Personality Theory Final
A 2015 survey conducted by the dating website match.com found that people who frequently use emojis in their digital communications with others are much more "socially successful" than those who do not use emojis in their communications. (For example, they are liked better by others, have longer average relationship durations, and even have more sex!) Why might this be the case? a) Emotions are functionally a communication system, and clearer communication likely leads to better social relationships. b) Emoji use shows that the person is likely younger and more "playful"—both qualities that are socially preferred by others. c) People who refrain from emoji use are demonstrating that they rarely feel strong emotions, which is an evolutionary "red flag." d) Icon usage in digital communication indicates technological proficiency, which is essential for any modern social relationship.
A
A stay-at-home mom loudly denounces a subset of television programs that contain sex, profanity, and other mature content, saying things like "We need to keep this smut away from our children!" However, her neighbor once caught her staring in his window as he and his wife were getting intimate with each other. a) Reaction formation b) Denial c) Suppression d) Repression e) Regression
A
As discussed in class, what approach to personality will we be taking in this course? a) Personality as an integrated, dynamic set of psychological subsystems that work together and make us all individual. b) Personality as defined by a single "grand theory" that has answers to any type of question about psychological functioning. c) Personality as an illusory concept, with measurable behaviors but no internal mind operation. d) Personality as compared through several conflicting and irreconcilable theoretical perspectives that rarely agree with one another.
A
Carrie tends to blush in many situations that are not embarrassing to others. Her roommate suggests that she may have a very sensitive limbic system that responds to emotional stimuli by triggering the glandular release of certain hormones that dilate the capillaries in Carrie's face, leading to increased blood flow and a reddish complexion. Carrie's roommate would likely subscribe to what perspective of personality research? a) Biological b) Intrapsychic c) Sociocultural d) Developmental
A
Elizabeth has a high level of self-complexity, while her co-worker Vincent has a low level of self-complexity. Each of them applies for a promotion and neither of them receives the job. Who is more likely to maintain a positive self-concept after this setback? a) Elizabeth b) Vincent c) Neither; disappointment usually damages positive self-models. d) We need more information (e.g., about their resilience and coping styles).
A
If someone engaged in a lot of private charity work and volunteerism, we would expect them to score highly on which Big Five personality trait? a) Agreeableness b) Extraversion c) Honesty/Humility d) Neuroticism
A
In responding to a personality measure of personal strivings (in which participants complete numerous sentences that all begin with "I typically try to..."), a university student writes both "Spend a lot of time relaxing with my girlfriend" and "Study very hard for the MCAT so I can get into medical school." Since it is difficult to do both of these things at once, these may be said to be _________________ strivings. a) conflictual b) ambivalent c) fatalistic d) subsidiary
A
In the search for optimal functioning, positive psychologists have suggested that people can achieve a higher quality of life by focusing on and cultivating certain personality traits like: a) resilience and humility. b) free will and introspectionism. c) self-monitoring and sensation-seeking. d) carefulness and self-sacrifice.
A
Jack has been in a number of romantic relationships throughout his adult life, though none seem to last very long. His partners have described him as "overly dependent," "volatile," and "not knowing what he wants." The Adult Attachment Inventory would likely classify Jack's attachment style as: a) insecure, anxious (preoccupied). b) insecure, avoidant (fearful). c) insecure, avoidant (dismissing). d) insecure, demanding (needy).
A
Matching (1 pt. each). For items #1-4, match each personality researcher with the theory that best represents their work. David Buss A. Evolutionary B. Humanistic C. Psychodynamic D. Social cognitive
A
Mental models are thought to be learned _____________; that is, in a gradual manner through daily life experiences rather than through purposeful decisions or educational institutions. a) implicitly b) contaminatively c) transferentially d) formally
A
One example of how nonverbal expression remains a critical part of dynamic personality behavior even in the Digital Age can potentially be seen in: a) the development of "emoticons" (and, eventually, emojis) to signify emotion over the Internet; e.g., ":-P" for "silly." b) the fact that underdeveloped nations now have demonstrably better nonverbal skills than industrialized ones. c) the use of behavioral scripts to guide expectations in online dating. d) the increase in lying and other deceptive behavior since the advent of the World Wide Web.
