Theories of Personality

Test Bank for Theories of Personality Understanding Persons 6th Edition by Cloninger (Sections 1)

Writers and philosophers tell us about human nature. Why do we also need psychology?

1. A) Writers and philosophers ignore human motivation.

2. B) Psychology allows a systematic understanding of human nature.

3. C) Psychology is concerned with values, which writers and philosophers ignore.

4. D) Writers and philosophers ignore maladjusted personalities.

Psychology attempts to understand human nature using the method of

1. A) science.2. B) literature.3. C) intuition.4. D) philosophy.

What is personality, according to your text?

1. A) a person's social skills2. B) the reaction of a person to social forces3. C) the underlying causes within the

person of individual behavior and experience

4. D) the individual's level of adjustment or mental health

Which of the following kinds of questions are not addressed by personality theory?

1. A) questions about personality dynamics2. B) questions about personality development3. C) questions about personality description4. D) questions about personality diffusion

When we ask, "How is one person different from another?" we are asking questions about the __________ of personality.

1. A) description2. B) dynamics3. C) development4. D) destiny

When we ask, "How do people adjust to their life situations?" and "How does their thought affect what they do," we are asking questions about the __________ of personality.


When we ask, "How do biology and experience influence a person from childhood onward?" we are asking questions about the __________ of personality.


Categories of people with similar characteristics are called

1. A) factors.2. B) traits.3. C) types.4. D) sets.

Hippocrates, in ancient Greece, described sanguine, melancholic, choleric, and phlegmatic __________ of personality.

1. A) traits2. B) types3. C) dynamics4. D) factors

A measure in which a person is given a score on some dimension, for example, a score of 61 or 85 on a 100-point scale of "traditionality", is a __________ measure.

1. A) qualitative2. B) quantitative3. C) factorial4. D) typological

How can we describe personality?

1. A) Factors2. B) Traits3. C) Types4. D) All of the above5. E) None of the above

Which of the following does not describe a trait?

1. A) Trait scores are discontinuous variables

2. B) A person is given a numeric score to indicate how much of a trait the person possesses

3. C) There are many traits to describe everyone

4. D) A person can be described on every trait.

Which of the following does not describe a personality type?

1. A) Membership to a type is all or nothing.2. B) A person belongs to one and only one

category.3. C) There are many different types to

describe everyone.4. D) A person fits into only one type.

Which of the following does not describe a factor?

1. A) Factor scores are continuous variables.2. B) There are many factors to describe

everyone.3. C) A person is given a numeric score to

indicate how much of a factor the person possesses.

4. D) A person can be described on every factor.

In the study of personality, including the influence of society and culture allows a better explanation of ____________ differences among people.

1. A) gender2. B) ethnic3. C) cultural4. D) all of the above5. E) none of the above

A __________ allows a more precise description of personality because it refers to a more focused set of characteristics.

1. A) variable2. B) type3. C) temperament4. D) trait

Like traits, factors are

1. A) broad.2. B) quantitative.3. C) qualitative.4. D) developmental stages.

In comparison to factors, traits refer to more __________ characteristics.

1. A) socially desirable2. B) broad3. C) specific4. D) changeable

In comparison to traits, factors refer to more __________ characteristics.

1. A) socially desirable2. B) specific3. C) broad4. D) changeable

Some research gives personality tests to a group of people and compares their scores. What approach does this illustrate?

1. A) the idiographic approach2. B) the case study approach3. C) the nomothetic approach4. D) the clinical approach

One person at a time is studied using the __________ approach.

1. A) factor analytic2. B) eclectic3. C) nomothetic4. D) idiographic

Case studies and psychobiography are examples of the __________ approach.

1. A) idiographic2. B) eclectic3. C) nomothetic4. D) correlational

Rae Carlson (1971)criticized nomothetic personality research. Which of the following is included in her criticism?

1. A) Researchers have failed to understand individuals as whole persons.

2. B) Researchers have failed to use appropriate statistics.

3. C) Researchers have ignored theory.4. D) Researchers have studied too many

different kinds of people.

Which of the following is not a major issue in personality theory concerning the formation and changes in personality mentioned in the text?

1. A) To what extent is personality influenced by heredity?

2. B) To what extent can personality change as a result of learning?

3. C) How much change in personality can actually occur in adolescence?

4. D) How critical are the childhood years for personality development?

Personality __________ refers to motivation.

1. A) description2. B) dynamics3. C) development4. D) measurement

Personality dynamics includes which of the following?

1. A) adaptation to the environment2. B) cognitive processes3. C) cultural influence4. D) all of the above

Biological influences result in differences in styles of behavior and emotional reactions in infancy and afterwards. Which term best describes such differences?

1. A) personality2. B) trait3. C) type4. D) temperament

All of the following are dynamic issues addressed by personality theories except

1. A) Individual differences2. B) Adaptation and Adjustment3. C) Cognitive Processes4. D) Culture

Which of the following is not a major issue addressed by personality theories?

1. A) Descriptive issues2. B) Developmental issues3. C) Directive issues4. D) Developmental issues

Personality theories are tested using the __________ method.

1. A) intuitive2. B) clinical3. C) scientific4. D) idiographic


A __________ is a conceptual tool for understanding certain specified phenomena.

1. A) theoretical construct2. B) psychological test3. C) theory4. D) variable

Theoretical constructs are

1. A) obsolete in modern personality theory.2. B) the concepts of a theory.3. C) used only in experimental research.4. D) used only in correlational research.

Which of the following illustrates an operational definition of "shyness."

1. A) Shyness is caused by teasing.2. B) Shyness in childhood predicts shyness in

adulthood.3. C) Shyness is measured by a 25-item self-

report test.4. D) Shyness is common in adolescence.

The statement, "High self-esteem causes social responsibility" is

1. A) a theoretical proposition.2. B) a hypothesis.3. C) an operational definition.4. D) a paradigm.

A theoretical proposition is

1. A) an abstract statement telling how two theoretical constructs are related.

2. B) a statement saying how a theoretical construct can be measured.

3. C) a prediction about observations in research.

4. D) a proposal to change the way personality is developed, based on theoretical considerations.

Which of the following illustrates a theoretical proposition?

1. A) Frustration leads to aggression.2. B) Aggression includes verbal behavior (e.g.,

insulting someone) as well as physical behavior (e.g.,

3. hitting someone).4. C) Frustration can be produced by a

malfunctioning soda machine.5. D) Frustration is a subjective experience.

