question 6

By __________ we mean the ways psychologists from different approaches measure personality.

Accepted Answer

The word that fits in the blank is "assessment" which refers to the methods used by psychologists to measure personality. Therefore, the correct answer is choice letter C.

Question 7

Behavioral psychologists try to apply personality research to practical concerns by

Accepted Answer

Behavioral psychologists aim to modify behavior by manipulating the environment and reinforcing positive behaviors. Therefore, creating environments that increase the frequency of desired behaviors is the most appropriate practical application of personality research. While identifying characteristics of individuals in the workplace is a potential application of personality research, it is not directly related to the focus of behavioral psychologists. The other two options are not generally associated with the practical applications of personality research.

Question 8

Of the following approaches, which ignores inherited influences the most?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive approach tends to focus more on the individual's thought processes, beliefs, and perceptions, rather than their biological or genetically inherited traits.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true about the different approaches to personality?

Accepted Answer

Different phenomena may require different approaches to explain them thoroughly. It is not necessary to adhere to the same approach across different phenomena.

Question 10

Consider the issue in psychology of free will versus determinism as discussed in your textbook. Which approach to personality represents an extreme position on this issue?

Accepted Answer

The Humanistic approach represents an extreme position on the issue of free will versus determinism, emphasizing free will and the individual's capacity for personal growth and self-determination.

Question 11

To explain depression, trait theorists would most likely focus on

Accepted Answer

Trait theorists focus on identifying and measuring individual personality characteristics, so they would likely concentrate on identifying traits that make people prone to depression.

Question 12

Which of these is not a characteristic of an individual in a collectivist culture?

Accepted Answer

In collectivist cultures, success is typically identified with group accomplishments rather than personal achievement. Cooperation and interdependence are also highly valued, while dependency is not necessarily a defining characteristic.

Question 13

A psychologist argues that people are often not aware of why they act the way they do. Further, although he acknowledges that genetics may play a role in determining personality, our behavior is determined by the environment more than we recognize. This psychologist probably aligns himself with which approach to personality?

Accepted Answer

The psychologist's emphasis on the role of environment in shaping behavior and the idea that people may not be fully aware of their motivations aligns with the behavioral/social learning approach to personality.

Question 14

Of the following approaches, which places the least emphasis on conscious determinants of behavior?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Of the following approaches, which places the...

Question 15

Which of the following is correct about the relation between personality and culture?

Accepted Answer

Personalities are shaped by cultural experiences, values, beliefs, and practices, and as such, they exist within a cultural context. Personality psychologists recognize the importance of understanding cultural differences and their impact on personality development and expression. Option A is incorrect because personality psychologists are interested in studying personality in different cultural contexts, not just in individuals. Option B is incorrect because some studies have shown significant cross-cultural differences in personality, and more research is needed to fully understand the extent and implications of these differences. Option D is incorrect because individual differences in personality exist across cultures, not just in individualistic cultures.

Question 16

Which of the following approaches to personality explains depression by how situations are interpreted through the most highly accessible thoughts?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive approach to personality emphasizes the role of cognition or thoughts in shaping behavior and personality. This approach suggests that depression is caused by how situations are interpreted through the most highly accessible thoughts.

Question 17

Suppose you meet a new person on campus from a culture different from your own. You soon discover that your new friend has difficulty understanding what you mean by "self-esteem." You conclude that your friend probably comes from

Accepted Answer

In collectivist cultures, such as those found in many Asian countries, the concept of self-esteem is not emphasized as much as the importance of group harmony and avoiding shame or embarrassment. Thus, it is likely that someone from a collectivist culture would have difficulty understanding the Western emphasis on self-esteem.

Question 18

Most of the research on personality reported in the textbook is based on studies with people

Accepted Answer

The majority of research on personality discussed in the textbook is based on studies conducted on people from individualistic cultures. These cultures prioritize individual achievement, self-expression, and personal independence, which can influence the development and manifestation of personality traits.

Question 19

Which approach to personality is most likely to argue that genetics plays an important role in determining personality and behavior?

Accepted Answer

The biological approach to personality emphasizes genetic factors and biological processes in shaping personality traits and behavior. This approach assumes that certain traits are inherited from parents and are determined by genetic factors. Other approaches, such as psychoanalytic and humanistic, focus more on environmental and experiential factors in shaping personality. The behavioral/social learning approach considers personality as a result of learning experiences and interactions with the environment.

Question 20

For people who are depressed, a psychologist following the behavioral/social learning approach to personality would probably examine

Accepted Answer

The behavioral/social learning approach to personality focuses on how environmental factors and past experiences shape behavior and emotional responses. Therefore, in addressing depression, a psychologist following this approach would examine events in the environment surrounding the depressed person, such as negative life events or social isolation, and how these factors may be reinforcing or maintaining their depressive symptoms. They would also look at maladaptive learned behaviors and thought patterns that may be contributing to the depression, and work to replace them with more positive ones. Examining what depressed people say about themselves may be informative, but it would not be the primary focus of this approach. Genetic susceptibility to depression is outside the scope of this approach, as it focuses on environmental and learned factors. Best predictors of emotional level may be a consideration in developing a treatment plan, but this approach is not primarily focused on prediction or assessment.

Quiz 1: What Is Personality