A
Professor Frink is meeting with his new lab students for the first time. He notes that one of them spells her name "Alison" and he immediately expects that he will like this student because she spells her name the same way (i.e., with one "L") as Professor Frink's twin sister, with whom he is very close. Frink's positive feelings toward Alison (despite having just met her) are consistent with the concept of: a) transference. b) monotypes. c) stereotypes. d) attachment.
A
Researchers (e.g., Mogilner et al., 2011) have found that younger people and older people tend to use different types of words in describing their own happiness, thus providing indirect support for contemporary models of mood. Generally, younger people often describe happiness using _______________ words while older people often describe happiness using _______________ words. a) aroused; calm b) pleasant; unpleasant c) extraverted; introverted d) material-based; experience-based
A
Researchers who follow in the theoretical traditions of Erik Erikson are most concerned with what aspect of personality? a) Individual growth across the lifespan b) Unconscious trauma from childhood c) Strategic pluralism of personality traits d) The person-situation balance in expressed behavior
A
The idea of a single, generalized intelligence factor ("g") was popularized by: a) Charles Spearman. b) Sir Francis Galton. c) David Wechsler. d) the BBC.
A
Which of the following might be an example of the "no-access unconscious" in action? a) Our peripheral vision becomes better in dim light due to the large number of rods on the edges of the retina. b) Some people may repress threatening material from their awareness, which only careful therapy can recover. c) Our dreams are most vividly remembered when we wake up, but soon fade as we resume our normal waking reality. d) When arranging our favorite possessions in our home, we tend to place them within easy reach of our dominant hand (i.e., to the right or the left).
A
Which of the following would NOT be considered "external source" data about one's personality? a) Process data, such as recorded or written daily activity (e.g., "diary" entries) b) Setting data, such as the objects surrounding a person in their life space c) Observer data, such as what a family member says about that person d) Institutional data, such as school records or group memberships
A
You are taking an intelligence test. It contains lots of questions about vocabulary and you notice that it appears to have a distinct Western cultural bias. What test are you likely taking, and when are you likely taking it? a) The Army Alpha test, in the 1910s. b) The Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), present day. c) The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), an early version from the 1990s. d) Galton's Hereditary Test of Mental Prowess (HTMP), in the 1860s.
A
"Disclosure," a common therapeutic practice important to psychological health and well-being, is most closely related to which Freudian concept? a) Psychosexual development b) Free association c) Transference d) Latent dream content
B
A local football team that had high hopes for a championship loses badly to its top rival by a score of 45-0. When asked for comment, the team's coach says, "This is going to sound weird, but I still think we're the better team." a) Reaction formation b) Denial c) Suppression d) Repression e) Regression
B
According to some researchers, an emotional facial display or movement that lasts only for a fraction of a second before being "squelched" (ostensibly due to the individual's desire to hide that feeling) is called: a) willpower. b) a microexpression. c) locomotion. d) a subsidiary need.
B
After undergoing a mood induction experiment in which he is asked to draw a picture of what a "perfect day" for him would look like, Jeremy is asked a series of questions regarding his childhood memories and his opinions of possible future events. Which of the following is most likely to occur? a) Jeremy's memory and judgments of the probability of events will be unaffected. b) Jeremy will judge happy events as more likely to occur in the future. c) Jeremy will become sad and nostalgic because he will remember the "perfect days" in his past that are now gone. d) Jeremy's behavior will become more happy and energetic.
B
As indicated in your text, the very few individuals with the highest recorded IQs in history such as Marilyn Vos Savant or John Stuart Mill generally achieve IQs at the level of about: a) 100-120. b) 180-220. c) 300-400. d) 600-800.
B
Early childhood (approximately ages 3-5) is a time when the self-concept is developing and diversifying rapidly. This process likely includes newly conceptualized schemas for: a) personal values and hobbies. b) expected social and gender roles. d) creative and practical intelligence. c) basic motives and needs.
