Chapters 1-8 Study Guide
1. Explain BAS and BIS. How is BAS similar to and different from extraversion?
Explain BAS and BIS
BAS behavioral approach system a “ go” system reward seeking
BIS behavioral inhibition system avoidance system withdrawal system “stop” throw in reverse
system
How is BAS Similar to and different from extraversion?
Extraversion activity and agency being w\others social dominance or potency exp
positive emotions
Extraversion / BAS more positive feelings to impending reward they correlate Zelenski and
Larsen found measures of extraversion and several BAS constructs all where interrelated
predicated positive feeling thus there is a good deal of consistency
Social Quality extraversion actually is a blend of overall BAS sensitivity and social-specific BAS
sensitivity
2. How are latent needs measured? Explain how apperception is related to latent needs.
Latent content- the unconscious thoughts, feeling and wishes being the manifest content.
Latent content tells why a dream takes the form it takes.
How they measured is for three sources. First is the sensory stimulation that bombards us as we
sleep; a thunderstorm, a passing siren, the barking of a fog.
Second source of latent dreams content is thoughts, ideas, and feeling connected to the
sleeper’s waking life- current concerns- which remain active in the unconscious while you sleep.
Third source of latent dream content is unconscious ID impulses that the EGO has blocked from
expression while you’re awake. Manifest content consists of conscious sensory impressions
(usually visual). Manifest content is a fantasy in which the latent wish or impulse is expressed.
Explain how apperception is related to latent needs.
Apperception is a projecting of a motivation that you ambiguously push into a external stimulus
via imagery. Which is a day dreaming thought, where latent needs is where your mind is taking
or projecting of the motivation thought that you where having throughout the day into your
dreams. How they relate to each other is your mind or your unconscious mind is taking control.
3. Discuss the issues you think will arise now that the human genome is mapped. Summarize, in
your own words, the problems and prospects when considering inheritance and evolution.
Give your opinion of the information in the section headed Aggression and the Young Male
Syndrome. How is this related to Testosterone and the Adult Personality? How influential do
you think hormones are in our personality differences? Support your answer.
The issues with the having a mapped genetic blue print of the human genome is most human
rights and morality. Having public access to a person’s genetic information will cause genetic
discrimination from medical providers and insurance companies; also, ethics and morality of
genetic testing. Some feel that the human species can be improved by reproductive behavior
regulation because you can perpetuate desirable traits and minimize undesirable ones. In my
opinion, I agree with the young male syndrome because most men are more aggressive by
nature because of the importance of reproduction causing them to be more competitive,
violent, and aggressive; just look at the animals in the wild. Testosterone is related to the young
male syndrome because it’s a sex hormone and correlates because the higher the amount of
testosterone in the body the more aggressive, violent, and dominant behavior was present. This
shows right here that hormones are very influential and play a huge role in personality.
4. There has been much discussion of the controversy regarding the biological and/or
environmental basis of homosexuality. Give your opinion, either agreeing or disagreeing with
your text. Do you think sexual orientation is a part of personality? Why or why not?
My opinion on Homosexuality: If you're not going both ways, you're missing out on half the
action. I think, if someone is attracted to another person, opposite or same-sex, that they
should want to, be free to, and be happy to pursue that attraction. I think homosexuality has a
lot to do with personality, especially in a culture where this is controversial. People who supress
their feelings and desires will become irritable, depressed, and detached from their daily
interactions. They'll feel undeserving, not welcome, bad, etc. These negative emotions will
greatly affect the persons...ality, in essence. Feeling obligated to supress these feelings will
result in a negative self-image, and cause some seriously unstable confidence issues. The more
love, the better. Lust, sex, and orgasms are one aspect of a relationship, connecting
with another human on an emotional level which brings comfort, stability, trust, and
acceptance is an entirely different realm. Most of us, I think, rarely find a relationship where
both of those levels exist, for both partners. Whether someone finds this balance in the same,
or opposite sex is irelevant, I think. I'd much rather engage with a happy person, than a grumpy,
love-deprived person.
5. Personality is “inextricably tied to the physical body.” How does your body influence the
personality you have?
Personality is affected by physical appearance in a few ways. First it can give a person more
confidence which would translate into their everyday life by the things they do and the
interactions they have. For instance someone larger may be more confident in large groups
because they aren’t worried about anyone trying to make trouble for them and so they may act
differently than a smaller person would in the same situation.
6. Descried a situation when you should have taken the strength of the situation into account
when evaluating the behavior of another person. Then describe a situation when your
personality affected the environment that you were in.
