personality: theory and measurement

1: Chapter 11 Personality: Theory and Measurement

2: Personality The distinct patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings that characterize a person�s adaptation to life.

3: Psychoanalytic View Psychoanalytic theory Freud�s perspective, which emphasizes the importance of unconscious motives and conflicts as forces that determine behavior.

4: Sigmund Freud Father of psychoanalytic theory One of the first theorist of the formation of personality. One of the first practitioners of personality assessment.

5: Consciousness Conscious is self-awareness Preconscious is the capability of being brought into awareness by the focusing of attention. Unconscious is in psychoanalytic theory, not available to awareness by simple focusing of attention. Repression is a defense mechanism that protects the person from anxiety by ejecting anxiety-evoking ideas and impulses from awareness. Defense mechanism is in psychoanalytic theory, an unconscious function of the ego that protects it from anxiety-evoking material by preventing accurate recognition of this material.

6: Personality Structure Psychic structure is in psychoanalytic theory, a hypothesized mental structure that helps explain different aspects of behavior. Id is the psychic structure, present at birth, that represents physiological drives and is fully unconscious. Ego is the 2nd psychic structure to develop, characterized by self-awareness, planning, and delay of gratification. Superego is the 3rd psychic structure, which functions as a moral guardian and sets forth high standards for behavior. Identification is in psychoanalytic theory, the unconscious adoption of another person�s behavior.

7: Freud and his psychosexual phases Psychosexual development is in psychoanalytic theory, the process by which libidinal energy is expressed through different erogenous zones during different stages of development. Libido is the sexual interest and drive. Erogenous zone is an area of the body that is sensitive to sexual sensations.

8: Psychosexual stages Oral stage 1st stage during which gratification is hypothesized to be attained primarily through oral activities Anal stage 2nd stage when gratification is attained through anal activities Phallic stage 3rd stage characterized by a shift of libido to the phallic region Latency phase 4th stage characterized by repression of sexual impulses. Genital stage 5th and mature stage characterized by preferred expression of libido through intercourse with an adult of the other gender

9: Freudian hang ups. Fixations are arrested developments. Attachment objects of an earlier stage of psychosexual development. Oedipus complex is a conflict of the phallic stage in which boys wish to possess his mother sexually and perceives his father as a rival for her love. Electra complex is a conflict in the phallic stage in which the girl longs for her father and resents her mother. Incest taboo is the cultural prohibition against marrying or having sexual relations with a close blood relative. Gender-typing the process by which people acquire the traits considered appropriate for people of their sex in a given cultural setting. Incest taboo and gender-typing help to alleviate the Oedipus and Electra complexes.

10: Carl Jung Was a member of Freud�s inner circle but fell out of favor after disagreeing over consciousness. Form his own theory. Analytical psychology was Jung�s psychoanalytic theory, which emphasized the collective unconscious and archetypes.

11: Jungian Psychoanalytic theory Collective unconscious was the hypothesized store of vague memories that represent the history of mankind. Archetypes are basic, primitive images or concepts hypothesized to reside in the collective unconscious.

12: Alfred Adler A follower of Freud who broke away and formed his own theory because he felt Freud focused too much on sex Inferiority complex are feelings of inferiority hypothesized by Adler to sever as a central motivating force. Drive for superiority was Adler�s term for the desire to compensate for feelings of inferiority. Creative self was according to Adler the self-aware aspect of personality that strives to achieve its full potential Individual psychology was Adler�s psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes feelings of inferiority and the creative self.

13: Karen Horney and Erik Erikson Karen Horney was a neopsychoanalyist She believed that women were portrayed too negatively in Freudian theory. She believed that social relationships were more important Felt that Freud�s theory was based too much on the Western view of a woman�s place. Believed that girls did not feel inferior to boys. Erik Erikson like Horney believed in social relationships. Formulated the psychosocial development which was a theory of personality and development that emphasizes social relationships and eight stages of development This theory was successfully completed with the achievement of EGO IDENTITY which was a firm sense of who one is and what one stands for.

14: Arguments against psychoanalytic theory Freud was too focused on sex. Freud and others did not have very good data collections systems. Concepts were too vague.

15: Trait perspective Traits are relatively stable aspects of personality that is inferred from behavior and assumed to five rise to consistent behavior.

16: Trait theory Introversion is a trait characterized by intense imagination and a tendency to inhibit impulses Extraversion is a trait characterized by tendencies to be socially outgoing and to express feelings and impulses freely. Neuroticism is this theory�s term fro emotional instability This theory was a British theory that emphasized the relationships between introversion and extraversion and emotional stability vs neurotism.

17: The Five-Factor Model Extraversion Contrasts talkativeness, assertiveness, and activity with silence, passivity, and reserve. Agreeableness Contrasts kindness, trust, and warmth with hostility, selfishness, and distrust Conscientiousness Contrasts organization, thoroughness, and reliability with carelessness, negligence, and unreliability. Neuroticism Contrasts nervousness, moodiness, and sensitivity to negative stimuli with coping ability Openness to experience Contrasts imagination, curiosity, and creativity with shallowness and lack of perceptiveness.

18: Problems with trait perspective Tends to be more descriptive than explanatory

19: Learning Theories Behaviorism Theorizes that personality is plastic and can change depending on environmental circumstances not internal ones. Social cognitive theory Observational learning and person variables such as values and expectancies play a major role in individual differences Expectancies are personal predictions about the outcomes of potential behaviors Subjective value is the desirability of an object or event. Self efficacy expectations are beliefs to the effect that on can handle a task. Observational learning. Modeling is an imitated behavior learned by others through observational learning. Gender-typing Gender-schema theory proposes that once girls and boys become aware of anatomic sex, they begin to blend their self-expectations and self-esteem with the ways in which they fit the gender roles in a given culture.

