Quiz 12

Michael, a clinical psychologist, wants to assess his patients' level of neuroticism at their first visit using a standardized, valid personality measure. In selecting his measure, how will he determine if it is valid?

If scores correspond to actual patient differences in neuroticism.

Which of the following scenarios depicts an example of a defense mechanism?

Anthony plays football to deal with anger over his parent's divorce.

Reinforcement sensitivity theory describes individual differences in...

Approach, avoidance, and inhibition of behavior.

Although he is 35 years old, Sheldon has never learned to drive. Each time his friends offer to teach him, he thinks of the risks and possible negative outcomes of driving and declines their offers of help. Given this behavior, reinforcement sensitivity theory suggests that Sheldon likely has a highly active...

Behavioral inhibition system (BIS).

Matt, a personality researcher, develops a new model of personality that describes an individual's personality using ten different factors. To accompany this model, he designs an assessment that measures these ten factors. Which of the following describes the best approach for determining the validity of his new assessment?

Conducting a factor analysis to see if the individual items form clusters around the ten proposed personality factors.

15. Which of the following best describes the development of the Big Five Theory of personality?

Factor analysis was used to identify five core traits that reliably described and predicted personality.

Nick's brother Todd has been unemployed for nine months. If Nick has an internal locus of control, how is he likely to explain Todd's inability to find a job?

He is not trying hard enough.

Leon goes to marriage counseling with his wife. The counselor suggests that their relationship could be improved if Leon increased his level of agreeableness. Leon makes a concerted effort to change this trait and follows each of the counselor's recommendations. How are these efforts likely to affect his low agreeableness?

He will experience changes in both the underlying personality trait and his behavior.

Although Li-Wen did not answer any questions correctly, his trivia team managed to win the game. If Li-Wen is from a collectivistic culture, how is likely to respond to this outcome?

He will take pride in his team's overall performance.

Malik is on his school's tennis team. Regardless of his opponent, he enters each tennis game with the confidence that he can win. This belief is consistent with having...

High self-efficacy.

After a serious injury, Paul no longer thinks of himself as an athlete. Now, he primarily thinks of himself as a husband and employee. In this example, which of the following has changed for Paul?

His self-concept.

Ariana, a school principal, set up a booth at the entrance of her school for parent-teacher night. The booth contained small trinkets with the school's name and a sign inviting parents to "take just one." According to research on self-consciousness and honesty, where should Ariana place the booth to increase the likelihood that parents stick to the "one only" rule?

In front of the reflective trophy case.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the personal self and the interpersonal self?

Individuals possess both and each contributes to their overall sense of self.

Linda's three-year-old son, Todd, constantly throws tantrums and reacts negatively to most stimuli in his environment. Concerned by this behavior, Linda sets up play dates for Todd with one of his classmates who always appears to be smiling and laughing. Linda hopes that this child's behavior will have a positive effect on Todd. Given research on temperament, is this exposure likely to affect his emotionality?

No, while some aspects of temperament are contagious, the propensity for negative emotions is not affected.

Erin had been single for several years after her divorce. Frustrated with dating, her friend suggested that Erin travel to China to meet her brother who was also single. Although Erin was American and did not speak Chinese, she decided to travel to China for three weeks to meet her friend's brother. According to the Big Five Theory of personality, this behavior suggests that Erin is high in...

Openness.

Freud suggested that individuals use defense mechanisms to...

Resolve painful psychic energy.

Prior to getting in front of the class to give his oral presentation, Mark whispers to his friends "get ready, I'm awful at this and I didn't sleep at all last night." Mark's warning to his friends is an example of...

Self-handicapping.

Brooke is distracted by a phone call while shopping and accidentally walks out of the store without paying for the clothes she is holding. According to Freud, if Brooke has an overly dominant superego how will she likely respond to this mistake?

She will feel immense guilt and immediately return to the store to confess her crime.

On the morning of her son's birthday party, Rebecca receives a call that the party venue is no longer available. If Rebecca has high self-esteem, how is she likely to respond to this information?

She will immediately start calling other venues and continue to do so until a new location is reserved.

Jenean's class went on a field trip to a nature center. As part of the experience, the nature center director walked around to each of the children while holding a tarantula spider. If Jenean's temperament is low in reactivity, how is she likely to respond when confronted with the tarantula?

She will not be particularly bothered.