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






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






3. 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






4. 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






5. External and internal locus of control






6. Tendency to agree with and accept provided personality interpretations






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






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






9. 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)






10. Picking all possible traits out of dictionary






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






12. 1) dispositionist 2) situationist 3) interactionists






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






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






15. Only circumstances determine behavior






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






17. People often make assumptions about the dispositions of an individual based on the actions of that person






18. 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






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






20. 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






21. Superfactors - 5 dimensions that encompass all of personality; superordinate traits or facets; O-dimension (openness to experience - intellectual curiosity) - C-dimension (conscientiousness) - E-dimension (extroversion - enthusiasm) - A-dimension (ag






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


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






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






25. Conscious ideas about the self - others and situations






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






27. Belief that one can effectively perform a task






28. Somatotypes personality theory






29. 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






30. Personal constructs determine personality and behaviour






31. Critical of personality trait theory






32. Studied Type A personality






33. Cognitive prototype approach






34. Cognitive training against learned helplessness






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






36. Capture individual'S unique - defining characteristics






37. Personality changes little after age 30






38. 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






39. 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






40. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and California Personality Inventory (CPI)






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






42. Hierarchy of needs






43. Skinny - fragile means inhibited - intellectual






44. Personality characteristic - causes one to view events as outcome of own actions; too much breeds self-blame






45. Focuses on individual'S unique self and experiences






46. Studies androgyny; created Bem Sex Role Inventory






47. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)






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. 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






50. Muscular - athletic means energetic - aggressive