Personality

Chapter 13Lecture 14

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Psychoanalytic Perspective

Sigmund Freud(1856-1939)

Culver Pictures

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Personality Structure

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Defense Mechanisms

The ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting

reality.1. Repression2. Regression3. Reaction Formation4. Projection5. Rationalization6. Displacement7. Denial

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Psychosexual Stages

Freud divided the development of personality into five psychosexual stages.

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IdentificationFrom

the K. Vandervelde private collection

• Oedipus complex• Electra complex

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The Neo-Freudians

Projection tests

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Thematic Apperception Test(TAT)

make up stories about ambiguous scenes.

Lew M

errim/ Photo Researcher, Inc.

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Rorschach Inkblot TestLew

Merrim

/ Photo Researcher, Inc.

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Projective Tests: Criticisms

Critics argue that projective tests lack both reliability (consistency of results)

and validity (predicting what it is supposed to).

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The Trait Perspective

An individual’s unique constellation of durable dispositions and consistent ways of behaving (traits) constitutes his or her

personality.Examples of Traits

HonestDependable

MoodyImpulsive

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Exploring TraitsEach personality is uniquely made up of

multiple traits.

Allport & Odbert (1936), identified almost 18,000 words representing traits.

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Factor AnalysisHans and Sybil Eysenck reduced

personality down to two polar dimensions, extraversion-introversion

and emotional stability-instability.

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Biology and Personality

Personality dimensions are influenced by genes.

1. extraverts seek stimulation because their normal brain arousal is relatively low.

2. Differences in children’s shyness and inhibition may be attributed to autonomic nervous system reactivity.

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MMPI

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is the most widely researched and clinically used of all

personality tests.

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MMPI Test Profile

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The Big 5

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Questions about the Big Five

These traits are common across cultures.3. How about other

cultures?

Fifty percent or so for each trait.2. How heritable are they?

Quite stable in adulthood. However, they change over development.

1. How stable are these traits?

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The Person-Situation Controversy

Trait theorists argue that behaviors from a situation may be different, but average behavior remains the same. Therefore,

traits matter.

Jaydon lacks any recognition that his alcohol abuse and neglect of his family are leading to the destruction of both family

and career. A psychoanalyst would suggest that Jaydon shows signs of a:

A. strong ego.B. weak id.C. strong superego.D. weak ego.

El Salvadorans have a saying: “The thief thinks everyone else is a thief.”

This most clearly relates to the defense mechanism of:

A. displacement.B. rationalization.C. projection.D. regression.

Bryce often acts so daring and overly confident that few people realize he is

actually riddled with unconscious insecurity and self-doubt. Bryce best illustrates the use of a defense mechanism known as:

A. reaction formation.B. projection.C. displacement.D. rationalization.

Children who have witnessed a parent’s murder report memories

that most clearly challenge Sigmund Freud’s concept of:

A. rationalization.B. the Oedipus complex.C. displacement.D. repression.

Shari is a rather anxious person. Since she is so insecure, she frequently seeks

out the reassurance of others. On which of the Big Five characteristics

would Shari likely score high?

A. neuroticismB. extraversionC. opennessD. conscientiousness