Theories of Personality Study Guide Questions
Course Introduction
This course explores the major theoretical perspectives used to understand personality, including psychoanalytic, trait, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, and biological approaches. Students will examine the origins, development, and structure of personality, as well as the methods used to assess it. Through the analysis of influential theories and contemporary research, the course encourages critical thinking about how individual differences in personality arise, persist, and influence behavior across the lifespan. Ethical considerations and applications of personality theory in clinical, educational, and organizational settings are also discussed.
Recommended Textbook
Theories of Personality Understanding Persons 6th Edition by Susan C. Cloninger
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17 Chapters
2036 Verified Questions
2036 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Personality Theory
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146 Verified Questions
146 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The dependent variable corresponds to what a researcher thinks is the A) cause.
B) effect.
C) third variable.
D) uncontrollable factor.
Answer: B
Q2) Propositions are associated with the theoretical level while hypotheses are associated with the level of observables.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) There is considerable evidence that personality is relatively stable over a person's lifetime.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Page 3
Chapter 2: Freud: Classical Psychoanalysis
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144 Verified Questions
144 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Freud did not believe that further information apart from the dream itself was necessary for the dreams interpretation.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) Repression of unacceptable thoughts or impulses requires psychic energy.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Material that has been repressed is said to be "unconscious."
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q4) The recovered memory controversy is concerned with memories
A) of prenatal experience.
B) conveyed from another person by telepathic powers.
C) of childhood sexual abuse that have troubled people throughout their lives.
D) of childhood sexual abuse that are not recalled until therapy.
Answer: D
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Chapter 3: Jung: Analytical Psychology
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133 Verified Questions
133 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In mid-life development, diverse aspects of the psyche are integrated through the A) anima.
B) persona.
C) transcendent function.
D) dominant function.
Answer: C
Q2) Jungian theory suggests that a woman who is seeking her "Prince Charming" is, in fact, really looking for her A) anima.
B) animus.
C) shadow.
D) persona.
Answer: B
Q3) Unlike Freud, Jung was interested in A) neurology.
B) neurosis.
C) symbolism.
D) paranormal phenomena.
Answer: D
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Adler: Individual Psychology
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135 Verified Questions
135 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The most important evidence of mental health, for Adler, is
A) a satisfying sex life.
B) social interest.
C) a good mood.
D) the ability to tolerate frustration.
Q2) A person who cannot successfully compensate for inferiority, in Adler's theory, develops a(n)
A) inferiority complex.
B) fictional finalism.
C) aggressive drive.
D) phobia.
Q3) Of the following, the most important key to understanding a person, according to Adler, is contained in his or her
A) dreams.
B) attitudes toward people.
C) first memories.
D) physical characteristics.
Q4) Adler's theory emphasizes the uniqueness of each person.
A)True
B)False
Page 6
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Chapter 5: Erikson: Psychosocial Development
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124 Verified Questions
124 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) According to Erikson's theory, the sense of __________ is particularly likely to interfere with an individual's initiative.
A) mistrust
B) guilt
C) shame
D) despair
Q2) Based on Erikson's theory, we could help people to maintain their ego strengths through
A) loving them.
B) modeling.
C) cultural supports.
D) money.
Q3) Some studies reported in the text have found that minority members score lower on identity than whites, a finding which is interpreted as a consequence of A) cultural factors.
B) genetic differences.
C) intellectual differences.
D) research bias.
Q4) What ideas does Erikson contribute to the understanding of racial conflicts?
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Chapter 6: Horney and Relational Theory: Interpersonal
Psychoanalytic
Theory
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140 Verified Questions
140 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Horney used the term __________ to refer to projection of inner conflicts onto the outside world.
A) detachment
B) transference
C) moving away
D) externalization
Q2) The major reason for personality differences between men and women, according to Horney, is
A) culture.
B) hormones.
C) genetics.
D) differences in education.
Q3) Some feminist theorists urge that "feminine" strengths such as __________ should be more positively valued.
A) independence.
