MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 7a Personality Theories Traits

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 7a Personality Theories Traits, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

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Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What does the superego represent in Freud's theory?

Answer: Internalized moral standards and ideals. The superego enforces societal norms and conscience, often leading to guilt when standards are violated.

Flashcard 2: What is projection as a Freudian defense mechanism?

Answer: Attributing one's unacceptable impulses or traits to someone else. Protects ego by seeing own flaws in others instead of self.

Flashcard 3: What is reciprocal determinism in Bandura's social cognitive theory?

Answer: Person, behavior, and environment mutually influence one another. Bandura's model showing bidirectional causation among these three factors.

Flashcard 4: What is reciprocal determinism in Bandura's model?

Answer: Person, behavior, and environment mutually influence one another. Bidirectional causation creates dynamic personality development.

Flashcard 5: Which defense mechanism is offering acceptable explanations to mask true motives?

Answer: Rationalization. Rationalization justifies unacceptable actions with seemingly logical but false reasons to reduce dissonance.

Flashcard 6: What is incongruence in Rogers's theory?

Answer: Mismatch between self-concept and ideal self. Creates psychological distress and blocks growth.

Flashcard 7: What does the term "reciprocal determinism" mean in Bandura's social cognitive theory?

Answer: Person, behavior, and environment mutually influence one another. Three factors form a dynamic interactional system of causation.

Flashcard 8: What is factor analysis in the context of trait theory research?

Answer: A statistical method that clusters correlated variables into underlying factors. Reveals hidden dimensions by analyzing trait correlations.

Flashcard 9: Which Big Five trait best matches being anxious and emotionally unstable?

Answer: Neuroticism. Associated with negative emotions and stress sensitivity.

Flashcard 10: What is the fundamental attribution error as applied to judging personality?

Answer: Overattributing behavior to disposition and underweighting situation. We tend to ignore situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

Flashcard 11: What are the Big Five personality traits (OCEAN)?

Answer: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism. Most widely accepted trait model in personality psychology.

Flashcard 12: What is the primary function of the superego in Freud's structural model?

Answer: Internalized morals and ideals; conscience. Superego enforces moral standards learned from parents/society.

Flashcard 13: What does the trait Neuroticism primarily reflect in the Big Five model?

Answer: Tendency toward negative affect, anxiety, and emotional instability. High neuroticism correlates with worry, mood swings, and stress sensitivity.

Flashcard 14: What is a cardinal trait in Allport's trait theory?

Answer: A dominant trait that strongly defines a person's behavior across contexts. Rare but powerful; e.g., extreme altruism defining Mother Teresa.

Flashcard 15: Which Big Five trait most directly captures emotional instability and anxiety?

Answer: Neuroticism. High neuroticism correlates with mood disorders and stress.

Flashcard 16: What is projection as a Freudian defense mechanism?

Answer: Attributing one's unacceptable impulses to someone else. "You're the angry one, not me" exemplifies this defense.

Flashcard 17: Which Big Five trait is most directly associated with anxiety and emotional instability?

Answer: Neuroticism. High neuroticism indicates vulnerability to negative emotions.

Flashcard 18: What is incongruence in Rogers's theory of personality?

Answer: Mismatch between self-concept and actual experience, producing distress. Gap between who you think you are and who you really are.

Flashcard 19: What is the core claim of trait theory in personality psychology?

Answer: Personality is described by stable, measurable traits that vary by individual. Traits are consistent patterns that differ between people.

Flashcard 20: What is the key difference between idiographic and nomothetic approaches to personality?

Answer: Idiographic: individual-focused; nomothetic: general laws across people. Idiographic studies unique individuals; nomothetic seeks universal patterns.

Flashcard 21: What is self-efficacy in Bandura's social cognitive theory?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations. High self-efficacy predicts persistence and achievement.

Flashcard 22: What does the ego operate on in Freud's model?

Answer: The reality principle. Balances id's desires with real-world constraints and consequences.

Flashcard 23: What is the core idea of the psychodynamic perspective on personality?

Answer: Personality reflects unconscious conflicts and early experiences. Psychodynamic theory emphasizes how unresolved unconscious conflicts from childhood shape personality development.

Flashcard 24: What is a secondary trait in Allport's trait theory?

Answer: A more context-specific preference or tendency (less consistent, less salient). Appears only in certain situations; not core to identity.

Flashcard 25: What is Bandura's concept of reciprocal determinism?

Answer: Person, behavior, and environment mutually influence one another. Each factor shapes and is shaped by the other two continuously.