20: Humanistic views Humanism is the view that people are capable of free choice, self-fulfillment, and ethical behavior Abraham Maslow Self-actualization is a humanist theory that theorizes that the innate tendency to strive to realize one�s potential

21: Carl Roger�s Self Theory Frames of reference is one�s unique pattering of perceptions and attitudes according to which one evaluates events. Unconditional positive regard is a persistent expression of esteem for the value of a person, but no necessarily an unqualified acceptance of all the person�s behavior. Conditional positive regard is judgment of another person�s value on the basis of the acceptability of that person�s behaviors. Conditions of worth are standards by which the value of a person is judged.

22: What is a personality disorder? A personality disorder is a psychological disorder that surpasses being a transient disorder. It is a persistent disorder in which some aspects or traits of a person�s personality becomes an issue of that person�s wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. Axis II in the DSM. Not easily treated, no medication for it.

23: Personality Disorders Paranoid PD Characterized by persistent suspiciousness, but not involving the disorganization of paranoid schizophrenia Schizotypal PD Characterized by oddities of thought and behavior, but not involving bizarre psychotic behavior. (Kramer from Seinfeld) Schizoid PD Characterized by social withdrawal and bizarre behavior Borderline PD Characterized by instability in relationships, self-image, mood, lack of impulse control, attention-seeking behaviors, manipulation, and self-harm. (Scarlet O�Hara) Antisocial PD Characterized by frequent conflict with society, yet is undeterred by punishment and experiences little or no guilt or anxiety (serial killers) Avoidant PD Characterized by unwillingness to enter relationships without assurance of acceptance because of fears of rejection and criticism.

24: More PD Histrionic PD Characterized by attention-seeking behavior and being center of attention. When not center of attention will up stakes to be center of attention either sexually or dramatically. (Blanche Devereaux) Narcissistic PD Characterized by vanity and disregard for other�s feelings. Has to be the biggest and best and feels very low if not. Depressed PD Characterized by persistent and lingering depression that is not the magnitude of MDD and does not match criteria for dysthymia. (Eeyore). Dependent PD Characterized by bouncing back and forth into relationships and inability to have a personal identity without someone else. Difficulty making decisions. (Piglet or George from Seinfeld).

25: Substance Abuse Substance abuse is the persistent use of a substance even though it is causing or compounding problems in meeting the demands of life. Substance dependence is the loss of control over the use of substances. Biologically speaking, dependence is typified by tolerance, withdrawal symptoms or both Tolerance is the habituation to a drug, with the result that increasingly higher doses of the drug are needed to achieve similar effects. Withdrawal symptoms are characteristic cluster of symptoms that result from sudden decrease in an addictive drug�s level of usage.

26: Drug Classifications Depressants are drugs that lowers the rate of activity in the nervous system. Alcohol Opiate Methadone Barbiturates Benzodiazepines Opoids Stimulants are drugs that increase the activity of the nervous system. Amphetamines Methamphetamine Cocaine Crack Nicotine Caffeine Ecstasy Hallucinogens are substances that cause hallucinations LSD Peyote PCP Marijuana Varieties of �designer� drugs.

27: Depressants Alcohol Most abused depressant 20 Million Americans are alcoholics. 44% of college students binge drink weekly. Opiates (narcotics [drugs used to relieve pain and induce sleep]) derived from the opium poppy that provide a euphoric rush and depress the nervous system. Loratab, loraset, laudanum, heroin, morphine, codeine, Demerol Opioids (chemicals that act on opiate receptors but are not derived from the opium poppy) Methadone Barbiturates (Addictive depressants used to relieve anxiety, seizures, or induce sleep) Phenobarbital, Dilantin Benzodiazepine (sedatives used for treating anxiety) Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, Librium,

28: Stimulants Amphetamines First used to keep soldiers awake in WWII. Stay awake meds, Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Methamphetamine Used by the Nazis to keep their troops awake during WWII Derived from amphetamines Meth, Crystal Meth, Crank. Cocaine Made from the coca leaves. Was once in Coca-Cola. Crack is rock cocaine Nicotine Found in cigarettes, cigars, snuff, and smokeless tobacco. Most commonly abused substance Caffeine Found in tea, coffee, sodas Most commonly used mood alerting substance.

29: Hallucinogens Marijuana Dried vegetable matter from the cannabis sativa plant THC chemical symbol Causes paranoia and mild hallucinations LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide, Acid Mescaline is a hallucinogen derived from the mescal cactus aka peyote PCP (phencyclidine) called angel dust.

30: Assessment of Personality Rorschach Test Inkblot test A projective test which is a test that presents ambiguous stimuli onto which the test taker projects his or her own personality in making a response Reality testing is the capacity to perceive one�s environment and oneself according to accurate sensory impressions. Psychoanalytic test of personality.

31: The Big Boy MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) Consists of over 500 true false questions Has clinical scales or groups of test items that measure the presence or various abnormal behavior patterns. Hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, psychopathic deviance, masculinity/femininity, paranoia, psychasthenia, schizophrenia, hypomania, social interoversion The most studied psychological test in the world.

32: The other test MCMI Looks more at personality disorders than the MMPI