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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. External and internal locus of control






2. 1) dispositionist 2) situationist 3) interactionists






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






4. 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)






5. 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






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






7. Muscular - athletic means energetic - aggressive






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






9. Somatotypes personality theory






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






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






12. Skinny - fragile means inhibited - intellectual






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






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






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






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






17. Organized categorization systems - by statistical techniques for personality






18. 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






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






20. Critical of personality trait theory






21. 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






22. Belief that one can effectively perform a task






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






24. 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






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






26. 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






27. Only circumstances determine behavior






28. 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






29. 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)






30. 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-






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






32. Capture individual'S unique - defining characteristics






33. 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)






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






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






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






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


38. 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






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






40. 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






41. Possessing both male and female qualities






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






43. 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






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






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






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






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






48. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)






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






50. Cognitive training against learned helplessness