Flashcard 26: What is the difference between idiographic and nomothetic approaches to personality?

Answer: Idiographic focuses on one person; nomothetic seeks general laws across people. Idiographic studies individuals uniquely; nomothetic finds universal patterns.

Flashcard 27: Which assessment is a classic projective test: Rorschach inkblot test or MMPI?

Answer: Rorschach inkblot test. Inkblots reveal unconscious through interpretation patterns.

Flashcard 28: What defense mechanism involves channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable actions?

Answer: Sublimation. Transforms negative urges into positive, productive activities.

Flashcard 29: What is the psychoanalytic definition of the ego?

Answer: Reality-oriented mediator operating on the reality principle. The ego balances id desires with real-world constraints.

Flashcard 30: What is the core assumption of Freud's psychodynamic theory of personality?

Answer: Unconscious conflicts and early experiences shape personality. Childhood experiences create lasting unconscious patterns.

Flashcard 31: What is Maslow's self-actualization in humanistic theory?

Answer: Fulfilling one's potential after lower needs are sufficiently met. Highest level of Maslow's hierarchy; becoming your best self.

Flashcard 32: What is the core claim of Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality?

Answer: Personality reflects unconscious conflicts shaped by early childhood. Freud emphasized unconscious drives from childhood experiences.

Flashcard 33: Identify the defense mechanism: attributing one's unacceptable impulses to others.

Answer: Projection. Reduces anxiety by seeing own faults in others instead.

Flashcard 34: Identify the concept: behavior is learned by watching others and consequences.

Answer: Observational learning (modeling). Vicarious reinforcement shapes behavior without direct experience.

Flashcard 35: What is fixation in Freud's psychosexual stage theory?

Answer: Persistent focus on a stage due to unresolved conflict at that stage. Unmet developmental needs cause lasting personality patterns.

Flashcard 36: What is the main claim of trait theory in explaining personality differences?

Answer: Personality reflects stable, measurable traits that vary across individuals. Trait theory views personality as consistent patterns that can be quantified.

Flashcard 37: What are the Big Five personality traits (OCEAN)?

Answer: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism. Most widely accepted trait model in psychology.

Flashcard 38: Identify the trait model described by three dimensions: psychoticism, extraversion, neuroticism.

Answer: Eysenck's PEN model. Eysenck's biological theory reduces personality to these core traits linked to physiological arousal.

Flashcard 39: Which defense mechanism is attributing one's unacceptable impulses to others?

Answer: Projection. Seeing one's own faults in others instead of self.

Flashcard 40: Which defense mechanism is expressing the opposite of an unacceptable impulse?

Answer: Reaction formation. Reaction formation conceals forbidden desires by adopting exaggerated opposing attitudes or behaviors.

Flashcard 41: What is Rogers's concept of unconditional positive regard?

Answer: Acceptance and love without conditions. Rogers emphasized this as essential for healthy self-concept development without fear of rejection.

Flashcard 42: What is the psychoanalytic definition of the id?

Answer: Primitive, unconscious drives operating on the pleasure principle. The id seeks immediate gratification without considering consequences.

Flashcard 43: What does the ego operate on in Freud's theory?

Answer: Reality principle. The ego mediates between id impulses and real-world demands to achieve practical outcomes.

Flashcard 44: Which defense mechanism is channeling unacceptable impulses into acceptable behavior?

Answer: Sublimation. Sublimation redirects potentially harmful impulses toward socially productive activities.

Flashcard 45: What is the primary goal of factor analysis in trait psychology?

Answer: Identify underlying trait dimensions from patterns of correlations. Statistical technique reveals which traits cluster together.

Flashcard 46: What is the difference between a trait and a state in personality psychology?

Answer: Trait is enduring; state is temporary and situation-dependent. Traits persist over time; states fluctuate with circumstances.

Flashcard 47: What is the psychoanalytic definition of the superego?

Answer: Internalized moral standards; conscience and ideal self. The superego represents societal rules and personal ideals.

Flashcard 48: What is the definition of locus of control in social-cognitive personality theory?

Answer: Belief that outcomes are controlled by oneself (internal) or external forces. Internal locus linked to achievement; external to learned helplessness.

Flashcard 49: What does the id represent in Freud's structural model of personality?

Answer: Instinctual drives; operates on the pleasure principle. The id seeks immediate gratification without considering reality.

Flashcard 50: What are the Big Five personality traits (OCEAN)?

Answer: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism. The Big Five model captures broad dimensions of personality supported by empirical factor analysis.

