Psychology Chapter on Personality

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Questions and Answers

What primarily influences personality traits according to the biological perspective?

Educational attainment

Social media exposure

Biological and environmental interactions (correct)

Cultural traditions

What do behavioral geneticists study?

The effects of childhood education on personality

Inherited behavioral traits and their heritability (correct)

Cultural influences on personality traits

The impact of social relationships on personality

According to David Buss, what do the five factors of personality represent?

Characteristics of leadership traits

Dimensions of the social terrain recognized by humans (correct)

Dimensions of personal success

Necessary traits for personal development

What is a major limitation of heritability measures of personality?

They can vary due to sampling and conditions Signup and view all the answers

What does high internal consistency in a test indicate?

The responses correlate well across items Signup and view all the answers

What is one proposed benefit of having certain personality traits, according to evolutionary perspectives?

Improved reproductive success Signup and view all the answers

What does Eysenck suggest about the role of genes in personality?

Genes significantly influence personality traits Signup and view all the answers

What is the interaction between nature and nurture described as?

Artificial and complex Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason Freud's theories are no longer favored in academia?

They lack empirical evidence. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following claims made by Freud has been widely criticized for lacking scientific support?

The theory of psychosexual stages of development. Signup and view all the answers

What did many of Freud's methodologies and conclusions prove to be?

Damaging and dangerous to certain populations. Signup and view all the answers

How are Freud's perspectives on female sexuality and homosexuality generally viewed today?

They are reviled and often mocked. Signup and view all the answers

What term have some individuals playfully suggested as an alternative way to spell Freud's name?

Fraud Signup and view all the answers

What has been noted about Freud's legacy?

It is acknowledged as shaky and problematic. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of Freud's work is noted as having little empirical evidence?

The id, ego, and superego concepts. Signup and view all the answers

What did the author Crews conclude regarding the Freudian system?

It is scientifically and therapeutically ineffective. Signup and view all the answers

What do Bandura and Mischel argue is the primary factor that shapes our personalities?

Daily behaviors and social interactions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Bandura's concept of self-efficacy?

A belief in one’s ability to succeed Signup and view all the answers

According to the learning/cognitive/behavioral theories of personality, which aspect contributes to the development of personality?

Social relationships Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant predictor of aggressive behavior in adult offspring?

Anti-social behavior in parents Signup and view all the answers

What does the B.I.O.L model stand for?

Bonding and Identification based Observational Learning Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of mediating units in Mischel and Shoda's cognitive-affective system theory of personality?

They encode situational features and activate cognitive and emotional responses Signup and view all the answers

How do Bandura and Mischel view the adjustment of behaviors in social contexts?

It is influenced by ongoing feedback Signup and view all the answers

According to the findings presented, which group is at an increased risk of adult offspring aggression?

Parents with a history of anti-social behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects a misconception about personality development according to the discussed theories?

Personality consists of fixed traits established at birth Signup and view all the answers

Which personality trait is commonly associated with positive outcomes such as living longer and being safe drivers?

Conscientiousness Signup and view all the answers

What belief did Bannister adopt that contributed to a significant achievement in performance?

That he could overcome psychological barriers Signup and view all the answers

Which animal has demonstrated evidence of conscientiousness according to the content?

Chimps Signup and view all the answers

What did McCrae and Antonio Terracciano's paper aim to define?

The structure of self-reported personality traits across cultures Signup and view all the answers

Which theory emphasizes the impact of situational features on an individual's behavior?

Cognitive-affective system theory Signup and view all the answers

How are self-transcendence and openness related in personality traits?

They are often considered equivalent traits Signup and view all the answers

In the relationship between different models of personality traits, which aspect was highlighted?

Some models highlight similarities while showing distinct differences Signup and view all the answers

What does a high-fidelity transmission process in teaching and imitation imply?

Information is transmitted with a high degree of accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

Which cultural transmission correlation is the strongest based on parent-offspring patterns?

Political party affiliation Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of Bonding- and Identification-based Observational Learning (B.I.O.L.)?

Intrinsic rewards from social connection guide learning. Signup and view all the answers

What does traditional learning emphasize in social contexts?

Socially acquired behaviors sustain when tangible rewards are present. Signup and view all the answers

According to the B.I.O.L. model, what role do tangible rewards play?

They are not necessary and serve as secondary incentives. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these studies demonstrated stronger correlations in cultural transmission than the Cavalli-Sforza study?

