Four Major Perspectives on Personality Quiz

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Questions and Answers

According to the Psychoanalytic perspective, what was considered the 'first comprehensive theory of personality'?

Psychoanalysis

Who is known for specializing in nervous disorders and developing the Psychoanalytic perspective?

Sigmund Freud

What did Freud compare the mind to when explaining the concept of the Unconscious?

iceberg

Which defense mechanism involves banishing unacceptable thoughts and passions to the unconscious?

Repression Signup and view all the answers

According to Freud, what is the source of personality conflicts?

aggressive, pleasure-seeking impulses and social restraints Signup and view all the answers

What technique is used in Psychoanalysis to explore the unconscious mind?

Free Association Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the Id according to Freud's personality structure?

Energy constantly striving to satisfy basic drives Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Ego in Freud's personality structure?

Seeks to gratify the Id in realistic ways Signup and view all the answers

What is the Super Ego in Freud's personality structure?

Voice of conscience that focuses on how we ought to behave Signup and view all the answers

According to Freud, when does personality development primarily occur?

During the first few years of life, rooted in unresolved conflicts of early childhood Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the Phallic stage in Freud's psychosexual development theory?

Focus on genitals/"Oedipus Complex" Signup and view all the answers

How does the Ego protect itself when faced with inner conflicts according to Freud?

Via Defense Mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

What type of tests tap into the unconscious according to the psychoanalytic perspective?

Projective Tests Signup and view all the answers

How does current research view Freud's theories?

Current research contradicts many of Freud's specific ideas. Signup and view all the answers

According to the psychoanalytic perspective, what are slips of the tongue likely a result of?

Slips of the tongue are likely competing 'nodes' in the memory network. Signup and view all the answers

Do Freud's theories predict behavior or traits according to the scientific perspective?

No, Freud's theories do not predict behavior or traits. Signup and view all the answers

What does the trait perspective focus on in describing personalities?

The trait perspective focuses on basic personality dimensions and characteristic behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator classify people?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator classifies people based on their responses to 126 questions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychoanalytic Perspective

Founded by Sigmund Freud, the first comprehensive theory of personality
Focuses on unconscious motivations and the role of childhood experiences in shaping personality
Freud was a voracious reader and a medical school graduate who specialized in nervous disorders
He discovered that some patients' disorders had no physical cause, leading him to explore the role of the unconscious mind

The Unconscious and Conscious Mind

The unconscious mind is like an iceberg, with most of it hidden below the surface
The conscious mind is only a small part of our awareness, with the unconscious containing thoughts, feelings, wishes, and memories
Repression involves banishing unacceptable thoughts and passions to the unconscious mind

Freud's Personality Structure

Composed of the Id, Ego, and Super Ego
The Id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking to satisfy basic drives
The Ego seeks to gratify the Id in realistic ways, using the reality principle
The Super Ego is the voice of conscience, focusing on how we ought to behave

Freudian Personality Development

Personality forms during the first few years of life, rooted in unresolved conflicts of early childhood
Psychosexual stages: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital

Defense Mechanisms

Used to reduce or redirect anxiety by distorting reality
Types of defense mechanisms include repression, regression, reaction formation, projection, rationalization, displacement, and sublimation

Assessing Personality

Objective tests cannot tap into the unconscious mind, while projective tests can
Examples of projective tests include the Thematic Apperceptions Test (TAT) and the Rorschach Inkblot Test

Evaluating the Psychoanalytic Perspective

Freud's theories were groundbreaking for his time, but many of his ideas have been contradicted by current research
Development does not stop in childhood, and slips of the tongue may be due to competing "nodes" in memory networks rather than unconscious drives

Limitations of Freud's Theories

Lack of objective observations and testable hypotheses
Theories based on recollections and interpretations of patients' free associations, dreams, and slips of the tongue

Trait Perspective

Focuses on specific dimensions of personality, without considering unconscious motivations
Traits are characteristic behaviors and conscious motives that describe personality
Examples of trait classification systems include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

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Description

Test your knowledge on the four major perspectives on personality: Psychoanalytic, Trait, Humanistic, and Social-Cognitive. Explore the key concepts and founders associated with each perspective.