Flashcard 51: What is the defining feature of Allport's cardinal trait?

Answer: A dominant trait that strongly shapes nearly all behavior. Cardinal traits are rare, overwhelming characteristics (e.g., Machiavellian).

Flashcard 52: What does Bandura's social cognitive theory emphasize about personality?

Answer: Reciprocal determinism among person, behavior, and environment. Three factors continuously interact to shape personality.

Flashcard 53: What is projection as a defense mechanism?

Answer: Attributing one's unacceptable impulses to others. Defense mechanism to avoid recognizing one's own faults.

Flashcard 54: What is incongruence in Rogers's humanistic theory?

Answer: Mismatch between self-concept and lived experience. Incongruence arises when experiences contradict one's self-image, leading to psychological distress.

Flashcard 55: What is the primary function of the ego in Freud's model?

Answer: To mediate between id impulses, superego demands, and reality constraints. Ego uses defense mechanisms to manage these competing forces.

Flashcard 56: What is self-efficacy in Bandura's social cognitive theory?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to succeed at a task. Influences motivation and persistence in challenges.

Flashcard 57: What is the main distinction between the humanistic and psychoanalytic views of personality?

Answer: Humanistic: growth and free will; psychoanalytic: unconscious conflict. Humanistic emphasizes potential; psychoanalytic emphasizes past.

Flashcard 58: What is the definition of a defense mechanism in psychoanalytic theory?

Answer: Unconscious strategy that reduces anxiety by distorting reality. Protects the ego from threatening thoughts or feelings.

Flashcard 59: What is self-efficacy in social cognitive theory?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations. Higher self-efficacy predicts greater effort and persistence.

Flashcard 60: What is Maslow's self-actualization in personality theory?

Answer: Realizing one's full potential after basic needs are met. Maslow's hierarchy posits self-actualization as the pinnacle of human motivation once lower needs are satisfied.

Flashcard 61: What defense mechanism involves justifying an unacceptable behavior with a plausible reason?

Answer: Rationalization. Creating logical excuses to avoid guilt or shame.

Flashcard 62: Which defense mechanism is converting anxiety into physical symptoms?

Answer: Somatization. Somatization manifests psychological distress as bodily symptoms to avoid conscious awareness of conflict.

Flashcard 63: Which Big Five trait most directly reflects curiosity, imagination, and preference for novelty?

Answer: Openness to experience. Associated with creativity, intellectual curiosity, and artistic interests.

Flashcard 64: Which locus of control is shown by believing outcomes depend on luck or powerful others?

Answer: External locus of control. External locus associates with helplessness and reduced motivation.

Flashcard 65: What is reaction formation as a Freudian defense mechanism?

Answer: Replacing unacceptable impulses with their opposite behaviors. Expressing the opposite of true feelings to avoid anxiety.

Flashcard 66: Identify the term for a test that yields consistent results across time or items.

Answer: Reliability. Consistent scores indicate the test measures something stable.

Flashcard 67: What is reaction formation as a Freudian defense mechanism?

Answer: Transforming an unacceptable impulse into its opposite behavior. Person acts contrary to true feelings to avoid anxiety.

Flashcard 68: Which Big Five trait is most directly associated with being organized and disciplined?

Answer: Conscientiousness. High scorers are responsible, orderly, and achievement-oriented.

Flashcard 69: What are the three components of Freud's structural model of personality?

Answer: Id, ego, and superego. These structures represent instinct, reason, and morality respectively.

Flashcard 70: Identify the defense mechanism: refusing to accept a painful reality despite evidence.

Answer: Denial. Protects ego by refusing to acknowledge threatening information.

Flashcard 71: What is the basic structure of Freud's personality model?

Answer: Id (instincts), ego (reality), and superego (morality). Three systems conflict to shape personality and behavior.

Flashcard 72: What is Bandura's reciprocal determinism?

Answer: Person, behavior, and environment mutually influence each other. Bandura's model illustrates the triadic interplay that shapes personality through ongoing interactions.

Flashcard 73: What is the locus of control construct in Rotter's theory?

Answer: Belief that outcomes are controlled internally versus externally. Internal locus: "I control my fate"; External: "Luck controls outcomes".

Flashcard 74: What is reaction formation as a defense mechanism?

Answer: Transforming an unacceptable impulse into its opposite behavior. Unconsciously converts forbidden desires into exaggerated opposites.

Flashcard 75: What is self-efficacy in social cognitive theory?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations. High self-efficacy predicts persistence and achievement.