A hypothesis is

1. A) an abstract statement telling how two theoretical constructs are related.

2. B) a statement saying how a theoretical construct can be measured.

3. C) a prediction about observations in research.

4. D) a proposal to change the way personality is developed, based on theoretical considerations.

A hypothesis is tested by

1. A) logical reasoning.2. B) reviewing the published literature.3. C) conducting empirical research.4. D) examining the results of several related

studies.

The criterion of verifiability requires that theoretical propositions be

1. A) true.2. B) reliable.3. C) testable by empirical research.4. D) applicable to a variety of populations.

For a theoretical construct to be clearly understood, it must be:

1. A) verifiable2. B) parsimonious3. C) defined precisely4. D) valuable heuristically

Theories that apply to only a narrow range of behavior are not

1. A) comprehensive.2. B) refutable.3. C) scientific.4. D) empirically verifiable.

A theory that offers practical strategies for improving human life is said to have

1. A) comprehensiveness.2. B) applied value.3. C) generalizability.4. D) empirical verifiability.

Which of the following is not listed by the text as a criterion of a good theory?

1. A) comprehensiveness2. B) verifiability3. C) applied value4. D) consistency with human values

A theory that has suggested new ideas for later theories and research, is said to have

1. A) applied value.2. B) heuristic value.3. C) parsimony.4. D) empirical validity.

Which statement best describes the relationship between theory and research?

1. A) Theory and research are separate disciplines within personality psychology.

2. B) Theory influences research by suggesting research ideas, but research has no impact on theory.

3. C) When research has become sophisticated, with good measuring instruments, theory is no longer

4. necessary.5. D) Theory and research mutually influence

one another.

Implicit theories of personality could be described by all but which of the following?

1. A) They are generally held by ordinary people.

2. B) They are unscientific.3. C) They are not necessarily incorrect.4. D) Their accuracy is guaranteed.

Which statement best describes personality research methods?

1. A) Experimental research is the best research method. Others are now obsolete.

2. B) Personality can only be studied by correlational methods, since it is not possible to do true experiments

3. in this area.4. C) Personality research is best done with

large groups of subjects.5. D) A variety of personality research methods

are appropriate for personality research.

A personality measure that produces consistent scores from one time to another is

1. A) valid.2. B) useless.3. C) reliable.4. D) projective.

A researcher decides to see how consistent a new personality test is by computing two scores. One score is the total of the odd-numbered items. The other score is the total of the even-numbered items. What is the researcher assessing?

1. A) validity2. B) test-retest reliability3. C) alternate forms reliability4. D) split-half reliability

Which approach to reliability can be used if subjects are tested on only one occasion, using only one test?

1. A) test-retest reliability2. B) alternate forms reliability3. C) split half reliability4. D) No reliability tests are possible with only

one testing session.

Which of the following factors contributes to higher test reliability?

1. A) homogeneous items2. B) a short test3. C) changes in the personality trait4. D) items that test different things

Assessing intelligence by measuring the size of a person's head would be

1. A) reliable but not valid.2. B) valid but not reliable.3. C) neither reliable nor valid.4. D) both reliable and valid.

Sam is taking a personality test for the second time. The first time he was simply guessing at answers. The second time, he remembers how he answered before, and answers the same way in order to be consistent. The test will probably be

1. A) reliable but not necessarily valid.2. B) valid but not reliable.3. C) neither reliable nor valid.4. D) both reliable and valid.

In using the "known groups method" to determine whether a test is valid, a researcher needs to test

1. A) groups of people whom he or she knows personally.

2. B) subjects who agree to have their names known.

3. C) groups with published norms on a variety of personality tests.

4. D) groups which can be presumed to differ on the construct being measured.

If a test of academic ability given to high school students is correlated with grades during the freshman year at college, the test has

1. A) construct validity.2. B) test-retest reliability.3. C) alternate forms reliability.4. D) predictive validity.

Construct validity is present when

1. A) a construct can be operationally defined.2. B) a test distinguishes among criterion

groups.3. C) several research studies confirm the

usefulness of the construct.4. D) good measurement has been

demonstrated.

Direct self-report measures of personality

1. A) are seldom used.2. B) are often reliable.3. C) always measure several personality traits

simultaneously.4. D) are valid even when subjects intentionally

give false responses.

Tests, such as inkblot tests, which ask people to respond to ambiguous stimuli, are called

1. A) self-report measures.2. B) response measures.3. C) projective tests.4. D) behavioral measures.

Behavioral measures used in personality research include

1. A) Real life observation2. B) Laboratory observation3. C) Self reports4. D) All the above

Personality researchers use

1. A) self-report measures.2. B) projective tests.3. C) behavioral measures.4. D) all of the above


__________ research examines the relationships among two or more variables.

1. A) Correlational2. B) Experimental3. C) Idiographic4. D) Psychobiographical

Correlational research

1. A) is used to demonstrate causal relationships among variables.

2. B) is seldom used in the field of personality.3. C) cannot determine causality underlying

observed relationships among variables.4. D) includes independent and dependent

variables.

Which of the following procedures can determine cause-effect relationships?

1. A) correlational research.2. B) factor analysis.3. C) experimental research.4. D) the case study.

A research study has shown that adolescents who play on sports teams are more likely to be admitted to college than those who do not play sports. From this study, we can conclude that

1. A) playing on sports teams causes increased success in college applications.

2. B) college applications cause increased participation on sports teams.

3. C) most college students have played sports.4. D) there is a relationship between playing

sports and being admitted into college

The independent variable corresponds to what a researcher thinks is the

1. A) cause.2. B) effect.3. C) third variable.4. D) uncontrollable factor.

The dependent variable corresponds to what a researcher thinks is the

1. A) cause.2. B) effect.3. C) third variable.4. D) uncontrollable factor.

A researcher is interested in testing the proposition that being in a good mood causes increased cooperation among children at school. This can be tested by conducting an experiment in which the dependent variable is

1. A) mood.2. B) being in school.3. C) cooperation.4. D) age.

A researcher is interested in testing the proposition that watching a lot of television causes increased aggressiveness among children at school. This can be tested by conducting an experiment in which the independent variable is

1. A) watching a lot of television.2. B) being in school.3. C) aggressiveness.4. D) age.

An intensive investigation of an individual is called a(n)

1. A) bibliography.2. B) experiment.3. C) case study.4. D) psychoanalysis.

Psychobiography is different from case studies because psychobiography has more emphasis on

1. A) pathology.2. B) theoretical considerations.3. C) the individual.4. D) experimental methods.

Which statement best describes the relationship between psychobiography and psychoanalytic theory?

