Personality Midterm

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Psychology

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Nov 24, 2024

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Psychology 335 Midterm Dr. Brooke Shriner UMGC Midterm 1. In your own words, define the term “personality.” Personality refers to a person's distinctive and permanent pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that sets them apart from other people. It includes a wide range of features, qualities, and propensities that influence how someone sees and engages with the outside world. 2. Discuss how personality researchers assess personality through observation, interviews, and tests. Give an example of each method. The approaches used by personality researchers to evaluate personality include: Researcher observation: In uncontrolled or controlled environments, researchers watch people for behavior. A psychologist may, for instance, watch a child engage with other kids during playtime to gauge how extraverted they are. Interviews: In both formal and unstructured interviews, questions are asked of participants in order to learn more about their personalities. An employer might evaluate a candidate's personality attributes, such as communication and leadership capabilities, during a job interview. Tests: Psychological assessments like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) offer uniform questionnaires to assess a range of personality traits and disorders. For instance, to evaluate mental health, the MMPI includes questions regarding mood, anxiety, and behavior. 3. Describe and give examples of how personality is influenced by culture, development, motivations, and emotions. Several things affect a person's personality: Culture: How people exhibit their personalities is influenced by cultural norms and values. For instance, certain cultures may favor assertiveness while others may value humility and group work more highly. Personality development occurs throughout life. An older adult's personality may alter as a result of life events and aging, but a child's personality may be influenced by attachment patterns with caregivers.

Motivations: Personality can be influenced by factors like affiliation, power, or achievement-related motivations. A person who is driven by success may be more competitive and goal-oriented. Emotions: Personality can be affected by emotional experiences. A person's personality may be impacted by traumatic circumstances that cause anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. 4. Define three types of personality research (case study, surveys, and natural observations) and give your own examples of each. Three different approaches to personality research: A case study is a comprehensive analysis of a single person, frequently conducted over a long period of time. An illustration would be a psychologist analyzing the personality qualities of a well-known individual like Abraham Lincoln. Surveys: Questionnaires are used by researchers to collect self-reported information from a large number of individuals. An illustration would be a survey that inquired about respondents' levels of introversion or extroversion. Natural observations: Unintentionally observing people in their natural contexts, such as observing people's behavior at a park to see how they interact with one another. 5. Describe a study you might do looking at people’s online behavior. Go into some detail about your methods; include your hypothesis, but don’t stop there. How would you set it all up? I might look into how people's use of social media influences their sense of self-worth as part of my research on online activity. The claim can be that "frequent social media use has a negative impact on self-esteem." I would design the study by choosing a sample of social media users, gauging their online presence, and gauging their level of self-worth using validated self-report scales. Any associations between internet conduct and self- esteem could be found by comparing the data. 6. Compare/contrast self-report measures with informant ratings. Why would you use one and not the other? Describe the pros and cons of each. Which method do you think is the most valid and reliable? Why? In contrast to informant ratings, which rely on other people's opinions, self-report measures require participants to evaluate their own personalities. In contrast to informant ratings, which offer outside perspectives but may not be as accurate, self-report measures are more straightforward but are subject to bias. The decision is influenced by the

objectives of the study. While informant ratings are useful for collecting data from a variety of sources, self-reports are frequently employed in research. The most accurate and valid methodology relies on the particular study situation. 7. Summarize the “nature” argument for personality and the support for it. Then, summarize the “nurture” argument and it’s supporting evidence. Which do you think has the strongest support? What side do you come down on? If you think it’s a “little of both” discuss this conclusion. Describe how nature or nurture (or both) have influenced your own development. The "nature" argument contends that genetics and other biological variables have a significant impact on personality, whereas the "nurture" argument emphasizes the importance of upbringing and environmental circumstances. Both sides enjoy considerable backing. It's probably both, in my opinion. Although certain features are predisposed genetically, how they manifest depends on both nature and upbringing. For instance, while upbringing and education may play a big part, genetics may play a part in a person's intellect. 8. Define constitutional theory and provide an example of a case that can be explained using this theory. According to constitutional theory, a person's physical and biological make-up has an impact on their personality. An individual who has a genetic tendency to anxiety disorders, for instance, may be more prone to feel anxious in particular circumstances. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes the function of the unconscious mind and defensive mechanisms, may be used to explain the personality of a pop culture character. 9. Choose someone you find interesting from pop culture. It may be a character in a movie or book or someone who’s work you are a fan of. Anyone, really. In a two-sentence nutshell per theorist , how would each of these theorists explain/interpret that person’s personality? a. Sigmund Freud b. Anna Freud c. Erik Erikson d. Carl Jung e. Alfred Adler f. Karen Horney