Flashcard 76: What is a defense mechanism in psychodynamic theory?

Answer: Unconscious strategy that reduces anxiety from conflict. Defense mechanisms protect the ego by unconsciously distorting reality to manage internal conflicts.

Flashcard 77: What is the primary goal of factor analysis in trait psychology?

Answer: Reduce many measures into a smaller set of underlying trait factors. Statistical method identifies core traits from many variables.

Flashcard 78: What is the core claim of the humanistic perspective on personality?

Answer: People strive for growth and self-actualization. Emphasizes inherent human potential and positive nature.

Flashcard 79: Which Big Five trait most directly reflects emotional instability and anxiety?

Answer: Neuroticism. High neuroticism correlates with negative emotions and stress sensitivity.

Flashcard 80: Which Big Five trait most directly reflects emotional instability and negative affect?

Answer: Neuroticism. High neuroticism correlates with anxiety, depression, and mood swings.

Flashcard 81: What is a state (as contrasted with a trait) in personality psychology?

Answer: A temporary, situation-dependent pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. States fluctuate based on immediate circumstances, unlike stable traits.

Flashcard 82: What is repression as a Freudian defense mechanism?

Answer: Unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts, impulses, or memories. Primary defense mechanism that pushes threatening content from awareness.

Flashcard 83: What is the central claim of social-cognitive (social learning) personality theory?

Answer: Personality reflects reciprocal interactions among person, behavior, and environment. Personality emerges from dynamic three-way interactions.

Flashcard 84: What is the trait perspective on personality?

Answer: Personality consists of stable, measurable dispositions (traits). Trait theory focuses on identifying consistent behavioral patterns that define individual differences.

Flashcard 85: What is displacement as a Freudian defense mechanism?

Answer: Shifting emotion from a threatening target to a safer target. Redirecting anger from boss to family illustrates displacement.

Flashcard 86: Which assessment method is most associated with the humanistic approach to personality?

Answer: Self-report measures (for example, Q-sort for self-concept). Humanists emphasize subjective self-perception over objective tests.

Flashcard 87: What does it mean that a personality measure is reliable (test-retest reliability)?

Answer: It yields consistent scores across time for the same person. Reliable tests produce similar results when repeated.

Flashcard 88: Which Big Five trait most directly reflects cooperativeness, trust, and empathy?

Answer: Agreeableness. High agreeableness facilitates social harmony and relationships.

Flashcard 89: What does the superego represent in Freud's theory?

Answer: Internalized moral standards (conscience/ideal self). Develops from parental and societal values.

Flashcard 90: What is the core claim of trait theory of personality?

Answer: Personality is described by stable, measurable traits across situations. Traits are consistent patterns that predict behavior across different contexts.

Flashcard 91: What does a high score on openness to experience most strongly indicate?

Answer: Curiosity, creativity, and preference for novelty. Linked to intellectual curiosity and artistic interests.

Flashcard 92: What does the id operate on in Freud's theory?

Answer: Pleasure principle. The id seeks immediate gratification of basic instincts without regard for reality or consequences.

Flashcard 93: What is the central claim of trait theory in personality psychology?

Answer: Personality is described by stable traits that vary across individuals. Traits are consistent patterns that distinguish people from one another.

Flashcard 94: What is Hans Eysenck's trait model and its core dimensions?

Answer: A 3-factor model: Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism (PEN). Simplified trait models; psychoticism includes aggression and impulsivity.

Flashcard 95: What does the trait Conscientiousness primarily reflect in the Big Five model?

Answer: Organization, self-discipline, reliability, and goal-directed behavior. High conscientiousness predicts academic and work success.

Flashcard 96: Which defense mechanism is reverting to earlier developmental behaviors under stress?

Answer: Regression. Returns to childlike coping when overwhelmed.

Flashcard 97: What does the id operate on in Freud's model?

Answer: The pleasure principle. Seeks immediate gratification without considering consequences or reality.

Flashcard 98: What is the core idea of the social cognitive (social learning) perspective?

Answer: Personality is shaped by learning, cognition, and environment. This perspective integrates observational learning and cognitive processes with environmental influences on personality.

Flashcard 99: What does the superego represent in Freud's model?

Answer: Internalized moral standards and ideals (conscience and ego ideal). Develops from parental and societal values during childhood.

Flashcard 100: What is the central idea of humanistic personality theories?

Answer: People have free will and an innate drive toward growth and self-actualization. Emphasizes human potential over determinism or unconscious forces.