1. A) Psychobiography is, by definition, based upon psychoanalytic theory.

2. B) In the past, psychoanalytic theory guided much psychobiography, but the field has broadened to

3. include other theories.4. C) Psychobiography is the term used for

psychoanalytic case studies, when they are published in non-

5. clinical journals.6. D) Psychobiography is a therapeutic

technique within psychoanalysis.

Psychobiography is most useful for

1. A) clarifying theoretical statements.2. B) testing cause-effect relationships.3. C) devising new personality measures.4. D) treating people with personality

maladjustments.

An approach that combines aspects of several different theories is called

1. A) eclectic.2. B) heuristic.3. C) nomothetic.4. D) experimental.

The term __________ refers to a theoretical model that has been generally accepted by scientists in a field (such as personality psychology).

1. A) paradigm2. B) construct3. C) theory4. D) hypothesis

One major division among theories, sometimes called the "two disciplines" or "two cultures" of psychology, is between

1. A) clinical and idiographic theories.2. B) scientific and humanistic approaches.3. C) human and animal theories.4. D) laboratory and scientific theories.

Personality may be defined as the underlying causes within the person of individual behavior and experience.

1. True2. False

Personality types are quantitative, while traits are not quantitative.

1. True2. False

A personality type is broader than a personality trait.

1. True2. False

Most personality research is idiographic.

1. True2. False

Traits, factors, and types all describe personality?

1. True2. False

The idiographic approach studies one person at a time.

1. True2. False

Psychobiography uses a nomothetic approach to understanding people.

1. True2. False

Nomothetic research is generally regarded as more scientific than idiographic research.

1. True2. False

Historically, culture and society have been important considerations in the study of personality?

1. True2. False

Collectivist cultures promote the personality characteristics of extraversion and assertiveness.

1. True2. False

Based on test scores, U.S. students have been increasing in self-esteem, extraversion, anxiety, and neuroticism.

1. True2. False

The study of personality dynamics often focuses on motivation directing behavior.

1. True2. False

Personality psychologists, unlike clinical psychologists, are not concerned with adaptation and adjustment.

1. True2. False

Most personality psychologists think that heredity is unimportant as a determinant of personality.

1. True2. False

Experience, especially in adulthood, influences the way each person develops toward his or her unique personality

1. True2. False


There is considerable evidence that personality is relatively stable over a person’s lifetime.

1. True2. False

The scientific method requires personality psychologists, like other scientists, to assume that behavior is determined by causes that can be found through research.

1. True2. False

Abstract concepts in personality theory can be directly observed but do not necessarily correspond to observable phenomena.

1. True2. False

Abstract concepts in personality theory cannot be directly observed but do correspond to observable phenomena.

1. True2. False

Operational definitions describe the practical applications of personality theory to improving the human condition.

1. True2. False

Propositions are associated with the theoretical level while hypotheses are associated with the level of observables.

1. True2. False

The criterion of verifiability requires that the theorist specify observations which would refute the prediction.

1. True2. False

Disconfirmation of a theory is as important as support found for a theory for advancing science.

1. True2. False

Basic research is intended to advance theory and scientific knowledge.

1. True2. False

Theory influences research, but the opposite does not occur.

1. True2. False

A personality test which yields consistent scores on two occasions is said to be reliable.

1. True2. False

A personality test which yields consistent scores on two occasions is said to be valid.

1. True2. False

To determine test-retest reliability, it is necessary to have two different forms of a test.

1. True2. False

Other things being equal, a long test is usually more reliable than a short test.

1. True2. False

A personality test which measures what it claims to measure is said to be valid.

1. True2. False

One way of studying the validity of a test is to determine whether it predicts behavior.

1. True2. False

A test that yields the same score on two occasions is said to have construct validity.

1. True2. False

Tests that measure personality using direct self-report measures almost always produce the same score as those that use behavioral measures.

1. True2. False

A test score should not be used to make statements about populations (races, ages, and so on) other than those for which there is evidence about test validity.

1. True2. False

Objective measures sometimes play a role in personality research by measuring personality itself.

1. True2. False

Behavioral measures help develop an understanding of personality in its real-world context.

1. True2. False

In an experiment, the dependent variable measures the "effect."

1. True2. False

In an experiment, the dependent variable measures the "cause."

1. True2. False

It is generally difficult to manipulate a personality trait as a cause in an experiment.

1. True2. False

Experimental research is the primary method for studying personality.

1. True2. False

Constructs derived from experimental research can be considered identical to those derived from correlational research.

1. True2. False

An intensive investigation of a single individual is called a case study.

1. True2. False

A psychobiography is a case study that emphasizes theoretical considerations.

1. True2. False

To determine whether a person died of suicide, psychologists may carry out a psychological autopsy.

1. True2. False

All psychobiography, by definition, uses psychoanalysis to interpret an individual.

1. True2. False

Psychoanalysis emphasizes the importance of childhood experience in understanding individuals.

1. True2. False

Most personality psychologists can be considered eclectic.

1. True2. False

In recent years, experts have agreed on one paradigm in personality.

1. True2. False

Psychologists in the scientific culture emphasize experimentation over intuition.

1. True2. False

Test Bank for Theories of Personality 10th Edition by Ryckman (Sections 1)

Personality is:

1. a. easy to define precisely.2. b. defined best in terms of a person's social

attractiveness to others.3. c. an abstraction that refers to the internal

instincts of a person.4. d. the scientific study of individual

differences.

There is basic agreement among personality psychologists that personality is a(n):

1. a. physical reality.2. b. instinct.3. c. complex abstraction.4. d. common genetic thing.

Theory-based predictions are called:

1. a. hypotheses.2. b. psychological constructs.3. c. empirical observations.4. d. physical observations.

If people who are more dominant tend also to be more anxious, we would say that the correlation between the two traits is:

1. a. positive.2. b. neutral.3. c. nonexistent.4. d. negative.

If Bill explains Mark's aggressive behavior at a party by saying it was caused by feelings of insecurity, we would conclude that this explanation is a(n):

1. a. post hoc conclusion.2. b. a priori conclusion.3. c. scientifically valid conclusion.4. d. scientifically reliable conclusion.

