Personality Psychology Lecture 1

How personality is organized and influences thoughts, behaviors, and feelings.

1. Describe personality: How do we understand and label unique traits?
2. Explain personality development: How is it shaped?
3. Predict behavior: Can we understand future actions based on personality?

The scientific process involves a systematic and objective approach to understanding the world.

A theory provides a framework for explaining relationships between constructs.

A conceptual or hypothetical variable that can't be directly observed, like happiness or intelligence.

The process of turning abstract constructs into measurable or observable characteristics.

A research method that investigates causal relationships between variables. Groups randomly assigned, each receiving a different level of the IV. The effect is measured on the DV (posttest).

A research approach that examines the extent to which two naturally occurring variables covary but cannot establish causality.

A statistical method that combines the results of multiple studies on the same topic. It helps to estimate the overall effect size of a phenomenon across different research settings.

Estimates the magnitude of the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable. It indicates the strength and direction of the relationship.

A standardized measure of effect size for comparing two groups. It assesses how much difference exists between the means of two groups.

An effect size of +/-0.20 indicates a small effect, meaning there's a slight difference between the groups.

An effect size of +/-0.50 indicates a moderate effect, meaning there's a noticeable difference between the groups.

An effect size of +/-0.80 indicates a large effect, meaning there's a significant difference between the groups.

A method of assessing personality traits or behaviors by observing and evaluating an individual's actions and interactions.

A statistical measure used to assess the consistency or agreement between two or more raters or observers.

A statistical measure that indicates the strength and direction of the linear relationship between two variables. It ranges from -1.00 to +1.00, with positive values indicating a positive correlation, negative values a negative correlation, and 0 indicating no correlation.

A statistical measure used to combine the results of multiple studies on the same topic. It helps determine the overall effect of a treatment or intervention.

A study where researchers systematically manipulate an independent variable to see its effect on a dependent variable.

A study that examines the relationships between two or more variables without manipulating any of them.

A research method that involves an in-depth analysis of a single person or a small group of people. It is often used to explore rare or unique occurrences or to generate hypotheses.

A type of research that involves an examination of existing data, such as archives, documents, or records, to answer a research question.

A statistical measure of effect size that indicates the difference between two groups in terms of standard deviations.

A research method where participants are randomly assigned to different groups or treatment conditions. It allows researchers to make cause-and-effect conclusions.

A personality disorder characterized by a disregard for societal norms, impulsivity, and aggression. It often manifests as poor behavioral control and a pattern of reckless and irresponsible actions.

A more severe and complex personality disorder characterized by a combination of interpersonal and affective traits, in addition to antisocial behaviors. Often involves charm, manipulation, lack of empathy, and a grandiose sense of self.

A model that suggests personality disorders are not distinct categories, but rather extreme variations on normal personality dimensions. It emphasizes that individuals with PDs exhibit exaggerated traits present in everyone.

The practice of classifying and diagnosing psychological disorders based on a set of predefined criteria, as outlined in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

Criticism of the categorical representation of personality disorders challenges its accuracy and usefulness, highlighting the subjectivity of diagnosis, the frequency of comorbidity, and the difficulty in fitting individuals into predetermined categories. It emphasizes the need for more flexible and nuanced approaches to understanding personality disorders.

A sample's mean score changing over time. It is measured by comparing mean scores at different time points.

The tendency for individuals to become more conscientious, emotionally stable, agreeable, and dominant with age.

A pervasive and enduring pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that significantly deviate from cultural expectations, impacting social and occupational functioning.

A cluster of personality disorders characterized by odd or eccentric behavior, including social awkwardness and unusual thoughts.

A cluster of personality disorders characterized by erratic behavior, lack of emotional control, and disregard for others.

Individuals' social vitality and friendliness generally decrease with age, while social dominance increases with age, reaching stability around age 45.

Agreeableness typically increases with age, suggesting people generally become more cooperative and considerate over time.

A personality trait model that categorizes personality traits as facets of five broader dimensions: Psychoticism, Disinhibition, Detachment, Antagonism, and Negative Affectivity.

This facet measures how much a person engages in eccentric thinking, experiencing unusual beliefs, and altered perceptual experiences.

This facet signifies a person's inability to control impulses. They might act impulsively and feel little guilt or shame, taking risks that are not well-considered.

This facet reflects difficulty experiencing pleasure, feeling depressed, and avoiding close relationships/intimacy.

This facet captures someone who exhibits grandiosity, manipulativeness, and a lack of empathy or remorse for others. They may appear charming and charismatic, but lack the necessary morals.

These facets represent a person's tendencies toward emotional instability, anxiety, and overly sensitive reactions to stress.

Research suggests that personality disorders (PDs) can be improved through therapy. Studies have shown that PDs showed the most change through empirical data with an effect size of d=0.53.

A measure of the effect of something, often used in research to compare how much of an impact one thing has on another.