B
Julian Rotter proposed that people differ on whether they interpret events in their lives as being largely determined internally (i.e., due to personal dispositions) or externally (due to outside forces), thus affecting how they display motivated action. What did Rotter call this variable? a) Self-determination b) Locus of control c) Need for blame avoidance d) Self-handicapping
B
Matching (1 pt. each). For items #1-4, match each personality researcher with the theory that best represents their work. Abraham Maslow A. Evolutionary B. Humanistic C. Psychodynamic D. Social cognitive
B
Miko, age 8, is an avid reader. If she is reading a book that is familiar to her, she generally is able to break off and respond to questions or social cues. However, if the book is new and intellectually challenging, she often will get so involved in reading that she is unresponsive even to repeated entreaties to get her attention. Rather than be concerned, Miko's parents understand that their daughter likely rates highly on __________________, a characteristic linked to high intelligence. a) task persistence b) intellectual absorption c) ego integrity d) aesthetic appreciation
B
Motivation was most closely associated with the ________________ in the triune brain organizational model of personality. a) ventricles b) hindbrain c) limbic system d) cerebral cortex
B
One criterion for a good structural division of personality is that such divisions should: a) be dichotomous (two in number). b) include only those areas of personality that can be empirically demonstrated to exist. c) be based on the "big questions" of personality such as "Who am I?" and "What is my future?" d) be planned in such a way as to indicate personality dynamics.
B
Research indicates that some personality characteristics may reflect the type of parenting an individual received as a child. An adult who is aggressive, controlling, and preoccupied with discipline, and who has very little empathy for others, probably was raised by adults using a(n) _________________ parenting style. a) neglectful b) authoritarian c) permissive d) authoritative
B
Research on person perception has found that people broadly form their mental models of others: a) slowly, but very accurately. b) quickly and reasonably accurately. c) quickly, but highly inaccurately. d) slowly and fairly inaccurately.
B
Serena's aunt notices that Serena has been biting her nails a lot lately. Serena denies that anything is the matter, but her aunt suspects that Serena is feeling very conflicted about a "study abroad" opportunity she has been offered, which would be an excellent learning opportunity but would also require her to spend the next twelve months away from her family and her girlfriend. What approach to personality expression is Serena's aunt taking to explain her niece's behavior? a) Humanistic theory b) Psychodynamic theory c) Biosocial theory d) Trait theory
B
The best definition of Jung's concept of an archetype is: a) representations of an external object that are "compiled" with changes in the environment and corrected for accuracy as the individual learns more. b) a universal embodiment of a cultural icon, such as the character of a healer, an outlaw, or a magician. c) an automatically-generated (i.e., unconscious) model of one's self-concept and unique individual characteristics. D) a pair of chromosomes that aid in cellular meiosis.
B
Trent has recently become very task-focused, wanting to do well and succeed. He is beginning to think about the skills he might need to operate in the world, and is starting to pay more attention to how he performs relative to his peers. As a result, he is beginning to feel competitive and feels a new, deeper sense of disappointment if he fails at a task. According to Erikson's stage theory of personality, in what approximate developmental period is Trent? a) Infancy b) Mid- to late childhood c) Adolescence d) Early adulthood
B
Two of the subfields of psychology that today are most closely aligned with the study of personality are: a) behavioral psychology and biopsychology. b)clinical psychology and social psychology. c)organizational psychology and forensic psychology. d)cognitive psychology and educational psychology.
B
We can sometimes see motives expressed by entire cultures—for example, in the stories they find important. In the United States, small children are often told the story of "The Little Engine That Could," in which a personified train engine tries very hard to climb a steep mountain while repeating to itself, "I think I can, I think I can." Eventually the little engine succeeds in climbing the mountain and joyfully delivers its payload to the people on the other side. The fact that this children's book is so popular suggests that the United States as a whole strongly values which Murrayan need? a) Affiliation b) Achievement c) Power d) Hope
B
We have discussed four major "perspectives" to studying personality. How might a researcher using the biological perspective approach the topic of interpersonal aggression (i.e., behavior designed to harm or disadvantage another human)? a) Compare what aggression looks like between different age groups, or involve a group of people longitudinally and examine negative life outcomes associated with high aggression b) Look for specific genetic predictors of highly aggressive people, seek out specific neural networks that are active during aggressive acts, or search for evolutionary reasons for why aggression is personally adaptive c) Focus on how particular situations or different group norms impact people's willingness to display aggression d) Examine possible internal drives or motives that trigger aggression, or simply look at aggression as an individual differences trait that can be measured.