B) aggression.
C) pornography.
D) empathy.
Q4) Explain what Horney meant by "womb envy."
Difficulty 2, pp. 113 - 114
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Chapter 7: Allport: Personological Trait Theory
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124 Verified Questions
124 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Secondary traits describe ways in which
A) people are inferior to others.
B) people are consistent, but in ways that affect few behaviors.
C) personality can be measured by questionnaire.
D) people try to get their own way in competitive settings.
Q2) List and explain characteristics of a mature, healthy adult, according to Allport.
Q3) Allport defined personality as "the dynamic organization within the individual of those __________ that determine his __________."
A) traits; mental health
B) significant attachments; social interactions
C) psychophysical systems; unique adjustments to the environment
D) physical characteristics; individuality
Q4) In their classic study of rumor transmission, Allport and Postman found that
A) often a black was reported, wrongly, to have been holding a knife.
B) rumors increase the amount of violence, the more they are retold.
C) eyewitnesses are more accurate than is generally believed.
D) rumor transmission cannot be studied in the laboratory.
Q5) Describe Allport's attitude toward methodology in personality research.
Q6) Discuss Allport's study of rumor transmission during World War II.
Page 9
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Chapter 8: Two Factor Analytic Trait Theories: Cattells 16
Factors and the Big Five
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Sample Questions
Q1) Constitutional traits are largely determined by experience. A)True
B)False
Q2) Cattell recommended that researchers use the interview as a way of measuring personality.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Cattell's major contribution has been to A) psychotherapy.
B) measurement.
C) interview techniques.
D) social psychology.
Q4) The self-sentiment is an important erg.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Cattell claimed that his 16PF measures A) adjustment.
B) the surface traits of normal personality.
C) the source traits of normal personality.
D) the effect of heredity on personality.
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Chapter 9: Biological Theories: Evolution, Genetics, and Biological
Factor Theories
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165 Verified Questions
165 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Understanding other's facial expressions of emotion is a learned skill.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Sexual jealousy
A) is an evolved psychological mechanism.
B) is more frequent among females than among males.
C) is learned, not innate.
D) all of the above
Q3) Reportedly, Hilary Rodham Clinton has always been bold and assertive. This early display of these traits suggests the influence and importance of _____ in the development of her personality.
A) biological predispositions
B) evolutionary
C) parenting style
D) early life experiences
Q4) Which of the following is not one of the EASI temperament model's dimensions?
A) Emotionality
B) Agreeability
C) Sociability
D) Impulsivity
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Chapter 10: The Challenge of Behaviorism: Dollard and Miller,
Skinner, and Staats
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183 Verified Questions
183 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Besides exploring psychoanalysis and learning theory, Miller included conducted research in
A) physiological mechanisms of motivation
B) sociology
C) chemistry
D) medicine
Q2) According to Staats, stimuli that elicit emotional responses
A) function as reinforcers for new learning.
B) are not suitable to use as reinforcers for children.
C) can be effective for punishment, but not for positive reinforcement.
D) all of the above
Q3) Explain reinforcement and punishment, emphasizing how they are different.
Q4) A primary reinforcer
A) increases the frequency of responding.
B) is always pleasant.
C) is determined by the environment
D) is learned, rather than innate.
Q5) A fixed ratio schedule is a kind of partial reinforcement schedule. A)True
B)False
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Chapter 11: Kelly: Personal Construct Theory
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117 Verified Questions
117 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) According to Kelly, people make choices that will permit their construct systems to be elaborated or extended.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Under threat, instead of elaboration of a construct system, __________ occurs.
A) reevaluation
B) sedimentation
C) destruction
D) maintenance
Q3) One sign of good mental health is
A) having many concrete constructs.
B) having dichotomous constructs.
C) cognitive complexity.
D) slot movement.
Q4) Compared to threat, fear is concerned with __________ constructs.
A) interpersonal
B) physical
C) peripheral
D) comprehensive
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Chapter 12: Mischel: Traits in Cognitive Social Learning Theory
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49 Verified Questions
49 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In Mischel's research, preschoolers delayed their gratification by waiting for A) birthday presents.
