D564 Exam 1 Actual Exam Style V1 | WGU
D564 Theories of Personality | Western
Governors University
1. Which component of Freud’s structural model operates entirely in the unconscious and is
driven by the pleasure principle?
A. Ego
B. Superego
C. Id
D. Ideal Self
Answer: C
Rationale: The Id is the primitive and instinctive component of personality that contains
all the inherited biological components. It operates on the pleasure principle, which is the
idea that every wishful impulse should be satisfied immediately regardless of the
consequences. Because it is entirely unconscious, it has no contact with the external world
and functions to discharge tension.
2. A person who is extremely organized, stingy, and stubborn might be described by Freud as
being fixated in which psychosexual stage?
A. Anal Stage
B. Oral Stage
,C. Phallic Stage
D. Genital Stage
Answer: A
Rationale: According to Freud, the Anal Stage occurs between ages one and three and
focuses on toilet training. Fixation during this stage can lead to an ‘anal-retentive’
personality characterized by obsessive cleanliness and orderliness. This happens when
parents are too strict or start potty training too early, leading the child to find satisfaction
in retaining feces.
3. What is the primary goal of the Ego according to the structural model of personality?
A. To seek immediate gratification of all desires
B. To balance the demands of the Id, Superego, and reality
C. To uphold moral standards and societal rules
D. To repress all unconscious thoughts into the preconscious
Answer: B
Rationale: The Ego develops from the Id to ensure that the Id’s impulses can be expressed
in a manner acceptable in the real world. It operates on the reality principle, striving to
satisfy the Id’s desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways. By balancing the
impulsive Id and the moralistic Superego, the Ego maintains psychological health.
, 4. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or
feelings to someone else?
A. Reaction Formation
B. Displacement
C. Projection
D. Sublimation
Answer: C
Rationale: Projection is a psychological defense mechanism in which individuals attribute
characteristics they find unacceptable in themselves to another person. For example, a
person who feels a lot of anger might accuse others of being hostile. This allows the
individual to deal with the internal conflict without acknowledging their own flaws.
5. In personality assessment, what does the term ‘reliability’ refer to?
A. The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure
B. The consistency of a measurement over time or across different raters
C. The degree to which a test is standardized for a specific population
D. The ability of a test to predict future behavior accurately
Answer: B
Rationale: Reliability is a fundamental concept in psychometrics that refers to the stability
and consistency of a test’s results. If a personality test is reliable, a person should receive a
D564 Theories of Personality | Western
Governors University
1. Which component of Freud’s structural model operates entirely in the unconscious and is
driven by the pleasure principle?
A. Ego
B. Superego
C. Id
D. Ideal Self
Answer: C
Rationale: The Id is the primitive and instinctive component of personality that contains
all the inherited biological components. It operates on the pleasure principle, which is the
idea that every wishful impulse should be satisfied immediately regardless of the
consequences. Because it is entirely unconscious, it has no contact with the external world
and functions to discharge tension.
2. A person who is extremely organized, stingy, and stubborn might be described by Freud as
being fixated in which psychosexual stage?
A. Anal Stage
B. Oral Stage
,C. Phallic Stage
D. Genital Stage
Answer: A
Rationale: According to Freud, the Anal Stage occurs between ages one and three and
focuses on toilet training. Fixation during this stage can lead to an ‘anal-retentive’
personality characterized by obsessive cleanliness and orderliness. This happens when
parents are too strict or start potty training too early, leading the child to find satisfaction
in retaining feces.
3. What is the primary goal of the Ego according to the structural model of personality?
A. To seek immediate gratification of all desires
B. To balance the demands of the Id, Superego, and reality
C. To uphold moral standards and societal rules
D. To repress all unconscious thoughts into the preconscious
Answer: B
Rationale: The Ego develops from the Id to ensure that the Id’s impulses can be expressed
in a manner acceptable in the real world. It operates on the reality principle, striving to
satisfy the Id’s desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways. By balancing the
impulsive Id and the moralistic Superego, the Ego maintains psychological health.
, 4. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or
feelings to someone else?
A. Reaction Formation
B. Displacement
C. Projection
D. Sublimation
Answer: C
Rationale: Projection is a psychological defense mechanism in which individuals attribute
characteristics they find unacceptable in themselves to another person. For example, a
person who feels a lot of anger might accuse others of being hostile. This allows the
individual to deal with the internal conflict without acknowledging their own flaws.
5. In personality assessment, what does the term ‘reliability’ refer to?
A. The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure
B. The consistency of a measurement over time or across different raters
C. The degree to which a test is standardized for a specific population
D. The ability of a test to predict future behavior accurately
Answer: B
Rationale: Reliability is a fundamental concept in psychometrics that refers to the stability
and consistency of a test’s results. If a personality test is reliable, a person should receive a