Boyd and Richerson's political affiliations study. Signup and view all the answers

What concept is primarily highlighted in the video 'Dead Poets Society'?

The influence and power of conformity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about imitation in humans is true?

Humans are evolutionarily equipped to imitate and teach. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to genetic variation and heritability when strong selection is applied to a behavioral trait?

Genetic variation decreases, thus decreasing heritability. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding heritability estimates?

Heritability is influenced by environmental factors. Signup and view all the answers

In the study of juvenile bony fishes, what percentage of the variation in aggressiveness is attributed to genetic variation?

37% Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the variation in exploratory tendency is attributed to genetic variation in passerine birds?

22% Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can influence the heritability of a trait?

Sex of the individual. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about heritability?

Heritability represents the degree of genetic control of a trait. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of measuring heritability, what does a truncation selection experiment involve?

Studying individual behavioral responses to novel stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What does heritability require in order to be expressed?

Significant genetic variation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Poor supervision and harsh punishment are strong indicators of antisocial and aggressive behaviour in offspring.
Antisocial behaviours in children may be linked to aggressive behaviours in parents.
Prevalence frequency of antisocial behaviour is presented in a graph with data showing that history of antisocial behaviour in a child's parent correlates with a higher risk of aggression in the offspring.
Poor parenting, antisocial behaviour in a parent, and lack of time spent with the child correlate to a higher risk of adult aggression.

Biological Model

Bonding and identification through observational learning are mechanisms for modelling behaviours.
This can explain why people model deviant behaviours (social mechanisms). The desire to bond drives modelling behaviours.

The Five-Factor Model (FFM)

FFM traits were found in animals with the most similarity correlating with Chimps, and some limited correlation with cats and dogs.
Conscientiousness was not observed in animals outside of chimps.
Other Personality traits like openness/extroversion were found in non-human species too.

Personality Traits/Factors

Some personality models, such as those of Eysenck and Costa and McCrae, show similarities and differences.
Some personality traits, like religiosity, are considered a personality trait.

Trait Theories: A Biological Perspective

Personality traits are influenced by interactions between biological factors (influenced by genes) and environmental factors (learning experiences).
These factors are complex and interactive.

Trait Theories of Personality

Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) DOMAINS, a scale measuring personality traits.
Internal consistency is a reliability measure of a test.
Cronbach's Alpha is a measure of internal consistency, showing how highly correlated the items on a survey are. A higher number indicates a stronger scale reliability.

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis is a statistical method for reducing many variables into a smaller number of factors; researchers group highly correlated variables into understandable and relatable groups.

The Ability to Represent the Supernatural

Trait theories explore the ability to represent supernatural concepts.

Evaluation of Trait Theories

There is convincing evidence that biological factors significantly influence personality.
Measures of heritability are estimations and subject to variations.
Separating nature and nurture is artificial; they constantly interact.

Psychodynamic Theories of Personality

Freud suggested interpretations of dreams for unconscious desires and experience.
Freud’s theories of personality structure (Id, Ego and Superego), with their interactive forces, shape personality development.

The Dynamics of Personality

Interactions and interplay of the Id, Ego, and Superego influence personality.
Conflicts among these components trigger the need for ego defense mechanisms. Defence mechanisms help the ego deal with conflict arising from the Id and Super Ego.

Ego Defence Mechanisms

Rationalization, sublimation, and projection are common ego defence mechanisms.

The Psychosexual Stages

Freud's psychosexual stages of development include Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital stages. Each stage is associated with specific conflicts and potentially leading to fixations.

The Importance of Childhood Experiences on Personality

Freud's theories highlight the lasting impact of early childhood experiences, particularly relating to parent-child interactions.

Observation, imitation, and role models are important factors in personality development, learning social skills, and personal expression.
Learning about how people in a society act and react, including the consequences of their actions, shapes behaviour, and therefore influences personality development.

Humanistic Theory of Personality

Humanistic theory emphasizes the individual's capacity for personal growth and self-actualization.
Individuals are aware of their experiences, and personality is based on unique circumstances of an individual.
These theories focus on conscious experiences, free will, and the unique human potential.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs prioritizes basic needs before higher-level needs (self-actualization).

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in psychology related to personality traits from a biological and evolutionary perspective. It covers the influence of genetics, major theories by Freud and Buss, and contemporary views on personality research. Test your understanding of the complex interplay between nature and nurture in shaping individual personalities.