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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. Tendency to agree with and accept provided personality interpretations






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






3. 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






4. External and internal locus of control






5. Sheldon - Somatotypes' short - plump means pleasure-seeking - social






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






7. Belief that one can effectively perform a task






8. Androgynous individuals have higher self-esteem - lower anxiety - more adaptability than their highly masculine or feminine counterparts






9. 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)






10. Cognitive prototype approach






11. Personal constructs determine personality and behaviour






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






13. 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






14. Learned helplessness






15. Ambiguous story cards - people project own 'needs'






16. Women are twice as likely as men to become depressed






17. 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






18. 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)






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






20. Sheldon; personality based on body types - three physiques and corresponding personality types: endomorph - mesomorph - ectomorph


21. 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






22. Relatively stable characteristics of behavior that a person exhibits (trait is stable - state is more of temporary feeling or characteristics)






23. Generally make people more self-aware; small mirror - not so self-aware since its common - large mirror - very self-aware since we see a view of ourselves as others see us






24. Only circumstances determine behavior






25. At the top a cardinal trait (always consistent) - then central traits - then secondary traits (may conflict)






26. Critical of personality trait theory






27. Cognitive training against learned helplessness






28. 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






29. Studied Type A personality






30. 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






31. To show personality traits exist in a person - show person exhibits those traits in a variety of situations; cognitive behaviour (e.g. formulation of and attention to prototypes) is examined in social situations; - consistency of behaviour is result






32. A trait; how often one generally becomes self-aware; very - if you pay a lot of attention to your self






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






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






35. Scrutiny of own behaviour - motivation to act appropriately rather than honestly - ability to mask true feelings






36. 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-






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






38. 1) dispositionist 2) situationist 3) interactionists






39. Conscious ideas about the self - others and situations






40. 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






41. 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)






42. Have a great need for arousal






43. People who emphasize internal determinants of behavior






44. Focuses on individual'S unique self and experiences






45. Picking all possible traits out of dictionary






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






47. Muscular - athletic means energetic - aggressive






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






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






50. Knowing you are worthwhile and in touch with strengths; 50% perceive selves accurately - 35% narcissistically