Psychology Chapter: Psychoanalytic and Behavioral Theories

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Questions and Answers

What aspect of the personality does the superego represent?

Rational decision-making

Sense of morality (correct)

Primitive instincts

Desires and fantasies

Which principle does the ego operate on?

Reality principle (correct)

Pleasure principle

Moral principle

Instinctual principle

What are the two types of dream content identified by Freud?

Epic content and tragic content

Symbolic content and literal content

Manifest content and latent content (correct)

Conscious content and subconscious content

What role do defense mechanisms play according to Freud?

They minimize anxiety about reality. Signup and view all the answers

What is an erogenous zone?

A site of sexual pleasure Signup and view all the answers

How does Freud view the role of anxiety in personality?

As a warning that something is wrong Signup and view all the answers

Freud believed that difficulties in moving past a stage of development could lead to what?

Psychological fixation Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the ego relies too heavily on defense mechanisms?

It can lead to psychological problems. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon explains the tendency to accept vague or general personality descriptions as personally relevant?

The PT Barnum effect Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential issue with personal validation in evaluating a personality test?

It relies on subjective judgments of accuracy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding personality assessments?

Personality assessments can be useful if they are valid and reliable. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best reflects the doubts expressed in personality test results as described?

Regular questioning of one's decisions Signup and view all the answers

How does the scenario described about the personality measure illustrate its lack of validity?

It produced results identical to others without individual differentiation. Signup and view all the answers

What is positive punishment?

Administering a stimulus that the organism wishes to avoid Signup and view all the answers

Which concept describes the belief that life events are largely influenced by personal efforts?

Internal locus of control Signup and view all the answers

How does Skinner's view differ from purely behavioral interpretations of learning?

He interpreted learning as cognitively mediated. Signup and view all the answers

What is the tendency of individuals to mutually influence each other's behavior called?

Reciprocal determinism Signup and view all the answers

What is the learning process that involves acquiring behaviors by watching others known as?

Observational learning Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents negative punishment?

Having a favorite toy taken away for misbehavior Signup and view all the answers

What role do parents and teachers play in the context of observational learning?

They serve as examples that can shape behaviors through imitation. Signup and view all the answers

What would a person with an external locus of control likely attribute their failure to prepare for a test to?

The difficulty of the exam questions Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of tests developed using the empirical method of test construction?

They involve comparison between groups with and without the trait. Signup and view all the answers

Why are the MPPI and MMPI-2 said to have low face validity?

The items are difficult to interpret for respondents. Signup and view all the answers

Which validity scale in the MMPI is designed to detect impression management?

L (Lie) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary issue with the MMPI when used for formal diagnosis?

Scales can be misused for diagnostic purposes. Signup and view all the answers

How does the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) differ from the MMPI?

It begins with a clear conceptualization of traits. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following inventories is associated with the Big Five personality traits?

NEO Personality Inventory-Revised Signup and view all the answers

What aspect do redundant scales in the MMPI indicate?

Duplication of content leading to inefficiency. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the reliability of the NEO PI-R?

It shows varying reliability among different traits assessed. Signup and view all the answers

What are conditions of worth primarily based on?

Expectations set by parents and society Signup and view all the answers

What does incongruence refer to in the context of self-concept?

A discrepancy between self-concept and experiences Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is commonly attributed to self-actualized individuals?

They often experience peak experiences Signup and view all the answers

According to the hierarchy of needs, what must happen before higher-level needs can be addressed?

Physical needs must be satisfied first Signup and view all the answers

What criticism does comparative psychology offer regarding Rogers' claims?

It highlights the human capacity for aggression Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a person who has outgrown the need to be popular?

They may seem difficult to work with Signup and view all the answers

What does Maslow’s theory of motivation primarily focus on?

The arrangement of innate needs in a hierarchy Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential concern regarding the research methods used by Rogers and Maslow?

They made many non-falsifiable assumptions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychoanalytic theory

The human mind is composed of 3 parts: ID, EGO, and SUPEREGO
ID is our unconscious, driven by primitive instinct. This drives us to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
EGO is our conscious, rational part that mediates between the demands of the ID and SUPEREGO.
SUPEREGO is our moral compass, a sense of right and wrong.
Freud believed dreams are wish fulfilments reflecting ID, and have manifest & latent content.
Anxiety is a sign of an ego threatened by everyday life conflicts.
Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies for coping with anxiety, but overuse can cause problems.
Freud's psychosexual stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital

Skinner's Behavioral Perspective

Skinner's work focused on observable behavior and how it’s shaped by consequences.
Punishment is a consequence that weakens a behavior.
Positive punishment involves introducing an unpleasant stimulus.
Negative punishment involves removing a desired stimulus.

This perspective emphasizes the role of thought and interpretation in learning and behavior.
People interpret their environments and react accordingly.
Our personalities affect how we behave, and our experiences shape our personalities.

Focuses on observational learning and modeling - we learn through imitation.
Parents and teachers can significantly influence our personality, both positive and negative.

Locus of control refers to our belief in our ability to control events in our lives.
Internal locus of control: believing we have control over events.
External locus of control: believing events are outside our control.

Roger's Humanistic Perspective

Conditions of worth are expectations we place on ourselves for appropriate behavior.
They stem from parental and societal influences.
We internalize them, and they can lead to feeling loved only if certain behaviors are displayed.
Conditions of worth can lead to incongruence, a discrepancy between self-concept and actual experience.

Maslow's Humanistic Perspective

Self-actualized individuals are creative, spontaneous, and accepting of themselves and others.
They are self-confident but not self-centered.
They focus on real-world and intellectual problems and have deep friendships.

Criticisms of Humanistic Perspective

Comparative psychology challenges the idea of an entirely positive human nature.
Maslow's and Rogers' research lacked methodological rigor.
Many assumptions are not falsifiable, including the concept of self-actualization.

Personality Assessment

Empirical method of personality assessment uses objective test construction.
MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) is a widely used personality test based on this method.
MMPI has low face validity, making it more difficult for test takers to "fake good" or "fake bad".
MMPI validity scales help to detect distorted responses.
Though MMPI is reliable and valid for differentiating between mental disorders, it has limitations.

Trait Theories

Trait theories conceptualize personality traits and develop test items accordingly.
Some trait measures are highly reliable and valid, like the NEO PI-R.
Some are criticized for lacking scientific rigor, like the Myers-Briggs.
The PT Barnum effect is our tendency to accept vague, generalized statements as true.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

While personality assessment has limitations, valid and reliable instruments can be useful.
It is important to be critical of personality tests and avoid accepting vague statements as accurate.
Different personality theories offer varying perspectives on human behavior and personality development.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of psychoanalytic theory and Skinner's behavioral perspective in this quiz. Learn about Freud's structural model of the mind, the significance of dreams, and the principles of behavior shaped by rewards and punishments. Test your knowledge on these essential psychological theories.