B) recess.
C) pretzels and marshmallows.
D) the end of class.
Q2) According to Mischel and his colleagues, the effect of traits on behavior depends upon
A) the person.
B) the time of day.
C) the situation.
D) the observer.
Q3) According to Mischel and his colleagues, the effect of traits on behavior depends upon
A) the person.
B) the time of day.
C) the situation.
D) the observer.
Q4) Explain the term "consistency paradox."
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Q5) Describe Mischel's research on the delay of gratification. List some of his important findings.
Chapter 13: Bandura: Performance in Cognitive Social Learning Theory
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69 Verified Questions
69 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) According to Bandura's research, children who have observed aggressive models may not behave aggressively, even if they have learned to do so, if they lack
A) incentives.
B) courage.
C) an audience.
D) toys.
Q2) A baseball player who repeatedly practices batting a ball, trying to improve, is working on the __________ phase of learning.
A) attentional
B) retention
C) motor reproduction
D) motivational
Q3) Efficacy is a cognitive concept that has no known relationship to physiological variables.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Bandura asserted that learning can occur by observing models.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 14: Rogers: Person-Centered Theory
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113 Verified Questions
113 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The real self and the ideal self become more similar after therapy.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Rogers called his therapy groups "__________."
A) encounter groups
B) T-groups
C) sensitivity groups
D) family constellation groups
Q3) The organismic valuing process leads people toward healthy development.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Discuss Rogers's attitude toward subjective experience. Include in your answer an explanation of the "organismic valuing process."
Q5) Rogers thought that education could be improved by A) trusting students to choose their own directions.
B) more carefully applying learning principles.
C) using team teachers.
D) providing more incentives for learning.
Q6) Describe research testing the effectiveness of client-centered therapy.
Page 16
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Chapter 15: Maslow and His Legacy: Need Hierarchy Theory and Positive Psychology
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107 Verified Questions
107 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What phrase best describes a peak experience?
A) a mystical, altered state of consciousness
B) a moment when achievement seems easy (though the experience may be misleading)
C) a "personal best" performance
D) the time in middle age when mental health is highest, before the inevitable declines of old age
Q2) Maslow referred to his utopian vision of society, which he called A) Walden Two.
B) Utopia.
C) Eupsychia.
D) Nirvana.
Q3) The highest need on Maslow's hierarchy of needs is A) creativity.
B) self-esteem.
C) self-actualization.
D) love.
Q4) Maslow considered curiosity to be an early manifestation of self-actualization.
A)True B)False
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Chapter 16: Buddhist Psychology: Lessons From Eastern Culture
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122 Verified Questions
122 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The early introspective methods of psychology rival the complexity and depth of self-observation in Buddhism.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Define yoga and describe four types of yoga practice.
Q3) The method of achieving an end of suffering described in the Fourth Noble Truth is called
A) detachment.
B) thought-action orientation.
C) meditation.
D) the Eightfold Path.
Q4) Buddhists seek to block all suffering from consciousness while experiencing the First Noble Truth.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Describe qualities of someone that has achieved enlightenment.
Q6) Buddhism's concept of aggression is similar to Horney's concept of moving against. A)True B)False
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Chapter 17: Conclusion
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Sample Questions
Q1) Personality theories have proposed various metaphors for people. Which of the following metaphors is not considered by the text?
A) the information processing metaphor
B) the mechanistic metaphor
C) the organic metaphor
D) the political metaphor
Q2) Mystical beliefs in experience that includes more than the individual ego are most closely associated with the __________ metaphor.
A) information processing
B) transcendent self
C) mechanistic
D) organic
Q3) Rogers's "actualizing tendency" is based upon a(n) __________ metaphor.
A) information processing
B) organic
C) mechanistic
D) political
Q4) Explain the term "paradigm." How does a paradigm influence research?
Q5) List and describe three metaphors that have been applied to personality.
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