B
What is the most scientific way for psychologists to address the "big questions" people have about personality, such as "What is my future?" a) Gather individual data about a person's childhood, as their family upbringing is the most important factor in predicting life outcomes. b) Analyze large amounts of data to make probabilistic conclusions about behavior; e.g., "If you possess this characteristic, you are more likely to have this happen." c) Consult a trusted source of divination, such as fortune-telling cards or crystals, and use texts and/or experienced practitioners to interpret its results. d) Apply therapy mindfully and dynamically to assure that a person will be able to have their life turn out the way they most desire.
B
Which of the following activities would likely require the use of emotional intelligence? a) Trying to find your misplaced cell phone by revisiting every place you have recently been. b) Seeing a friend avoid eye contact and realizing that they may be angry with you. c) Understanding how you are expected to behave with a group of co-workers who have invited you to an after-work party. d) Figuring out how to assemble a piece of IKEA furniture without calling customer support.
B
Which of the following behaviors might result from a very active behavioral facilitation system (BFS)? a) A young woman about to visit a casino with her friends tells herself to set a strict "spending limit" so as not to be impulsive and risk too much money while gaming. b) An elderly man decides to start learning Spanish in order to better communicate with his grandson, whose family speaks it as a primary language at home. c) A man on the ski slopes stops momentarily to consider whether he should take a difficult "double black diamond" trail, as he is not sure he is skilled enough to attempt it. d) A middle schooler avoids taking the school bus because she is concerned about being bullied by other student riders.
B
Which of the following motives might Sigmund Freud and Henry Murray NOT have agreed upon as representing a basic human need? a) The need for intimacy (either sexual or psychological) b) The need for acquisition c) The need for aggression d) They would have agreed that all three of the above needs are basic and natural
B
Your Article 2 reading (Rentfrow et al., 2013) discussed geographical trends in the United States regarding the Big Five personality traits. All other things being equal, if a person is found to be high in Openness but also high in Neuroticism, where would they be most likely to reside? a) Minnesota (the North Central) b) Massachusetts (the Northeast) c) Oregon (the West) d) Georgia (the Southeast)
B
A young corporate manager's company is downsizing and he knows he might lose his job. In order to enjoy the other parts of his life, he simply tells himself never to think about work if he's not there. a) Reaction formation b) Denial c) Suppression d) Repression e) Regression
C
According to research by Carol Ryff and others, one key difference between middle-aged adults known as "seekers" and those known as "conservers" is that: a) only seekers are highly successful. b) only conservers are highly satisfied with their jobs. c) only seekers rate highly in personal growth. d) only conservers show high levels of conscientiousness.
C
According to your Article 1 reading (Carbon, 2020), which was the only Ekman emotional expression whose recognition by others was not significantly reduced by the wearing of facial masks? a) Happiness b) Sadness c) Fear d) Disgust
C
Adrian is an infant who displays very mild reactions to stimuli and possesses regular body rhythm cycles for sleeping, waking, and eating. He can adapt quickly to new situations but is easily distracted. Thomas, Chess, and Birch's research on temperament would likely classify Adrian as a(n) ______________ child. a) difficult b) slow-to-warm-up c) easy d) it is impossible to tell, as temperament does not develop until early childhood.
C
An experimenter gives participants a set of ten impossible-to-solve mathematics problems. She times how long each person works on the problems before giving up and claims that this represents a behavioral measure of persistence. However, one of her colleagues argues that this procedure does not test persistence, but rather, tests simple intellectual ability (which has nothing to do with persistence). This colleague is questioning the ________________ of the experimenter's measurement. a) reliability b) effect size c) validity d) observationism
C
As discussed in your Article 3 reading and in class, "ego depletion" theory and Walter Mischel's famous "marshmallow test" are two examples of research on a family of dynamic personality skills known as: a) reinforcement testing. b) ideomotor action. c) executive (self-) control. d) the motor homunculus.
C
Carla is a 23 year-old American woman, born in 2000, and is in the middle of the developmental period that Arnett (2000) and others have called "emerging adulthood." Which of the following is most likely true about Carla, as compared to her mother and/or grandmother? a) Carla has probably had more sexual partners than her mother did at that age. b) Carla will probably settle into a career more quickly than her mother did. c) Carla is likely to complete more years of formal education than her grandmother did. d) Carla is likely to marry earlier than her grandmother did.
