PSYC 330 - Personality Exam 1

Definitions of Personality (3) *

"An individual's characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior, together with the psychological mechanisms - hidden or not - behind those patterns." (p.5) ; State of being a person- an individual's unique and relatively consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. The sum total of all the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of a person; Situational- on average you can be friendly, extroverted, etc, but that doesn't necessarily mean that those are the predominant traits of your personality

Informant Report (I) Data

** research to support that informant judgments may be more accurate than self judgment ** (especially with more extreme ends of desirable and undesirable traits ((and multiple perspectives)) ) data that can be collected from a number of parties (no expertise needed) day to day

Advantages of I Data

-As a result of having number of behaviors to base judgements upon, can form a general opinion on one's personality -Personality data often used to predict relevant outcomes/draw conclusions based on behavior/personality traits 1) Large amount of info 2) Real-world basis: because not in controlled setting, more relative to important outcomes 3) Common Sense - Context & Immediate Situation immediate situation- when making judgments about someone's personality; ex: one's friend is crying because he just found out about the death of a loved one; how you perceive behavior is likely going to differ from friend balling because it's raining outside 4) Definitional Truth -some aspects of what we see in others depend on how we know them and how they react to us 5) Causal Force -reputation affects opportunities and expectancies; -expectancy effect and behavioral confirmation can be used interchangeably; -how others perceive us affects expectancies and opportunities -how others expect me to behave can influence how I act in situation

Behavioral (B) Data

-data that can be carefully and systematically observed, reported, or collected -can be from direct observation of researcher (lab setting) or real world observations

Life Outcomes (L Data)

-verifiable, concrete data; real life facts that hold psychological significance; archival data -obtained from archival records or self-report --advantages and disadvantages -outcome data is a result or "residue" of personality --how a person has affected the world --certain personality traits are associated with a higher likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior

Disadvantages of S Data

1) Bias -overly positive/negative, desire for faking 2) Error -fish and water effect: we often do not notice our most obvious characteristics bc we are always that way -active distortion of memory: repression (freud) -lack of self insight -carelessness 3) Too simple and easy

Advantages of L Data

1) Intrinsic importance: a lot of value in those records; in terms of data provided to make important decisions that have serious, real-life consequences about individual 2) Psychological relevance: related to intrinsic importance; overlap; arguably one could learn that if looking at job history or attendance data, one could then infer certain personality traits

Advantages of S Data

1) Large amounts of information can be attained 2) Access to thoughts, feelings, and intentions -people may think they have access to this, but "mind reading" can get us into trouble 3) Definitional Truth -the data is true by definition here if one is assessing what they think about themselves 4) Causal Force -Self perceptions can create one's own reality/truth and influence the goals that we set for ourselves -Self efficacy --what do you think you're capable of? --high self efficacy / confidence means you'll strive for higher goals -Self verification --people work to convince others to treat them in a manner that confirms their self perceptions --if i think very poorly of myself, I am likely to behave in a way towards others that will elicit a similar response so that ( I can confirm that(?) ) you will also think I am unworthy as a result of my actions 5) Simple and Easy -self report questionnaires are *typically* more cost effective and easier

Disadvantages of I Data

1) Limited behavioral information -different behaviors based on setting/situation 2) Lack of access to private experience - ex: mind-reading; others can't read thoughts/mind or know true feelings or motivations 3) Error: more likely to remember behaviors that are extreme, unusual, or emotionally arousing 4) Bias -more systematic; more positive or negative overarching terms; could be bias due to own personal issues as information -letter of recommendation effect: you are going to choose somebody who has an overly positive view of you -prejudices/stereotypes

Overlap with Clinical Psychology (3) *

1) Normal vs extreme patterns of personality 2)Personality disorders 3)Both attempt to understand whole person

Criteria for Evaluating Theories (don't just accept things as truth)