Science is an enterprise that:

1. a. leads to the accumulation of absolute facts.

2. b. is concerned with the description, explanation, prediction, and control of events.

3. c. leads to the accumulation of systematized knowledge based on speculation.

4. d. is pursued by impersonal and bias-free scientists.

Operational definitions of concepts are important because they:

1. a. provide an objective and reliable basis for communication among scientists.

2. b. are equivalent in many respects to conceptual replication schemes.

3. c. allow the scientist to accumulate hard and absolute facts.

4. d. provide a key operation for our data and facts.

The variables actively manipulated by the experimenter are called:

1. a. replication variables.2. b. independent variables.3. c. control variables.4. d. dependent variables.

The measures of changes in behavior that occur as a result of the manipulation of conditions by an experimenter are called:

1. a. dependent variable changes.2. b. independent variable changes.3. c. control group manipulations.4. d. independent constants.

In their study on self-affirmation, Creswell, Welch, Taylor, Sherman, Gruenwald, and Mann found that:

1. a. self-affirmation usually makes people feel immoral, incompetent, and inadequate.

2. b. people who affirmed themselves by thinking about their most important values were better able to cope with the stress generated by a challenging task.

3. c. stress associated with a boring task was unrelated to study participants' cortisol levels.

4. d. people who failed to affirm themselves were better able to cope with the stress generated by a boring and complicated task.

A perfect negative correlation would be written:

1. a. -3.00.2. b. -1.00.3. c. -2.50.4. d. +1.00.

Positive correlations between variables occur when:

1. a. high scores on one variable are associated with low scores on another variable.

2. b. high scores on one variable are associated with high scores on another variable.

3. c. high scores and low scores are significantly related in a negative way.

4. d. low scores on a key variable are related to high scores on a second variable.

A correlational technique that allows an investigator to assess the relationship between two variables by eliminating the influence of other variables is called a(n):

1. a. error correlation.2. b. crystal correlation.3. c. elimination correlation.4. d. partial correlation.

The case history method involves:

1. a. the study of typical differences in personality between people.

2. b. assessment of the impact of independent variables on given dependent variables.

3. c. intensive study of a person's behavior over a period of time and in many different situations.

4. d. correlation between two variables in the person's life history that the therapist deems important.

The use of the case study method:

1. a. allows an investigator to make causal inferences about behavior.

2. b. may lead to serendipitous findings that are the source of new and interesting testable hypotheses.

3. c. yields data that are easily applicable to people in general.

4. d. allows an investigator to control systematically and account for the variables under his or her scrutiny.

A "good" theory should encompass and explain a wide range and diversity of phenomena. This statement refers to the theory's:

1. a. precision.2. b. testability.3. c. applied value4. d. comprehensiveness.

A "good" theory should stimulate thinking and research. This statement refers to the theory's:

1. a. testability.2. b. heuristic value.3. c. applied value.4. d. precision.

A "good" theory must be capable of generating accurate predictions of behavior. This statement refers to the theory's:

1. a. heuristic value.2. b. testability.3. c. empirical validity.4. d. applied value.

A "good" theory should contain only those concepts and assumptions that are necessary for the explanation of events within its domain. This statement refers to the theory's:

1. a. rigor.2. b. testability.3. c. applied value.4. d. parsimony.

A "good" theory leads to new approaches to the solution of people's problems. This statement refers to the theory's:

1. a. precision.2. b. applied value.3. c. comprehensiveness.4. d. testability.

Another term for data is:

1. a. prediction.2. b. sample.3. c. empirical evidence.4. d. postulate.

Science involves an intertwining of two major processes:

1. a. research and correlational techniques.2. b. case studies and correlational techniques.3. c. hypothesis and theory.4. d. theory and method.

The case study method provides:

1. a. data that are easily applied to people in general.

2. b. data stressing the average or typical differences between individuals.

3. c. information on the consistencies of the person's behavior.

4. d. a view of the uniqueness of the person.

A highly complex abstraction which encompasses a variety of dimensions is called a:

1. a. criterion.2. b. constructive entity.3. c. psychological construct.4. d. replication.

A fundamental assumption in a theory from which hypotheses can be derived is called a(n):

1. a. scientific method.2. b. postulate.3. c. concrete reality.4. d. spatial ability.

A numerical index of the probability that a particular result occurred by chance is called:

1. a. abstraction significance.2. b. statistical significance.3. c. probability norm.4. d. hypothetical norm.

The establishment of a reliable relation between variables is called a:

1. a. hypothesis.2. b. postulate.3. c. prediction.4. d. law.

A person's written or oral description of his or her own behavior is called a(n):

1. a. concrete behavior.2. b. self-report.3. c. experimental method.4. d. controlled behavior.

Predictions made before the collection of data are called:

1. a. a priori predictions.2. b. post hoc predictions.3. c. operational predictions.4. d. law predictions.

In deductive theories, the definitions of the constructs in the hypotheses which must be stated clearly are called:

1. a. empirical definitions.2. b. operational definitions.3. c. literary definitions.4. d. conceptual definitions.

Test Bank for Theories of Personality 10th Edition by Ryckman (Sections 2)

A good example of the case study method is Freud's analysis of the personality of:

1. a. Leonardo Da Vinci.2. b. Rembrandt.3. c. Vermeer.4. d. Picasso.

One of the major postulates of self-affirmation theory is that:

1. a. each of us likes conflict.2. b. each of us has a unique self.3. c. some people have unique selves.4. d. masochism is associated with self-

affirmation.

According to Ryckman, a completely adequate theory of personality:

1. a. will be constructed by a personality psychologist in the next decade.

2. b. has already been constructed by several personality theorists.

3. c. will never be constructed.4. d. was once constructed in the early 1900s

by a French physician.

If Jim observes Karen's behavior in a number of situations and concludes that she has a "decent personality", personality psychologists would claim that he is:

1. a. defining her personality accurately.2. b. using the layperson's definition of

personality.3. c. defining her personality scientifically.4. d. basing his judgment on an objective

assessment of her behavior and attitudes.

An explanation of a phenomenon given after its occurrence is called a(n):

1. a. a priori explanation.2. b. previous explanation.3. c. post hoc explanation.4. d. postulate.

There is basic agreement among personality psychologists that:

1. a. personality theories are all the same in terms of the predictions they make.

2. b. personality theories typically study identical phenomena.

