Test your basic knowledge |

GRE Psychology: Personality

Subjects : gre, psychology
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. People often make assumptions about the dispositions of an individual based on the actions of that person






2. A state; temporary condition of being aware of how you are thinking - feeling or doing






3. Learned helplessness






4. women'S success at 'male' tasks attributed to luck - - while men'S success attributed to skill; Suggesting - gender is a social construct that colours interpretations; - women attribute successes to luck more than men indicating they have lower self-






5. Somatotypes personality theory






6. In the forefront -a combination of stable - internal factors and situations






7. Personality changes little after age 30






8. Used factor analysis in data reduction of Allport'S 5000 traits; identified 16 bipolar source traits (e.g. relaxed-tense) that seemed to underlie all; 16 personality factors tested in personality questionnaire






9. Found interaction between gender and social status - how easily an individual might be influenced






10. Experience can change people'S personalities; after a series of events one feels helpless or out of control - negative or pessimistic explanatory style develops; gives up in general - exhibits helpless disposition; countered with learned optimism






11. Originally dominated personality theory (Hippocrates) - many placed into type categories based on physical appearance; including using phrenology and somatotypes






12. Personality characteristic - causes one to view events as result of luck or fate; too much breeds helplessness






13. Hierarchy of needs






14. Critical of personality trait theory






15. Many argue that there is no true gender differences - children are reinforced for stereotypical behaviors - prevailing pov -> interactionist






16. Capture individual'S unique - defining characteristics






17. People who emphasize internal determinants of behavior






18. Believing you are better than you are or look better than you do; unrealistic self-esteem






19. Used factor analysis to identify underlying traits of 2 personality-type dimensions (introversion-extraversion and stable-unstable [neuroticism]); - two dimensions formed a cross and four quadrants of phlegmatic - melancholic - choleric - sanguine






20. Organized categorization systems - by statistical techniques for personality






21. Emphasized idiographic approach to personality theory - as opposed to nomothetic; conscious motives governed by proprium or propriate function; lexical approach (5000 possible traits) - determined trait hierarchy of cardinal - central - secondary tra






22. Conscious ideas about the self - others and situations






23. Fundamental attribution error; tendency for others to think actions are caused more by personality than situation (e.g. lie because he is a liar - not because of the situation)






24. Self-defeating behaviour that allows one to dismiss or excuse failure






25. Only circumstances determine behavior






26. Suggested females shun masculine-type successes not because of fear or failure or lack of interest - but they fear success and its negative repercussions (i.e. resentment and rejection)






27. External and internal locus of control






28. Personal constructs determine personality and behaviour






29. Criticized trait and type theories that both assume behaviour is stable across situations and people fail to take circumstances into account; - studies show that people often act different in different situations; consistency paradox






30. Shows heritability of personality about 40-50% - identical twins separated at birth; 'Jim' twins had wives and dogs with same name - and same habits; differences shows environmental impact






31. Muscular - athletic means energetic - aggressive






32. Cognitive prototype approach






33. Allport; his version of the ego - believed it acted relatively consistently based on traits developed through experience






34. Linked Type A personality to heart disease and other health problems






35. Have a great need for arousal






36. Uses large numbers of people to study commonalities of personality






37. Characterized by drive - competitiveness - aggressiveness - tension - hostility; found - most common in middle to upper class men






38. The study of why people act the way that they do and why different people act differently






39. Practice of examining head and skull shape to discern personality






40. Studies androgyny; created Bem Sex Role Inventory






41. Tendency to agree with and accept provided personality interpretations






42. Studied Type A personality






43. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)






44. Found few sex differences existed that could not be explained by simple social learning; - most consistent difference that seems independent of social influence is that females have greater verbal ability and males have greater visual/spatial ability






45. The disposition to view the world as full of power relationships - measured by the F-scale (Fascism scale); - these individuals are either highly domineering (if top dog of situation) or submissive (as if they are in presence of a more powerfulfigure






46. Possibility that a person may behave inconsistently - presents problems for labelling people as one internal disposition






47. Cognitive training against learned helplessness






48. Suggested personality typology based on personal activity and social interest; ruling-dominant type (choleric; high-low) - getting-learning type (phlegmatic; low-high) - avoiding type (melancholic; low-low) - and socially useful type (sanguine; high-






49. Possessing both male and female qualities






50. Dispositional attribution; tendency for others to think actions are caused more by personality than situation (e.g. lie because he is a liar - not because of the situation)