C
In class we discussed the example of a young British man, Nigel Hunt, who published a book about his life despite a diagnosis of Down Syndrome, a pervasive developmental disorder. Which of the following literary tools would Nigel likely have had trouble understanding and recreating in his writing? a) Personal information b) Feelings and emotions c) Metaphors d) Event sequences
C
In psychometric "classic test theory," what does "T" stand for in the equation "X = T + e"? a) A person's expected score on the scale or measure b) A person's observed (i.e., recorded) score on the measure c) A person's true score—their actual level of the construct being measured d) A person's total score on a measurement, as summed by many similar test items
C
In the "Battle of the Brains" video from class, the group was made to attempt various tasks (like pouring a glass of water and making a basketball shot) while wearing visual distortion goggles that turned everything upside-down. This was presented as an example of which "non-traditional" intelligence, as theorized by Howard Gardner? a) Relational intelligence b) Spatial intelligence c) Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence d) Vestibular intelligence
C
Jenna wasn't sure she could handle going to college, so she thought the best thing to do would be to focus entirely on academics at first. After a month or so of good performance, she felt comfortable enough in her studies to start going out and making friends at school. At this point, making friends would be Jenna's: a) prepotent need. b) determinant need. c) regnant process. d) reward expectancy.
C
Kat is sitting in the park when she sees another young woman about her age. This woman has similar hair and is wearing the same dress as Kat. Kat watches as a small boy runs up to the woman and squirts her with a water pistol. Of course, Kat does not get upset because she knows that, despite their similarities, she and the woman are actually different people and that they do not share all the same experiences. This basic understanding is most similar to what key aspect of consciousness, as defined by Steven Pinker and others? a) Access to information b) Meta-awareness c) Sentience d) Para-objectivity
C
Matching (1 pt. each). For items #1-4, match each personality researcher with the theory that best represents their work. Alfred Adler A. Evolutionary B. Humanistic C. Psychodynamic D. Social cognitive
C
Personality "traits" can be genetically influenced, shaped by one's social environment, and learned through conditioned personal consequences (e.g., rewards and punishments). The best definition of a personality trait, then, is: a) an organized set of behaviors that are purely responses to stimuli in the outside world. b) a socialized response to the type of engagement a person receives from parents and peers. c) a general behavioral tendency or trend regarding how a person typically acts. d) a biologically predetermined set of personality aspects that remains unchanged throughout a person's lifespan.
C
Schemas about typical sequences of events (for example, what one should expect on a first date) are called: a) social role schemas. b) interpersonal life stories. c) scripts. d) primes.
C
Sigmund Freud had a gift for metaphor in his writing, and at one point he likened the relationship between his structures of personality to the relationship between a rider and a willful horse: the horse supplies all the pair's force, but the rider is largely able to steer it in a particular direction. In this analogy, the horse would represent the _________, and the rider would represent the _________. a) superego; id b) ego; superego c) id; ego d) superego; ego
C
Some psychologists who do research on individual agency argue that the "free will" debate is too philosophical for behavioral scientists, and that what they are studying and measuring should instead be described using the term _______________. a) implicit personality b) illusion of control c) voluntary action d) uncertainty principles
C
Sun Lin is feeling stressed because she is 24 and she knows her parents expected her to have a permanent job and to be thinking about starting a family by now. Instead, Sun Lin is working at a bakery part-time and is considering joining the Peace Corps. Some personality researchers would say that Sun Lin's current anxiety stems from a discrepancy between: a) her primary self and her secondary self. b) her actual self and her ideal self. c) her actual self and her ought self. d) her potential self and her feared self.
C
The "IQ gap"—consistent differences in average intelligence scores observed between Black and White children in the United States—is thought to be largely due to: a) genetic differences in intelligence between the races. b) lower achievement motivation in Black children. c) external factors such as socioeconomic environment, education quality, and medical health. d) greater time spent on homework by White children.