3. c. the kind of theories that theorists construct depend to some extent on the theorists' personalities.

4. d. personality theories provide unequivocal hypotheses which yield highly consistent data.

Theories that are created from a solid base of data are called:

1. a. deductive theories.2. b. hypothetic-deductive theories.3. c. inductive theories.4. d. generalized deductive theories.

Theories that are invented in order to account for facts are called:

1. a. inductive theories.2. b. generalized moral speculations.3. c. metaphorical inductive theories.4. d. deductive theories.

When experimenters provide study participants with a description of the true nature and purpose of a study after it is completed, we can conclude that:

1. a. participants have not given their informed consent.

2. b. participants have been debriefed.3. c. the experimenters are unethical.4. d. the experimenters can now proceed to

solicit the participants' informed consent.

The law of effect is a theoretical summary statement that was based on a(n):

1. a. deductive approach to theory construction.2. b. inductive approach to theory

construction.3. c. a set of general theoretical propositions.4. d. a priori theorizing.

If Professor Judson is stimulated to do research on dreaming after reading Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams, we could say that:

1. a. Freud's views had heuristic value for the professor.

2. b. Freud's theory had little value for the professor.

3. c. Freud's theory was so economical that the professor couldn't wait to test it.

4. d. even though the professor believed the theory was completely accurate he decided to test it anyway.

In the Katz, Fromme, and D'Amico study which examined the relationship between personality traits and various illicit behaviors, it was found that:

1. a. low sensation seekers were more likely than high sensation seekers to engage in heavy drinking.

2. b. high and low sensation seekers both tended to engage in the same level of illicit drug use.

3. c. high sensation seekers abstained from heavy smoking, whereas low sensation seekers did not.

4. d. high sensation seekers were more likely than low sensation seekers to engage in heavy drinking.

The groups in an experiment that provides baseline data so that the effectiveness of the independent variable manipulation can be accurately assessed is called the:

1. a. assessed group.2. b. dependent group.3. c. control group.4. d. independent group.

Studies which provide some information on cause-and-effect relationships are called:

1. a. correlational studies.2. b. independent studies.3. c. case studies.4. d. experiments.

If Larry believes that John will start a fight with someone at the next party if he drinks too much beer, we would say that this belief is Larry's:

1. a. axiom.2. b. data.3. c. philosophy.4. d. hypothesis.

In an experiment, the group that does not receive the experimental treatment is called the:

1. a. independent group.2. b. dependent group.3. c. control group.4. d. study group.

Recorded observations of phenomena are called:

1. a. data.2. b. propositions.3. c. postulates.4. d. hypotheses.

A "good" theory should help to solve problems that are of concern to people. This statement refers to the theory's:

1. a. basic value.2. b. parsimony.3. c. applied value.4. d. testability.

When the exact purpose of an experiment is explained to a study participant after the experimental session, it is a(n):

1. a. experiment.2. b. debriefing.3. c. consent form.4. d. uninformed consent form.

Theories which consist of a set of assumptions from which hypotheses are derived and then tested are called:

1. a. inductive theories.2. b. data theories.3. c. questionnaire-based theories.4. d. deductive theories.

One limitation of defining personality in terms of the social attractiveness of the person is that it:

1. a. defines personality in terms of a moral evaluation of the person being evaluated.

2. b. assesses personality as primarily rooted in biology.

3. c. prevents the description of the personalities of certain people.

4. d. is that only women can be defined in terms of physical attractiveness.

If people who are more intelligent also tend to be less anxious, we would say that the correlation between the two traits is:

1. a. positive.2. b. negative.3. c. neutral.4. d. nonexistent.

The study participants who experience the intentional alteration of a factor(s) in an experiment is called the:

1. a. control group.2. b. partial correlational group.3. c. unmanipulated group.4. d. experimental treatment group.

Research findings that are based on testing hypotheses are:

1. a. never determined statistically.2. b. always considered absolutely proven.3. c. always determined statistically.4. d. nearly always irrelevant to the study's

objectives.

Prominent thinkers in the philosophy of science contend that:

1. a. there is only one theory in each of the so-called mature sciences, not many competing theories.

2. b. it is rare for any single theory to achieve unquestioned leadership or dominance in a discipline.

3. c. psychology is a mature science because it has only a single theory.

4. d. psychology and physics are the only disciplines to use competing theories to explain phenomena.

If Bob observes Jim's behavior in a few situations and concludes that he has a "lousy" personality, personality psychologists would claim that Bob is:

1. a. defining Jim's personality scientifically.

2. b. using the layperson's definition of personality.

3. c. making an objective judgment about Jim's personality.

4. d. basing his judgment about Jim's personality on certain instinctual urges that he can see in Jim's behavior.

If Jill believes that John will start a fight if he sees her partying with Joe, we would say that this belief is Jill's:

1. a. postulate.2. b. philosophy.3. c. hypothesis.4. d. axiom.

The finding which indicates that the greater the hypercompetitiveness of students, the lower their altruism reflects a:

1. a. positive correlation.2. b. negative correlation.3. c. curvilinear correlation.4. d. lack of association between the two

variables.

A perfect, positive correlation would be written:

1. a. +2.00.2. b. -1.00.3. c. -2.00.4. d. +1.00.

In an experiment, the group of study participants that does not receive the experimental treatment is called a:

1. a. correlational group.2. b. manipulated group.3. c. control group.4. d. experimental group.

Test Bank for Theories of Personality 10th Edition by Schultz (Sections 1)

We research theories of personality to

1. a. agree with all theorists on their own personality theories.

2. b. describe their use for real-world problems.

3. c. show how personality theories are superior to any other theories.

4. d. generalize that all people are the same across cultures.

Understanding and knowing your own personality

1. a. will help you to diagnose others that are different from you.

2. b. will help you find compatible people in your life.

3. c. will help you to avoid people who are not perfect for your life.

4. d. will help determine your success and life fulfillment.

We ________ personality in order to better understand ourselves and others.

1. a. correct2. b. exaggerate3. c. judge4. d. ignore

Your personality can be shaped by

1. a. organic reflex reactions.2. b. the number and variety of your social

situations and interactions with others.3. c. hypnosis.4. d. adult neurosis.

Wundt and others created the study of psychology but believed the subject was also linked to

1. a. the study of physics and chemistry.2. b. the analysis of basic elements as they

pertain to our mind.3. c. culture and the variety of our interactions

with people.4. d. all of the above.