A few places that the strength of the situation needs to be taken into account would be church
and work. People at work have to live up to a certain expectation. The way they dress, talk and
interact with others but they may be completely different outside of that situation.
Having an outgoing personality has affected the way that the interactions are in the classroom.
Without an outgoing personality the expectation would not have been lowered to help
conversation to get started and the class to loosen up and not be so nervous the first few
classes.
7. Using Murray’s needs create your hierarchy. (Use Maslow’s hierarchy pyramid shape as an
example.) Then explain why you ordered your needs in this particular way. You will need both
a pyramid (please use a ruler or the computer to illustrate the pyramid) and a written
explanation.

When a baby is first born it is always encouraged for the mother to immediately start bonding
with her child. It is one of our most basic needs as humans, to have nurturance and affection.
We have seen with ferral children what a lack of affection on a human can do.

We then need to have some information, some growth on a daily basis, we as humans crave
knowledge.

Next we have our need for power, whether it be through automony and indivualism or the need
to feel important. This gives us our ability to be different from each other.

Which leads us to the need for Ambition. Once we have established our individuality and goals
for power we need to have the ambition to achieve what we set out to do. We all want to leave
a legacy and have an impact on future generations.

Then there is the Defense of Status need. We don’t want others to see our shortcomings or
falacies so we need to hide this part of ourselves.

Lastly our need for materialistic possesions. In order to show that we have power and have
made something of ourselves we need objects or symbols to demonstrate this.
8. How would a sociobiologist account for the existence of altruism?
“Altruism is acting in the welfare of others, to the point of sacrificing one’s own well-being
(potentially one’s life) for someone else” (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 114). Sociobiologist’s
believe that it is far more important for one’s gene pool (i.e. city or town) to get passed along
than any one individuals. Since the individual that is behaving altruistically belongs to the same
gene pool, he is in fact helping to pass along much of his genes. This idea of helping your part of
the gene pool carry on and reproduce is called Inclusive Fitness (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 114).
If a family member gives his life to save his relatives it is called Kin Selection (Carver & Scheier,
2008, p. 114). Because of this Kin Selection and Inclusive Fitness Sociobiologists believe that
people are much more apt to altruism if they are helping someone of their family or kin than
with strangers. Another idea is that of Reciprocal Altruism which is when you help someone out
that it is expected that they will intern help you out later on (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 114).
Kind of an, I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.
9. Submit your printed results for the Big Five online test and the in-class personality tests.
Discuss them and the in-class personality tests in relation to your “Please Understand Me”
personal description. Don’t forget to refer to the text discussions.
We felt that the general idea of the personality tests fit well with us. We also felt that any
personality test will fall short in some respects. Please Understand Me seemed to be a little
better at depicting our personalities as a whole, but it even pinpointed certain traits. The self
handicapping test did not appear to be very strong or reliable. It was surprising, however, that
when the tests were combined they seemed to generally indicate the same things. It was a big
eye-opener to find out these personality traits. It was interesting that it was so difficult for us to
accept someone who was different from our own self perception.
10. Discuss genetic similarities and attraction. Did anything in this section surprise you? Have you
seen evidence of this in your life? Experienced it?
We felt that genetic similarities definitely attract. We cited our own families to be very
genetically similar. As far as physique and temperament are concerned, we agreed that most
people marry genetically similar persons who come from genetically similar families. Obviously,
there are exceptions, but they are few. Just a look at the average extended family and it is clear
to see the genetic similarities even among those who are married in.
11. According to Eysenck, what happens when neurotic combines with introversion? Does it fit
with your personal experience? In other words, do you think he explains your extroverted or
introverted tendencies?
Should cause them to be vulnerable to anxiety and deppression.
12. What is temperament? In what ways is the term temperament used? What three normal
personality qualities did Buss and Plomin say should be called temperament? Define each.
Temperament; A persons overall emotional nature.
In what ways is the term used?
To explain someones personality traits.
What are three normal personality qualities did buss and plomin say should be called
temperments? difine each.
-Activity level; Output of energy or behavior (intensity and speed).
-Sociability; To prefer being with other people (Value intrinsically).
-Emotionality; to become psychologicaly aroused.
13. Explain the difference between high and low self-monitors as given in the class lecture. If
behavior is a function of the person and the environment, how does that relate to consistency
and your score on the self-monitoring test?
People who are high self-monitors like to fit smoothly into situations they encounter. They look
to others for clues about what actions are appropriate for a given situation and bend their
actions to meet the needs of the situation. Low self-monitors behave the way they think they
are- the way they feel, or the way they think they should be, no matter the situation. High selfmonitors allow the environment to dictate their actions more than low self-monitors.