1) Organize known data: -How well does the theory organize data and incorporate or account for known findings 2) Extensiveness: -How much does it account for? A lot of variability 3) Falsifiability: -Testible - *** Popper: Theories can never be proven, only disproven (TEST) *** -Not all that useful if not able to test theory 4) Heuristic value: -Does the theory stimulate thought and research? -Enable person to discover/learn something from/for themselves -Any means of problem solving / self discovery to formulate practical method 5) Guide to action: -Should be able to generate if/then statements -Predictions - If I am high on agreeableness, then I am more likely to communicate in a nonassertive fashion 6) Internally Consistent: -Should not be contradictory statements within your theory -Contradictory statements should not be able to be generated within the context of that theory, should be clear 7)Parsimonious (Occam's razor): -Idea that all else being equal, simpler is better -Basic and simplest form -Entities must not be complicated/expanded beyond what is necessary; theoretical concept -In science, the simplest theory that solves the problem is the one that should be selected

Development of a Science (4 steps) * ((after Royce, 1978))

1) Philosophical speculation 2) Empirical exploration: "I can't argue my theory if I can't test it" 3) Advances in methodology: controlled observation, research 4) *** Formalization of theory: personality is yet to achieve this 4th step- there is no one specific definition or theory, we are lacking in unification *** This process can repeat itself again and again, such as discovery of new theories replacing old theories

Psychophysical systems (2) *

1) characteristics that describe people in how they are alike / not alike from other psychological mechanisms; info processing 2)mechanisms/processes of personality (information processing)

Dynamic organization (3) *

1) personality is NOT static; allport believes it is an active process 2)psychodynamic - moving from one movement to next 3)developmental perspective - movement over time across lifespan

Advantages and Disadvantages of Laboratory B Data

Advantages 1) Range of contexts 2) Appearance of objectivity But subjective judgments must still be made Disadvantages 1) Difficult and expensive 2) Uncertain interpretation

Idiographic vs Nomothetic (distinction termed by Allport; considered by many first personality psychologist)

Are people more alike than different or vise versa? Idiographic: the study of individuals Nomothetic: large scale studies of persons; seeking to establish universal laws

When talking about personality traits, there is quite a bit of research to support traits tied to those who are members of cultural groups within individualistic societies vs collectivistic societies. (IMPACTS) :

Certain personality traits that are more strongly embraced within an individualistic society vs those in collectivist society (ex: child rearing practices; self-enhancement: attribute looked upon more positively in one society vs. the other; personality traits associated with this)

Role of Race, Gender, and Culture in shaping Personality Culture:

Cross cultural psychology research shows that personality is formed by both genetic and environmental influences... problems w this: personality traits in one person might not be applicable to another

Phenomenological Approach: Humanistic vs Cross-Cultural *

Focus on people's conscious experience of the world Humanistic: how conscious awareness produces uniquely human attributes; understand meaning and basis of happiness Cross-cultural: how the experience of reality might be different across cultures How culture shapes various aspects of personality

Psychoanalytic approach *

Focus on the unconscious mind and internal mental conflict; Instincts, urges, conflicts creating anxiety/hostility

Trait Approach *

How people differ psychologically; How those differences are conceptualized, identified, and measured over time

Aside from self-report data, what other data can we utilize?

I-Data (ask friends to determine validity of that person's complaints); observational data

Individualistic vs collectivistic

Individualism favors self over unity Collectivism favors well being of group first

Reductionistic vs Holistic

Is the whole greater than the sum of the parts? Some theories will focus on parts, some will emphasize whole is greater

Disadvantages of L Data

Multidetermination: multiple reasons people commit crimes; starts to get dangerous place when we make judgements about people based on crimes committed, for example; can't assess all factors with outcome data

Role of Race, Gender, and Culture in shaping Personality Race and Gender:

Personality theorists traditionally consisted of white men of european and american heritage. often ignored ethnic and gender influences which raises questions about applicability/utility of these theoretical concepts

Zeitgeist for the theorist

Referring to the influence of dominant philosophical / political position of the society in which theorist lives at the time; Research to support that outlook of scientist is very much linked to their attitudes of political / philosophical views

Balance vs Technology

Role of balance being normal state; Teleology focusing on the nature of end actions are to promote, in terms of theoretical assumptions, focused on end of action _____ survival or growth

Nature vs Nurture

Role of genetics (nature) vs environment (nurture)

Personal factors of theorist

Scientists who emphasize importance of heredity and genetics tend to be conservative; scientists emphasizing the nurture piece tend to be more liberal (socioeconomic status, birth order, possession of disabilities, etc. influenced theory developed by theorist)

Temporal Emphasis

Some theories focused on the present, here and now; Some are focused on past (freud's theory); future oriented, directed towards goals and purpose (allport's theory)

Major advocates of basic approaches have claimed their approach explains everything worth explaining. The problem with this is...