Watson was a psychologist who focused on ___________ in the United States.

1. a. behaviorism2. b. psychoanalysis3. c. existentialism4. d. cognitive processes

_______________ presents a mechanistic picture of human beings.

1. a. Psychoanalysis2. b. Education3. c. Medication4. d. Behaviorism

Freud based his theory of personality on

1. a. the laboratory setting.2. b. cognitive processing.3. c. clinical observation of his patients.4. d. behaviorism.

Learned habits and response systems are attributed to

1. a. Jung.2. b. Watson.3. c. Skinner.4. d. Freud.

Behaviorism, according to __________, perceives human beings as well-ordered machines.

1. a. Skinner2. b. Watson3. c. Jung4. d. Freud

Neo-psychoanalysts focus on

1. a. their own interpretations of behavior.2. b. behaviorism.3. c. learned responses and habits.4. d. the whole person in how they function

in the real world.

__________ is generally considered to have formalized the study of personality.

1. a. Freud2. b. Allport3. c. Jung4. d. Skinner

Personality can be summed up by which of the following phrases?

1. a. Personality is how we perceive ourselves and also how others perceive us.

2. b. Personality shows that we are deterministic, mechanical and don’t change throughout our lives.

3. c. Personality involves the interpretations of fantasies and past recollections of repressed memories.

4. d. Personality is entirely based on how we were treated during childhood.

Persona is

1. a. a person’s mechanistic behavior.2. b. predictable and automatic.3. c. like a mask used by actors in a play.4. d. only what others think about us.

Your personality can be

1. a. rigid and inflexible.2. b. constantly changing.

3. c. based on traits and behavior.4. d. all of the answers

Social networking sites, such as Facebook, can

1. a. increase an idealized self-image.2. b. help a person pretend they are someone

else.3. c. be as accurate as face-to-face interactions

in determining personality.4. d. all the answers

In research, those who have a high level of social network use

1. a. are more extroverted.2. b. are more introverted.3. c. are more anxious.4. d. score higher on tests of emotional

stability.

In research, shy American college students who use text messages were more likely to experience

1. a. a reduction in their feelings of loneliness.

2. b. an increase in their fears of loneliness.3. c. no change in their feelings of loneliness.4. d. an increase in emotional instability

In the past, ____ ____were more likely to be used in research on personality theory.

1. a. white women2. b. Latino men3. c. white men4. d. black men

Children who are exposed to vastly different environments

1. a. have vastly different personalities.2. b. are equally the same in personality.3. c. are more isolated and lonely.4. d. are likely to be more introverted than

extroverted.

Girls and boys are still reared according to

1. a. the norms of the neighborhood where they were raised.

2. b. the explicit wishes of the grandparents.3. c. books on parenting.4. d. traditional stereotypes.

A research study from 1940 showed that those with more “masculine” jobs

1. a. report lower job satisfaction.2. b. report a higher mortality rate.3. c. report higher rates of depression.4. d. report higher rates of job burnout.

A limiting factor in research of personality is that subjects

1. a. come from only cultural and ethnic samples.

2. b. are paid and easily conform to how the researcher wants them to respond.

3. c. are mostly college students.4. d. are mostly children and adolescents in

treatment.

Reliability involves

1. a. consistent results on multiple administrations of a test.

2. b. a reliable indicator of the validity of a test.3. c. a reliable score for the person taking the

test.4. d. a valid profile of a person taking a test.

Which question best clarifies the meaning of validity?

1. a. Has the test been taken by many people?2. b. Does the student know what is on the

test?3. c. Does the test measure what it is

supposed to measure?4. d. Is the test reliable?

Types of validity include __________ validity.

1. a. predictive2. b. content3. c. construct4. d. all the answers

Reliability is

1. a. the consistency of the responses to a test.

2. b. when a test measures what the test is supposed to measure.

3. c. used to validate and predict behavior.4. d. the scores from different tests.

The most widely used self-report personality test used today is

1. a. the Rorschach Inkblot Technique.2. c. the Myers-Briggs Indicator.3. b. the MMPI.4. d. the Thematic Apperception Test.

The MMPI, in its different forms, is used with

1. a. adults only.2. b. adults and adolescents only.3. c. only children.4. d. adults, adolescents and children.

The MMPI is NOT appropriate for

1. a. those with lower intelligence.2. b. those with lower reading skills.3. c. children.4. d. all the answers.

Self-report measures of personality are advantageous because

1. a. they are designed to be taken by children, adolescents, and adults.

2. b. they are designed for people of all ranges of intelligence.

3. c. they are designed to be scored accurately.

4. d. they are designed for people with all ranges of reading ability.

When taking a self-report inventory, people may be more honest with their answers if

1. a. an online test is given.2. b. a paper-and-pencil test is given.3. c. a person wants to look “good” on their

answers.4. d. a person takes a test in the classroom.

Test Bank for Theories of Personality 10th Edition by Schultz (Sections 2)

A projective test of personality

1. a. clearly describes an objective viewpoint of personality.

2. b. projects a person’s fears, needs, and values through the test.

3. c. is based on the behavioral theory of personality.

4. d. is based on a model created by John Watson.

The Rorschach Inkblot Technique is given

1. a. only to adults.2. b. to objectively interpret the values, needs,

and fears of a person.3. c. only to patients in a psychiatric hospital.4. d. to people of a wide range of age.

In research for the Rorschach, conclusions on validity and reliability are

1. a. mixed.2. b. highly accurate and precise.3. c. invalidated.4. d. considered valid and reliable, since the

test is so popular.

The Thematic Apperception Test was developed by

1. a. Sigmund Freud.2. b. Morgan and Murray.3. c. Carl Jung.4. d. John Watson.

The Thematic Apperception Test is a(n) ____________ test.

1. a. valid and reliable2. b. objective3. c. projective4. d. multiple-choice

The ____ ____ is a widely used technique for personality assessment.

1. a. classroom exam2. b. achievement test3. c. intelligence test4. d. clinical interview

In the assessment of personality, research shows

1. a. a higher level of depression in girls than in boys.

2. b. a higher rate of depression in women than in men.

3. c. a gender bias or stereotype for women diagnosed with depression.

4. d. all the answers.

