Psychology Chapter on Personality

The scientific study of individual differences in personality, focusing on traits, motivations, and development.

The influence of our genes and biology on personality development.

The influence of our environment and experiences on personality development.

The belief that we have the capacity to make choices and control our own destinies. It's the belief we have control over our actions and decisions.

A statistical representation of how often traits or behaviors occur in a population, with the majority falling near the average and fewer at the extremes.

A range of behaviors and personality traits considered to be within the typical or acceptable range for a given population.

Behaviors or personality traits significantly deviating from the norm, often causing distress or dysfunction.

A set of personality traits that are consistently displayed and cause significant impairment in daily life.

The tendency to promote oneself aggressively and be conspicuous. It is more prevalent in Western cultures.

The belief that destiny is predetermined and not based on actions. Seen as a key aspect of Karma.

An emphasis on individual needs, independence, and relationships with other individuals. More common in Western cultures.

An emphasis on the wholeness of the group, interdependence, and communality. More common in Eastern cultures.

The degree to which individuals believe they are capable of achieving desired outcomes.

A sense of contentment and well-being.

An emphasis on the role of culture in shaping personality.

The outward expression of a person's personality, encompassing their behavior, appearance, and actions. Think of it as the visible manifestation of a person's internal characteristics.

The enduring and distinctive collection of traits that influence a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, often expressed in recognizable patterns.

A person's natural, inborn tendencies and dispositions, often present from birth and influencing their reactions to the world.

The process of developing a sense of self and understanding one's place in the world, often involving exploring values, beliefs, and goals.

The idea that personality can shift and evolve across different situations and over a person's lifetime.

The study of how race and gender often play a role in shaping personality theories and research.

A belief that individuals possess a unique blend of characteristics and experiences that make them singular, distinct, and whole. This perspective rejects simplifying labels like 'type A' or 'introvert.'

The study of personality using astrological signs like Aries, Cancer, or Gemini to predict traits, motivations, and behaviors.

The practice of using numerical values assigned to letters in a person's name or birthdate to decipher personality traits and predict future possibilities.

The tendency for people to generally accept vague and positive descriptions of themselves, regardless of how accurate they are, simply because they are broadly applicable.

The method of assessing personality based on facial features, expressions, or body language.

The exploration of personality through literary works, analyzing the characters' motivations, thoughts, and behaviors to understand human nature.

A non-scientific method used to explore personality by observing and analyzing peoples actions, words, and behavior in the context of their environment and relationships.

The scientific approach to exploring personality, using controlled studies, experiments, and statistical analysis of validated instruments to measure and explain personality.

The tendency to believe vague statements about personality apply specifically to oneself, often due to the statements being general enough to apply to many people.

A test designed to assess personality traits and psychological disorders, often used in clinical settings. It helps researchers understand personality structure and identify potential issues.

Personality theories that emphasize the importance of unconscious drives and early childhood experiences in shaping personality. These can be seen as key aspects of psychodynamic theory.

Personality theories that focus on how we learn behaviors, emphasizing the role of reinforcement and environmental factors in shaping our personalities.

Personality theories that acknowledge the influence of culture, social interactions, and the environment on shaping our individual personalities.

Assessment during a clinical interview is valuable for gaining insights into a person's personality, but it lacks a structured approach.

Experience sampling involves asking participants to document their thoughts and feelings in specific contexts, often using smartphones or daily diaries.

The study of personality considers the influence of a person's cultural background on their traits and behaviors.

Psychological assessment can be affected by gender stereotypes, potentially leading to different diagnoses for men and women.

Cross-cultural applications of psychological assessments pose challenges due to differing cultural norms and values.

The Big Five personality traits, which include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, are known to vary between men and women.

People's experiences, including social interactions and environmental factors, play a significant role in shaping their personality.

A person's temperament, their innate tendencies and dispositions, influences how they react to the world.