Since high self-monitors actions are more affected by the situation they find themselves in, they
are less consistent in their behavior than low self-monitors. This was reflected quite well in our
self-monitoring tests. One of us scored a 16 and agrees that her behaviors change depending on
who she is hanging out with. E.g. She acts differently around her grandmother than around her
friends. The other one of us scored a 2 and agrees that she does not adjust her attitudes or
behaviors depending on the situation. Her behavior is the same no matter where she is or who
she is with.
14. Describe how need states and external press both influence motives to engage in particular
kinds of action, which in turn become realized in overt behavior. Then give a personal
example.
Need is the internal drive to obtain something, whether it be food, water, achievement, etc. It is
an internal push for something in particular; needs are directive. Press is the external influences
that motivate you to satisfy your need by a certain means. Both internal need and external
press influence motives to engage in a particular kind of action, which are realized in overt
behavior. For example, a person needs shoes to protect their feet while walking outside, this is
an internal need state. They type of shoes they choose to purchase will likely depend on
external press; they may choose a certain brand, or style, because they are high status, or they
may choose boots because it is winter and the weather is cold.
A personal example: I did not like my dentist and needed to find a new one (an internal need
state). A friend at work recommended his and later on I heard a commercial for that same
dentist (external press). I decided to see this dentist and made an appointment. I was
motivated to see this new dentist by both my need to see a dentist I like (internal need) and by
people telling me to try him out (external press).
15. Do you think we can assess personality though biological functions? Explain your answer.
16. Discuss how your needs for achievement, power, affiliation, and intimacy are evidenced in your
behavior. Was your choice of behaviors related to the motives influenced by the press? Give and
account of a typical day in your life when you juggled the following motive: power, achievement,
intimacy, and affiliation. Is there a pattern in your expression of these motives?
17. Explain how the Big Five model can enhance or hinder the process of determining traits in
personality. Is anything lost when using only the big five?
It hinders the process of determining. It might enhance a general idea, but for the most part
most description is lost because it is so vague and what might describe a person to one might
mean something to another. The Big 5 could be a starting point, but to really determine how
someone is, more would need to be described. If it was a self assessment instead of an outside
perspective it might make more sense to the slef. It also enhances because it is a general
description which is better than nothing.
18. Define nomothetic and idiographic. Compare and contrast the meaning of both. What did
Eysenck say about nomothetic?
Nomothetic is the belief that every persons traits exist in the same way. Idiographic says that all
traits are unique and everyone is different. There isn’t a comparison of these two except they
both deal with traits but they contrast exactly the opposite. Eysenck believed that everyone had
super traits that made them either emotionally stable or unstable and the traits are all different
depending on the emotional stability, which made him more into the idiographic.
19. Are situationism and interactionism the same? Explain.
See answer below.
20. What created individual differences in consistency? Why? Give an example of interactionism
using one of your personality traits.
The individual differences in disposition create differences in consistency. Some people are so
consistent that they overwhelm the situations they’re in. Other people are more willing to let
situational influences guide them and thus are less consistent.
The trait of self-monitoring influences a person’s interactionism. People high in self-monitoring
like to fit smoothly into situations they encounter. They bend to the needs of the situation.
People who are low in self-monitoring behave the way they think they are, no matter the
situation. High self-monitors are less consistent from one situation to another than are low selfmonitors.
EXAMPLE:
I am prone to depression as well as highly demanding of myself. Knowing that I do not
comprehend Algebra very well, I have avoided taking an Algebra class. I have exercised
considerable choice in the matter, up until now. In order to progress in my degree I need to not
only take an Algebra class, I actually have to pass it! The situation (Algebra class), and my
disposition towards depression (trait) influences my behaviors. When I do well in Algebra, I am
happy and pleasant to be around. When I struggle with the class and don’t do well on a test, I
get very sad, and depressed, and I am not fun at all.
The trait of extroversion that I possess has influenced the job that I have. I am able to handle
extreme stressful situations as I work in a busy hospital E.R. Many people cannot handle
working in an E.R. due to the trauma, accidents, and deaths that occur. I am able to work in a
stressful environment.
I am able to work in a stressful job, handle the stress of a large family, school, and many
responsibilities, but for some reason I cannot handle the stress of Algebra.
21. Pick two variables (traits) and, in detail, explain how you would show the correlation between
them.
Shy and private- a shy person would keep to themselves for fear of confrontation. A private
person would come off as shy because they keep to themselves
22. Describe three different types of validity that are relevant to personality assessment, and
briefly discuss the meaning of each.