__________ may affect the results in the assessment of personality.

1. a. Maturation2. c. Living conditions3. b. Culture4. d. Poverty

__________ students are more self-critical than _________ students in assessment of personality.

1. a. European / American2. b. Australian/ American3. c. American/ Japanese4. d. Japanese / American

People from collectivist cultures ___________ than those from individualistic cultures.

1. a. tend to be more self-critical2. b. tend to be less self-critical3. c. tend to be about the same in self-criticism4. d. tend to exhibit greater optimism

Traditional Hispanic and Asian cultures tend to

1. a. seek therapy more frequently than Whites.2. b. seek therapy less often than Whites.3. c. not seek therapy at all.4. d. keep their distress hidden and only reveal

this distress with close family members.

Case study data collected with the clinical method

1. a. is more objective.2. b. reveals the truth about the person.3. c. is more precise than correlation methods.4. d. is more subjective.

A(n) ____________ is a technique for determining the effect of one or more variables on behavior.

1. a. experiment2. b. case study3. c. projective test4. d. clinical observation

The _________ variable is manipulated, while the ___________ variable is the measure itself.

1. a. independent/dependent2. b. dependent/independent3. c. experimental/independent4. d. control/independent

Online or virtual research is advantageous because

1. a. there are objective and reliable sources such as Wikipedia.

2. b. users tend to be older and more proficient with this kind of research.

3. c. users are younger and more proficient with this kind of research.

4. d. results of online research show a significant improvement over other research methods.

The correlational method of research compares

1. a. the relationship between multiple variables.

2. b. the relationship between children, adolescents and adults.

3. c. the relationship between several cultures and ethnic populations.

4. d. the relationship between two variables.

The primary limitation for the correlation method is

1. a. multiple regression.2. b. using statistical analysis.3. c. determining cause and effect.4. d. analyzing the variable.

John Watson formed the movement called existentialism.

1. True2. False

Freud is known as the founder of psychoanalysis.

1. True2. False

Ethnicity and culture are considered widely variable in the study of personality.

1. True2. False

Reliability of assessment techniques is intended to measure a certain test and its scores.

1. True2. False

The MMPI is considered a projective measure of assessment.

1. True2. False

The MMPI is not appropriate for people with limited reading skills.

1. True2. False

A test-taker tends to make himself appear unacceptable on a self-report inventory.

1. True2. False

Self-report inventories remain the most objective approach to personality assessment.

1. True2. False

Online testing is less expensive and less time-consuming than conventional classroom tests.

1. True2. False

There is a significant difference in scores between online tests and paper-and-pencil tests.

1. True2. False

Projective tests are totally accurate and objective in their ability to describe personality.

1. True2. False

Projective tests have low reliability and low validity, but are widely used anyway.

1. True2. False

The Rorschach Inkblot tests can be widely used for ethnic minorities rather than the MMPI.

1. True2. False

Clinical interviews and behavioral assessments are routinely done for assessment of personality.

1. True2. False

Men are more often diagnosed with depression than are women.

1. True2. False

Test Bank for Perspectives on Personality 7th Edition by Carver

When laypersons use the term personality, they generally refer to _________, whereas when personality psychologists use the term, they generally refer to _________.

1. a. generic ideas about things everyone has in common; specific traits of particular people

2. b. specific traits of particular people; concrete concepts about personality

3. c. concrete concepts about personality; specific traits of particular people

4. d. specific traits of particular people; abstract concepts about personality

The term personality conveys a sense of _________ about an individual’s qualities.

1. a. diversity2. b. consistency3. c. complexity4. d. inevitability

In the study of personality, consistency involves looking for continuity across:

1. a. time.2. b. similar situations.3. c. situations that are relatively different from

each other.4. d. all of the above

One reason people use the term personality is to convey:

1. a. that no other person will behave in the same manner as another.

2. b. that a person’s actions in a situation are determined by genetics.

3. c. that a causal force within a person is influencing their behavior.

4. d. none of the above

The personality concept helps us to:

1. a. understand the behavior of others.2. b. predict how people will behave in certain

situations.3. c. understand our own behavior.4. d. all of the above

The term personality describes a sense of:

1. a. personal distinctiveness.2. b. internal conflict.3. c. morality.4. d. all of the above

Which of the following did Allport say about personality?

1. a. It's simply an accumulation of bits and pieces.

2. b. It is not inextricably tied to the physical body.

3. c. It is a causal force that determines behavior.

4. d. It is generally displayed in just one way.

Allport's definition of personality includes all of the following points EXCEPT the idea that personality:

1. a. has organization.2. b. is a causal force.3. c. shows up in patterns.4. d. is a purely psychological concept.

No two personalities are exactly alike. This is captured by the notion of:

1. a. genetic differences.2. b. differences in socialization.3. c. individual differences.4. d. none of the above

Intrapersonal functioning describes:

1. a. the dynamic organization of systems within the person.

2. b. the interactions between individuals within society.

3. c. individual differences in behavior.4. d. the degree of consistency of an

individual's behavior across settings.

The idea that our behavior at a given time stems from the motives we hold at that time emphasizes the concept of:

1. a. individual differences.2. b. internal consistency.3. c. intrapersonal functioning.4. d. personal distinctiveness.

A theory is a:

1. a. scientifically proven set of facts.2. b. set of ideas that are not supported by

scientific data.3. c. summary statement about events.4. d. layperson’s speculation about a

phenomenon.

The two basic functions of theories are to:

1. a. explain and modify behavior.2. b. describe and modify behavior.3. c. describe and explain behavior.4. d. explain and predict behavior.

A good personality theory should be:

1. a. abstract.2. b. testable.3. c. correct.4. d. all of the above

The broader a theory is:

1. a. the more likely it is to be ambiguous.2. b. the more likely it is to be correct.3. c. the more likely it is to make clear

predictions.4. d. the more likely it is to deny scientific facts.

In characterizing Freud's ideas about testability, it is most accurate to say that he:

1. a. insisted that his theoretical ideas be supported by research.

2. b. preferred that his theoretical ideas be supported by research but recognized that some of them were untestable.

3. c. was not interested in whether or not his theoretical ideas were supported by research.

4. d. none of the above

Which of the following is NOT a legitimate criticism of a psychological theory?

1. a. It is too parsimonious.2. b. It is based on laboratory animals in

artificial settings.3. c. It is based on the theorists’ experiences

conducting therapy.4. d. It does not stimulate enthusiasm.

Which of the following criteria should a good theory fit?