They are not mutually exclusive; They address different questions or key concerns; Each ignores many key concerns

Biological Approach *

Understand the mind in terms of body; Genetics, evolutionary approaches

Natural B Data

Usually observing someone in real-life context when it comes to B data; engaging in self-monitoring -EAR: electronically activated recorder --audio samples; sounds collected at designated intervals -wearable cameras -Ambulatory Assessment: using computer-assessment methods to assess behavior, thoughts, and feelings during normal daily activities

Measurement strategies

Variability depending on theorists: ex) Objective vs subjective; Conscious vs unconscious

Personality Data Applies to... Utilize clues:

all parts of psychological triad (think, feel, behave) observable aspects of personality -- we cannot see personality directly-- (behaviors, test scores, response to a lab procedure, questions to determine validity of complaint)

Theoretical focus Normality vs. abnormality:

are the processes that create these states similar or different? Depending on theorist, divergent responses (ex: freud would argue differences arise from the same processes that create pathology Abraham Maslow (humanistic theorist) believed they are two entirely different processes.

Bordon Alport & his definition of personality *

considered to be the first personality psychologists in the field; "The dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems which determine his/her unique adjustment to the world." (1937)

Determinism vs free will *

control, choice, responsibility; you can be determined not responsible for crime if you're insane

Goal of science is to... *

develop useful theories as opposed to 'right'; Right implies fact, and to say one basic paradigm or approach/theory is fact implies the others are wrong, when they all have utility; "Science is the attempt to make the chaotic diversity of our own sense experience correspond to a logically uniform system of thought." - Albert Einstein (1940)

Learning and Cognitive Processes Approach: Cognitive Personality *

focuses on cognitive processes, including perception and thought

Learning and Cognitive Processes Approach: Classical behaviorism *

focuses on overt behavior

The whole person

how all other areas of psychology come together

Learning and Cognitive Processes Approach: Social Learning *

how observation and self-evaluation determine behavior

Mission: Impossible- why is it impossible to explain the whole person in his or her daily environment?

it's impossible to account for everything at the same time: feelings, learning, etc This is because of the power of the unconscious mind: unconscious motives urges, instincts

Psychology's Emphasis on Method Goal of research:

not to settle anything definitively, bc it will likely be replaced. emphasis is on thinking and seeking new knowledge- explore the unknown and not assuming my ideology and stance is true

Basic Approaches to Personality

our theories, theoretical view of personality that focus on some phenomena but ignores others

Laboratory B Data

physiologically measured data: heart rate, breathing, MRI Contrived experiments; researcher observes individual in (made up) unnatural setting or environment/crisis -for example: smoke alarm goes off; how does that person react?

Theoretical focus Person vs. situation:

primarily interested in whether or not behavior is consistent or variable by situation (time and place)

Personality traits; only ____________ consistent/stable; depends on __________

relatively; perspective

Psychological Triad *

the combination of how people think, feel, and behave; confusing when they overlap: ex)guilt- i have to study but i wanna go to ng

One Big Theory (OTB) *

to explain everything, however it is difficult to do everything well; Some believe their approach is the big theory, some organize a bunch into a big one, some believe all different approaches are for different concerns

Unique Adjustment *

uniqueness of individual, interested in individuals, not humans in general

Self-Judgments or Self-Report (S) Data

usually consists of questionnaires or surveys -person's evaluation of one's own personality -the best expert about a person's personality is oneself high face validity -appears to measure what it was developed or intended to measure. ex) "do you want to die?/do you have thoughts of death?" very clear question