C
The Greek philosopher Hippocrates thought that individual differences were based on biological fluids ("humours"). In this theory, a person who was depressed, unhappy, and sickly was expected to have an overabundance of _________________. a) blood b) yellow bile c) black bile d) phlegm
C
When former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace in 2021 after numerous women credibly accused him of sexual harassment, he issued an official apology, which read (in part): "I am sorry for whatever pain I caused anyone. I never intended it. And I will be the better for this experience. Thank you." This statement was promptly criticized for failing to acknowledge actual specific harm, and also for failing to accept personal responsibility for his behaviors. What dynamic internal personality elements in Mr. Cuomo appear to be in conflict in this apology situation? a) His motive for self-determination (autonomy) and his motive for intimacy (interpersonal closeness). b) His daily strivings to achieve and enjoy a position of power and to be able to express himself sexually and confidently. c) His personal need to retain a positive self-image and his social need to repair damaged relationships. d) His s
C
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the "totalitarian ego," according to Anthony Greenwald? a) Avoiding blame for bad life events while taking credit for good ones. b) Acknowledging evidential support only for the beliefs we already hold. c) Utilizing positive affirmations to improve our self-concept. d) Seeing ourselves as the center, or focal point, of the world as it operates around us.
C
Your aunt is an ardent astrology devotee and reads her Aries outlook every day. She even calls you whenever her horoscope "predictions" are accurate. Though you notice that these instances are fairly rare, she continues to encourage you to let the stars and planets guide your daily behavior. Your aunt is display what kind of "egotistical" cognition? a) Ego overcontrol b) A self-serving attribution c) The confirmation bias d) The classic suggestion effect
C
"Self-monitoring" is a personality trait that refers to how much a person changes how they present themselves according to the social demands of the situation. This strategy of using others' expectations to guide one's own behavior thus makes use of _________________ in displaying dynamic self-control. a) hypnosis b) subluxation c) dissociation d) feedback loops
D
A young man hears that his uncle has just died and asks his parents why their family is not going to the funeral. His father, somewhat puzzled, reminds him that the uncle was excessively drunk and violent toward all of them for years. "Really?" says the young man. "I don't remember that at all." a) Reaction formation b) Denial c) Suppression d) Repression e) Regression
D
According to Raymond B. Cattell, our procedural knowledge of basic math and our semantic knowledge of word definitions would be examples of: a) intrapersonal intelligence. b) broad intelligence. c) fluid intelligence. d) crystallized intelligence.
D
An individual who has made no commitment to a personal identity of any sort, and has not yet felt the urge to conduct any self-exploration, is said to have what identity status? a) Moratorium b) Achievement c) Foreclosure d) Diffusion
D
Below is an unorganized factor analysis table of common personality traits. In order from Factor I to Factor III, the Big Five supertraits represented in this table are: (Hint: Recall how we read a factor analysis table! Each column represents a factor, so to identify the factors, read down each column to find the test items that best represent that factor.) a) Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness. b) Openness, Agreeableness, and Extraversion. c) Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. d) Neuroticism, Openness, and Conscientiousness.
D
Chloe and Safra are best friends and consider themselves "foodies" (i.e., people who enjoy exploring, making, and eating new and challenging meals as a hobby). However, while Chloe is an excellent cook, Safra is not. After one of Safra's poorer attempts at making a tasty dinner for the two of them, she asks Chloe what she thought of the meal. What "social acting" strategy would be best for Chloe to use here if she does not want to offend her friend? a) Altercasting b) Accounting c) An illustrator d) A disclaimer
D
Dane went to school & earned an MBA, diligently fundraised & forged networking connections, bought lots of equipment & supplies, hired staff, etc. After a series of mishaps and accidents, Dane's business is now in freefall & will soon have to be dissolved. Dane is miserable, thinking that he has failed his employees & his investors & is crushed that he has wasted so much of his own blood, sweat & tears on what he sees as an "epic failure." His life happiness is extremely low right now. What is likely to happen to Dane's overall happiness? a) He will likely remain despondent & wretched as his "new normal" until he comes up with a professional venture that is more successful. b) He will likely realize that he never really felt all that badly to begin with, & cheer up. c) He will continue to spiral lower & lower, with conscientious therapy or some other intervention the only way to reverse the downward trend
D
For which of the following tests of motivation would the social desirability bias most likely be a problem? a) A forced-choice test b) An open-ended questionnaire c) A projective (thematic) procedure d) A self-judgment scale
D
Gabriella is immersed in an art project and is experiencing some signs of "flow": she is in a state of deep concentration, she is not worried about anyone observing her, and she is unaware of the passing of time. What can we surmise about Gabriella and her project? a) Gabriella's skill level is low, but the project is easy. b) Gabriella's skill level is low and the project is challenging. c) Gabriella's skill level is high and the project is easy. d) Gabriella's skill level is high and the project is challenging.