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Anna Freud can concentrate on the character's coping strategies and describe how they are used by them. Erik Erikson might talk about the character's growth and how they deal with identity issues. Carl Jung would investigate the collective unconscious and archetypes of the character. The character's aspiration for superiority and retaliation for perceived shortcomings may be examined by Alfred Adler. Karen Horney could see into the persona's 10. Compare/contrast what you knew/believed previously about the Rorschach Ink Blot test with what you learned a) from your in-class reading and b) from doing some outside web research on your own. If you were assessing someone’s personality and had to choose one of the three, would you choose the Rorschach, the TAT, or the Myers-Briggs? And why? Prior Knowledge/Beliefs: The Rorschach Ink Blot test is a well-known psychological evaluation method that entails displaying people a number of inkblots and asking them to describe what they perceive. I was aware that it was created by Hermann Rorschach and that by seeing how individuals perceive the ambiguous images, it is frequently used to glean information about their thoughts, emotions, and personalities. Reading for Class: It has been stressed that this is a projective test in which participants project their own thoughts and feelings onto the ambiguous stimuli, and these responses are subsequently examined by a qualified psychologist. Off-Web Research: Additional studies show that the Rorschach test has generated debate in the field of psychology. There have been complaints regarding its validity for predicting personality traits or diagnosing mental problems, as well as issues with its reliability and subjectivity in scoring. I have learned that more standardized and trustworthy personality assessment instruments have replaced the Rorschach test as a preferred method of personality testing throughout time. Comparing/Contrasting Rorschach with TAT and Myers-Briggs: The Thematic Apperception exam (TAT), a projective psychological exam that involves narrating stories based on a series of confusing images. Both the TAT and the Rorschach test are projective, but the TAT focuses more on constructing stories from images than it does on deciphering the meaning of the inkblots themselves. TAT has likewise come under fire for being arbitrary and having scant empirical backing. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), in contrast to Rorschach and TAT, is a self-report personality test that assigns people to one of 16 personality types based on their preferences in four dichotomies (for example, introversion vs. extraversion). The MBTI is well-liked for personal growth and in organizational settings. Its simplicity, scant scientific support, and lack of prognostication have all drawn criticism, nevertheless.

Which Should I Choose? Depending on the precise objectives and evaluation setting, one could choose between the Rorschach, TAT, and Myers-Briggs: Clinical Diagnosis: Due to uncertainty over its validity and reliability, neither the TAT or the Rorschach are generally advised for use in the diagnosis of mental disorders or in-depth personality evaluation. Clinicians may choose to use more objective, research-based metrics. Organizational/Personal growth: Due to its simplicity in administration and interpretation, the Myers-Briggs personality assessment may be more useful when attempting to understand someone's personality in the context of a workplace or personal growth. It should, however, be utilized with awareness of its constraints. In conclusion, it is important to choose an assessment instrument carefully based on the particular demands and aims of the assessment. While the Myers-Briggs has its own set of limitations yet may be better appropriate for some circumstances, the Rorschach and TAT are less frequently employed nowadays due to questions regarding validity and dependability. The Big Five personality traits or other well-respected instruments are frequently favored in current psychology since they are more up-to-date and experimentally confirmed. Taking into account certain situations, their strengths, and limitations, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Rorschach Ink Blot Test: Strengths: Significant historical context and extensive clinical history. It can shed light on mental processes and perhaps troublesome psychological areas. Weaknesses: Subjective interpretation: Each therapist may interpret scores differently. Limited empirical support: There have been questions about the validity and reliability of the research. Contexts for Use: Less frequently employed in modern psychology, but historically utilized for more in-depth personality assessments and psychoanalysis. Although it is not commonly used for normal personality assessments, it may be employed in specific therapeutic or forensic settings.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Strengths: By encouraging people to share their experiences, it gives us a better understanding of how they feel, how they disagree, and how they think. To investigate underlying psychological problems, can be employed in clinical and research settings. Weaknesses: Interpretation is subject to subjective judgment, much like the Rorschach. Reliability and validity issues are also present, with limited empirical support. Contexts for Use: Mainly utilized in clinical and research settings to investigate underlying emotions and conflicts. Less frequently used for personality evaluation than standardized exams. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): Strengths: User-friendly: Simple to administer and comprehend self-report questionnaire. Popular in contexts of personal and professional development. Results in categories, making it simple to communicate personality types. Weaknesses: Lack of empirical support: Its detractors claim that it lacks substantial scientific validation and predictive validity. A little understanding in detail divides people into one of 16 kinds, which may oversimplify personality. Contexts for Use: Team-building exercises, communication classes, and personal growth activities are frequently employed in professional settings. Due to its lack of therapeutic relevance, it is less frequently employed in clinical psychology. Alternative Assessments: The Big Five model uses five broad dimensions to evaluate personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. It is frequently employed in contemporary psychology and provides more validity and reliability than projective tests. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a recognized tool for clinical and psychological evaluation, especially in the context of identifying mental health issues.

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NEO-PI-R: A different comprehensive assessment of personality traits that emphasizes the Big Five and has a strong body of research behind it. It is crucial to take the evaluation's purpose, context, and particular aims into account while selecting an assessment. Assessments with substantial empirical backing are typically favored in clinical settings. Although they have their drawbacks, more approachable tools like the MBTI may be appropriate for fostering teamwork and self-awareness in corporate or personal development settings.

Personality Midterm

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