Construct- if testing for shyness we want to prove that the test actually tests for shyness
Convergent- we want to make sure we test for traits that are similar to shyness
Discriminant- if testing for shyness we want to prove that it doesn't test for extroversion
23. Explain what is meant by “statistical significance.” How does statistical significance relate to
the issue of importance?
When a probability is small enough, the correlation is said to be statistically significant. If
something is statistically significant, it is large enough to have some practical importance, or it is
believable.
24. Name and describe each of the seven perspective of personality. Are these perspective
linked? Are they equally important? Can you use them collectively?
Dispositional: Stable qualities across settings; deeply imbedded in a person
Biological: Human beings are biological creatures; traits are inherited through genes; genes act
on hormones & nervous system to create who we are.
Psycho analytical: Internal forces compete and conflict; Pressures inside enhance/fight with one
another.
Neo-analytic: Development of the ego; importance of social relationships in personality.
Learning perspective: Change rather than constancy is paramount; behavior changes
systematically as a result of experience.
Phenomenological perspective: Everyone’s experience is important, valuable, meaningful,
unique; natural tendency toward self-perfection; sense of self-determination; uniqueness and
what they make of it.
Cognitive self regulation: Cognitive processes underlie personality; neurons sending messages;
systematic sets of decisions; patterns give rise to personality; self regulating, setting goals and
working toward those goals; organization, coherence, patterning.
The phenomenological theories emphasize the concept of self and the need for the self to grow
and develop naturally. The concept of the ego in the neo-analytic theory is similar to the
concept of self, thus the phenomenological and the neo-analytic theories are conceptually
linked. Each theory has a metatheory that it’s tied to most firmly, but they all have secondary
ties to other metatheories. These theories weren’t really intended to be full models of
personality, but rather aspects. Even though a theory does not say everything about a
personality, it can have some important perspectives. They can be used collectively, as all may
have smaller pieces of a bigger picture. In using them collectively, it may better help to
understand a more complete view of a personality.
25. Why is cultural validity important? How might cultural validity and social desirability as a
response set be connected? Explain and then give a real life example.
26. Explain why the text emphasizes “conceptual themes” and not particular individuals.
27. Using the 6 points made by the definition of personality, describe your personality. For example,
how is it organized, active, tied to your physical body, help determine how you relate to the
world , as in patterns, and displayed in the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.
28. How do personality theorists gather information? Which method would you use if you wanted
to get information about personality? Why?
Correlational Studies - Studies that show a correlation between variables.
Self- reports or Introspection have their draws and drawbacks. On the one hand nobody else
knows what going on inside somebody else head, they are their best witnesses. On the other
hand people can have distorted views of themselves or wish to make themselves look better
and may not answer truthfully.
Observational – the opposite of introspection, observations are made of others and assessed by
an onlooker. This method is much less likely to have any interpersonal bias or reduce selfeffacing answers. On the flip side an observer is not able to actually get inside somebody else’s
head to absolutely know what is going on in there.
Systematic examination or Case Study – Henry Murray, believed that there was a need to study
people as coherent or whole entities, and coined the term Personology (Carver & Scheier, 2008,
p. 15). This led to Case Studies where an individual is studied in-depth sometimes over a long
period of time. There is one major disadvantage to this type of study it only gives the
interviewer or observer insight into one particular person, not people in general. It lacks
Generality or Generalizability (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 15).
Experimental Research – Can show causality by using an independent variable that is
manipulated (the cause) and a dependent variable (the effect) (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 22).
There must be experimental control where everything is exactly the same except for what you
intentionally manipulate (independent variable) (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 22). That is
probably the largest drawback to using the experimental method, it is nearly impossible to
exercise complete control, there is often confounding of lurking variables (variables not
accounted for). This can give incorrect or misleading conclusions. Also there are ethical
concerns with some experiments; we wouldn’t be able to see what happens to someone’s
personality if they huffed gas for instance.
So which method is best? It is believed among many Personality Psychologists that the only true
way to determine people’s true personality is to observe and watch them in their own habitats,
preferably over long periods of time. A person may be able to put on airs for a short period of
time but eventually their true colors will show through. Then there are some Psychologists that
like to take the best of both worlds approach and combine experimentation with observation,
called Experimental Personality Research (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 25). Experimental
Personality Research is a Multifactor Study where at least two variables are varied separately
which allows for all combinations of the predictor variables to be accounted for (Carver &
Scheier, 2008, p. 25). The beauty of this kind of experiment is that it allows the Psychologists to
see the individual-difference variable.
29. Which of the perspectives’ descriptions interest you the most? Why?
30. Repeat question (#28)
31. Repeat question (#27)
32. Describe what self-handicapping means.
Acting to create the very conditions that tend to produce failure