Module 39(Contemporary Perspectives on Personality)

self-serving bias

-A readiness to perceive oneself favorably •Suggests people accept more responsibility for good deeds than for bad, and for successes than for failure •Often creates a better-than-average effect •When self-esteem is threatened, people may react aggressively

The big five personality factors

-Conscientiousness -Agreeableness -Neuroticism -Openness -Extraversion CANOE

interaction of individuals and environments

-Different people choose different environments. -Personalities shape how people interpret and react to events. -Personalities help create situations to which people react.

nascissism

-Excessive self-love and self-absorption -Researchers distinguish between fragile defensive self-esteem and stronger secure self-esteem, which is less dependent upon external evaluation -Authentic pride, rooted in actual achievement, supports self-confidence and leadership

Biology and Personality

-Genetic predispositions influence many traits. -Brain-activity scans of extraverts indicate they seek stimulation because normal brain arousal is relatively low. -Dopamine and dopamine-related neural activity tend to be higher in extraverts. -Twin and adoption studies show genetic influence on temperament and behavioral styles. -Quiet people may be influenced by a reactive autonomic nervous system, making them respond to stress with greater anxiety and inhibition.

Individualism

-Giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.

Conscientiousness

-Giving priority to the goals of one's group (often one's extended family or work group) and defining one's identity accordingly.

reciprocal determinism

-The interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment.

Factor Analysis

-Use factor analysis to identify clusters of behavior tendencies that occur together. -Statistical procedure used to identify clusters of test items to tap basic components of a trait, such as extraversion. -Eysenck Personality Questionnaire developed by Hans Eysenck and Sybil Eysenck to reduce many of our normal individual variations: •Analyzed results revealed extraversion and emotionality as basic personality dimensions. •The Eysencks believed, and research confirms, that these basic factors are genetically influenced.

social-cognitive perspective

-Views behavior as influenced by the interaction between people's traits (including their thinking) and their social context -Emphasizes interaction of our traits with our situations - Applies principles of learning, cognition, and social behavior to personality -Albert Bandura

self-esteem

Abigail has a reputation as a gossip. She is frequently making nasty comments about her classmates. Abigail probably has low _____.

reciprocal determinism

Ariel's history of romantic relationships influences her attitudes toward romantic relationships, which affects how she responds to her current boyfriend. This is an example of:

lie scale

As a psychologist, Calvin asks a client to complete the MMPI. After he scores the client's test, he notices that her answers made her seem healthier than she seems to be. These false answers may be detected on the:

elderly

Because of their strong sense of group identification, collectivist cultures give a great deal of respect and care to their _____ family members.

having friends who roller-skate

Dixie enjoys roller skating with her friends. What would be an environmental factor associated with roller skating for Dixie?

factor analysis

Dr. Starr is attempting to develop a new personality test. As part of the process, she needs to identify clusters of related items. For this she will need to apply:

-Trait theorists see personality as a stable and enduring pattern of behavior -They describe differences rather than trying to explain them •Describe personality in terms of fundamental traits, characteristic patterns of behavior or ways of feeling and acting, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports.

HOW DO PSYCHOLOGISTS USE TRAIT THEORIES TO DESCRIBE PERSONALITY?

possible self

John daydreams of being a firefighter. He is envisioning a(n):

psychodynamic

Jung, Adler, and Horney are the key proponents of which personality theory?

reciprocal determinism

Katrina is a worrier. She worries about her family, her friends, and herself. She is particularly aware of potential hazards in the environment, and she sees the world as a dangerous place. Her personality is shaped by how she interprets and reacts to events. Albert Bandura called this process:

elicit reassuring comments

Krista had a really hard day at work. She is feeling worthless and unlovable. She is overheard making disparaging comments about herself such as, "No one likes me." Psychologists indicate that she might be doing this to:

low

Mark is often anxious. He probably has _____ self-esteem.

a possible self

Melissa is a high school junior who wants to be a veterinarian. She is envisioning:

self-efficacy

One's sense of competence and effectiveness.

persist when faced with a difficult task

People with high self-esteem have feelings of high self-worth and tend to:

social-cognitive

Reciprocal determinism involves environmental, behavioral, and internal cognitive factors, as proposed by the _____ perspective.

reciprocal determinism

The social-cognitive perspective highlights the interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment, a process that Albert Bandura called ____.

self-serving bias

The tendency for people to perceive themselves favorably is known as a _____.

-Introversion is often misunderstood as shyness, but introverted people often simply seek low levels of stimulation from their environment. -Many studies have surprisingly shown no correlation between extraversion and sales -Many introverts prosper -Introversion in not a sign of weakness

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT INTROVERSION? DOES EXTRAVERSION LEAD TO GREATER SUCCESS THN INTROVERSION?

•Social-cognitive theories of personality have been criticized for focusing so much on the situation that they fail to appreciate the person's inner traits. •Criticized for underemphasizing the importance of unconscious motives, emotions, and biologically influenced traits. •Personality traits have been shown to predict behavior at work, love, and play.

WHAT CRITICISMS HAVE SOCIAL-COGNITIVE THEORISTS FACED?

extraversion

When Josephine was hired as an advertising executive, she was told that she got the job because of the charisma she displayed to clients. According to "Thinking Critically About the Stigma of Introversion," what trait does Josephine possess that is thought to be a basic requirement to be successful in this field?

individualist

When asked to describe herself and her goals, Donna focuses on her personality traits. She goes on to list her hopes for personal achievements and the importance of being independent. One could say that Donna is a(n) _____.

learned responses

Which of the following is NOT a social-cultural influence in the biopsychosocial approach to the study of personality?

collectivism

Yu-Fin is from China. She defines her goals in terms of her family's goals and values. Her identity is based on her identification with her extended family, which brings her great comfort and security. Yu-Fin is demonstrating _____.

self-efficacy

_____ is one's sense of competence and effectiveness.

Trait theorists

______ ________ see personality as a stable and enduring pattern of behavior

the person situation controversy

•Behavior is influenced by the interaction of our inner disposition with our environment. •In general, personality traits are stable, socially significant. •Personality traits are predictors of mortality, divorce, and occupational attainment. •Consistency of specific behaviors from one situation to another is weak; average behaviors are predictable •At any moment the immediate situation powerfully influences a person's behavior. •Our enduring traits are evident, however, across many situations and in such things as our music preferences, our online spaces, and our written communications.

big five research questions

•How stable are these traits? •How heritable are they? •Do traits reflect differing brain structure? •Have these traits changed over time? •How well do these traits apply to various cultures? •Do the Big Five traits predict our actual behaviors?

self

•In contemporary psychology, assumed to be the center of personality, the organizer of our thoughts, feelings, and actions. -Self one of psychology's most vigorously studied topics.

self-esteem

•One's feelings of high or low self-worth.

spotlight effect

•Overestimating others' noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders (as if we presume a spotlight shines on us). -Consideration of possible selves motivates toward positive development; too intense focusing may lead to spotlight effect.

Personality Inventory

•Questionnaire on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits. •Test items on some but not all personality inventories are empirically derived, and tests objectively scored. •Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is the most widely researched and clinically used of all personality tests. Originally developed to identify emotional disorders (still considered its most appropriate use), this test is now used for many other screening purposes. Translated into 100+ languages.

Minnesota Multiple personality inventory

•is the most widely researched and clinically used of all personality tests. Originally developed to identify emotional disorders (still considered its most appropriate use), this test is now used for many other screening purposes. Translated into 100+ languages.