1. a. It should be parsimonious.2. b. It should “feel” right.3. c. It should be testable.4. d. all of the above

A theory is parsimonious if it:

1. a. can predict behavior accurately.2. b. contains few assumptions.3. c. is testable.4. d. is able to stimulate research.

The best theories are characterized by:

1. a. parsimony.2. b. substantial research support.3. c. intuitive appeal.4. d. all of the above

According to William James, people prefer theories that fit their:

1. a. aesthetic needs.2. b. emotional needs.3. c. active needs.4. d. all of the above

According to the trait perspective, _________ is a major focus.

1. a. what traits are most important2. b. how many traits are important3. c. how trait differences are expressed in

behavior4. d. all of the above


The motive perspective on personality suggests that:

1. a. motives are the sole determinant of behavior.

2. b. motives wax and wane in different contexts.

3. c. motives are not deeply embedded in the person.

4. d. motives are exclusively genetic.

The inheritance and evolution perspective:

1. a. is the only biological perspective on personality.

2. b. could suggest that aspects of personality exist because they were adaptive millennia ago.

3. c. emphasizes how a parent’s social experiences will influence his or her child’s personality.

4. d. all of the above

According to the biological process perspective:

1. a. personality is purely genetic.2. b. all nervous systems function the same

way.3. c. nervous system processes, but not

hormonal processes, influence personality.4. d. both nervous system and hormonal

processes influence personality.

The view that human nature incorporates a set of internal pressures that compete and conflict with each other reflects the:

1. a. trait perspective.2. b. dispositional perspective.3. c. psychosocial perspective.4. d. learning perspective.

Which of the following perspectives is most closely aligned with the psychoanalytic perspective?

1. a. the meta-theoretical perspective2. b. the dispositional perspective

3. c. the phenomenological perspective4. d. the psychosocial perspective

The social learning perspective emphasizes:

1. a. constancy in personality.2. b. change in personality.3. c. school and peer influences on personality,

but not family influences.4. d. parental influences but not peer

influences.

According to the organismic perspective on personality:

1. a. sex drive has a primary influence on personality.

2. b. people do not have free will.3. c. every person has the potential to grow

into a person of value.4. d. environment is less important than

biology.

The cognitive perspective suggests that:

1. a. mental organization influences how people think but not how they behave.

2. b. human nature involves deriving meaning from experiences.

3. c. personality does not exist.4. d. all of the above

Which of the following is an assumption of the self-regulation perspective?

1. a. People are complex.2. b. Personality is organized.3. c. People synthesize and move toward

goals.4. d. all of the above

Newer theories in personality psychology tend to _________ than older theories.

1. a. explain more aspects of personality2. b. explain fewer aspects of personality3. c. rely more on case studies4. d. be less parsimonious

Accurate assessment of personality is necessary:

1. a. to conduct valid research on personality.

2. b. for making smart hiring decisions.3. c. for treating mental illness.4. d. all of the above.

When we describe personality, we reduce a large amount of information to a smaller set.

1. True2. False

Psychologists typically use the term personality to refer to specific characteristics of specific persons.

1. True2. False

When psychologists use the term personality they are likely referring to an abstraction.

1. True2. False

Personality psychologists generally agree on a single definition of personality.

1. True2. False

One reason to use the term personality is to communicate continuity in personal qualities.

1. True2. False

Personality refers to consistency across similar situations but not consistency across very different situations.

1. True2. False

One reason to use the term personality is to suggest that a person's behavior is caused by internal forces.

1. True2. False

The term personality suggests that a few characteristics can summarize what a person is like.

1. True2. False

According to Allport, personality has little to do with the physical body.

1. True2. False

Identical twins have identical personalities, even if they try to conceal this.

1. True2. False


Two core themes in personality psychology are individual differences and social functioning.

1. True2. False

The concept of intrapersonal functioning describes the dynamic processes that occur within the individual.

1. True2. False

Although they differ in other ways, all personality theories give equal emphasis to individual differences and intrapersonal functioning.

1. True2. False

Theories must explain complex phenomena more complex than, for example, the behavior of individual nerve cells.

1. True2. False

A good theory needs to generate novel predictions.

1. True2. False

Because personality is a broad construct, personality theories must be broad and complex.

1. True2. False

The explanatory aspect of personality theories is more subtle than the predictive aspect.

1. True2. False

The fewer things a theory has to account for, the more likely it is to be ambiguous.

1. True2. False

A theory is sufficient if it provides an explanation for known facts; it need not allow you to make new predictions.

1. True2. False

Most personality theories have some ambiguity, making it unclear exactly what their predictions should be.

1. True2. False

Theories should be open to the possibility of being disconfirmed as well as to the possibility of being supported.

1. True2. False

Results from psychological research often fail to fully support predictions.

1. True2. False

Good theories should contain as many theories as possible.

1. True2. False

Personality psychologists only use objective information when evaluating theories.

1. True2. False

The trait perspective suggests human nature is a set of relatively permanent qualities embedded in a person.

1. True2. False

The motive perspective on personality argues that motivations are constant across contexts.

1. True

2. False

The inheritance and evolution perspective argues that many aspects of personality exist because they were adaptive for humans that existed millennia ago.

1. True2. False

According to the biological processes perspective, nervous-system functioning is important in determining personality, but hormonal functioning is not, because hormone levels fluctuate so rapidly.

1. True2. False

Sigmund Freud is most closely associated with the biological process perspective.

1. True2. False

The psychosocial perspective is historically linked to the psychoanalytic perspective.

1. True2. False

The social learning perspective on personality emphasizes constancy rather than change.

1. True2. False

The belief that people tend naturally toward self-perfection is one of the roots of the self-actualization perspective.

1. True2. False

The cognitive perspective on personality focuses on the notion that self-actualization is a fundamental part of human nature.

1. True2. False

Each perspective on personality generally begins with a different conception of human nature.

1. True2. False

Newer personality theories tend to be aimed at all aspects of personality whereas older theories tended to focus on more specific aspects of personality.

1. True2. False

If a particular theory does not cover the entire domain of personality, it is not a valuable contribution to the field.

1. True2. False

Assessment techniques often differ from one theoretical approach to another.

1. True2. False

Assessment techniques are an important part of applied psychology.

1. True2. False

Each theoretical perspective suggests different things about normal behavior, but similar things about abnormal behavior.

1. True2. False

Each theoretical perspective suggests different ways to promote behavior change.

1. True2. False

Theories of Personality

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