D
Many people have dreams in which they lose teeth. In some cultures and/or therapeutic orientations, such dreams have historically been interpreted as symbolic; i.e., that the dreamer is actually concerned about things like a lack of control in their life, or the death of a loved one, or even castration anxiety! Such an interpretation of tooth loss in a dream would be considered: a) an emblem. b) a mesodynamic. c) a manifest meaning. d) a latent meaning.
D
Matching (1 pt. each). For items #1-4, match each personality researcher with the theory that best represents their work. Walter Mischel A. Evolutionary B. Humanistic C. Psychodynamic D. Social cognitive
D
The argument that social behavior, personality predispositions, and the surrounding environment all influence each other to create unique individuals is called: a) idiocentrism. b) allocentrism. c) the personal construct system. d) reciprocal determinism.
D
The preferred psychological term for a "slip of the tongue,"—i.e., a mildly embarrassing error in speech—is __________________, and modern psychologists generally accept that most of these occur due to __________________. a) symbolic interactionism; microdynamic personality changes that only affect some people. b) Freudian slip; unconscious psychodynamic conflict (often sexual) within a person. c) regression; internal personality urges that fail to meet the threshold for open action. d) parapraxis; simple cognitive errors in language generation and retrieval.
D
When a person feels overwhelmed by stressful life circumstances, they may engage in dissociation as a form of mental "escape" so as not to have to confront the source of their stress. As discussed in class, which of the following behaviors could be considered to be dissociative? a) Preoccupied cell phone activity b) Habitual pornography consumption c) Refusal to take prescribed medications d) All of the above can be dissociative
D
Which Big Five trait most clearly predicts individual job success across all occupations? a) Friendliness b) Extraversion c) Emotional stability d) Conscientiousness
D
Which of the following cognitive models is NOT generally considered a constructive (i.e., healthy) approach to problem-solving and personal growth? a) Self-efficacy b) Emotion-based coping c) Seeing the world as a generally safe place d) Categorical thinking
D
Which of the following is NOT a reason why Erik Erikson's stage theory of psychosocial development is generally viewed as an improvement on Sigmund Freud's stage theory of development? a) It does not rely on unsubstantiated ideas about child sexuality. b) It allows for the idea that not all developmental anxiety is unconscious. c) It argues that major developmental "crises" happen at all stages of life, not just in childhood. d) It relies on behaviorist and neurological (rather than psychodynamic) theories about development.
D
Which of the following is NOT necessary in order for a personality assessment to be scientifically useful? a) It should be based on a well-validated and supportable theory of personality. b) It should be tested and revised as needed. c) It should have some predictive usefulness for life outcomes. d) It should be very quick and easy to administer.
D
Which of the following measures would probably be best for revealing the presence of a strong power motive in a respondent? a) The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator b) The Rorschach Ink Blot Test c) The Draw-A-Person Test d) The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
D
Which of the following tasks would likely NOT be included in a standard set of intelligence tests like the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)? a) Digit span ("Repeat these digits backwards: 6, 5, 3, 9, 7, 2") b) Block design ("Use the blocks provided to match the pattern that is given on the paper.") c) Matrix reasoning ("Select the appropriate picture that would complete the sequence.") d) Practical decision-making ("Tell me what activities are most important if you want to be promoted at work.")
D
Which of these correlations is the strongest? a) r = .10 b) r = .75 c) r = -.05 d) r = -.80
D
Your younger cousin has just failed his first high school Biology exam. Attempting to sympathize, you point out that he has probably still learned some things that might help him on future exams, and he responds, "So what? I failed! I'm no good at natural science." This type of statement indicates that your cousin may have a(n) _______________ mindset regarding academics. a) incremental b) socioanalytic c) shadow d) entity
D
A mother lapses into diversionary "baby talk" with her adolescent daughter whenever the daughter consults her mother about a tricky life situation, like when she is considering moving in with her boyfriend. During such times, the mother also resorts to calling her daughter by the cutesy nickname she gave her as an infant. a) Reaction formation b) Denial c) Suppression d) Repression e) Regression
E