D564 Exam 1 Actual Exam Style V3 | WGU
D564 Theories of Personality | Western
Governors University
1. Which of the following best describes the Big Five trait of ‘Openness to Experience’?
A. A tendency to be organized, dependable, and disciplined.
B. The tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety or anger.
C. A person’s level of sociability and outgoingness.
D. The degree of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a preference for novelty.
Answer: D
Rationale: Openness to Experience is one of the five broad domains used to describe
human personality. It involves a willingness to try new things and a high level of
imagination. Individuals scoring high in this trait are often unconventional and
independent thinkers.
2. According to Hans Eysenck, the biological basis for extraversion is related to which
physiological system?
A. The levels of cortisol in the adrenal glands.
B. The baseline level of arousal in the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS).
C. The sensitivity of the reward processing system in the brain.
D. The amount of gray matter in the prefrontal cortex.
,Answer: B
Rationale: Eysenck’s theory suggests that extraverts have a lower baseline level of cortical
arousal. Because of this, they seek out external stimulation to reach an optimal level of
arousal. In contrast, introverts have higher baseline arousal and avoid excessive
stimulation to prevent becoming overwhelmed.
3. In the context of behavioral personality theory, what is ‘extinction’?
A. The strengthening of a behavior through positive rewards.
B. A biological predisposition to avoid certain dangerous stimuli.
C. The process of learning by observing others’ behaviors.
D. The disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is no longer
reinforced.
Answer: D
Rationale: Extinction occurs in operant conditioning when a behavior that was previously
reinforced no longer results in that reinforcement. This process leads to a gradual decrease
and eventual disappearance of the behavior. It is a key concept in behavioral therapy used
to eliminate maladaptive habits.
4. Albert Bandura’s concept of ‘reciprocal determinism’ implies that personality is shaped by
the interaction of which three factors?
A. Behavior, internal cognitive factors, and environmental influences.
B. Genetics, Environment, and Culture.
, C. Id, Ego, and Superego.
D. Self-actualization, esteem, and safety needs.
Answer: A
Rationale: Reciprocal determinism suggests that a person’s behavior both influences and
is influenced by personal factors and the social environment. This model challenges
unidirectional views that see behavior as purely a result of environment or biology. It
highlights the active role individuals play in creating their own life circumstances.
5. Carl Rogers defined ‘congruence’ as the state in which:
A. A person’s ideal self and actual experience are consistent.
B. A person receives unconditional positive regard from everyone.
C. A person’s basic physiological needs are fully met.
D. The individual has successfully suppressed their shadow self.
Answer: A
Rationale: Congruence is a central concept in Rogerian humanistic theory, representing
the alignment between the ‘real self’ and the ‘ideal self’. When these two versions of the self
are similar, the individual experiences high self-worth and psychological health.
Incongruence, or a large gap between these selves, often leads to anxiety and
defensiveness.
D564 Theories of Personality | Western
Governors University
1. Which of the following best describes the Big Five trait of ‘Openness to Experience’?
A. A tendency to be organized, dependable, and disciplined.
B. The tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety or anger.
C. A person’s level of sociability and outgoingness.
D. The degree of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a preference for novelty.
Answer: D
Rationale: Openness to Experience is one of the five broad domains used to describe
human personality. It involves a willingness to try new things and a high level of
imagination. Individuals scoring high in this trait are often unconventional and
independent thinkers.
2. According to Hans Eysenck, the biological basis for extraversion is related to which
physiological system?
A. The levels of cortisol in the adrenal glands.
B. The baseline level of arousal in the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS).
C. The sensitivity of the reward processing system in the brain.
D. The amount of gray matter in the prefrontal cortex.
,Answer: B
Rationale: Eysenck’s theory suggests that extraverts have a lower baseline level of cortical
arousal. Because of this, they seek out external stimulation to reach an optimal level of
arousal. In contrast, introverts have higher baseline arousal and avoid excessive
stimulation to prevent becoming overwhelmed.
3. In the context of behavioral personality theory, what is ‘extinction’?
A. The strengthening of a behavior through positive rewards.
B. A biological predisposition to avoid certain dangerous stimuli.
C. The process of learning by observing others’ behaviors.
D. The disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is no longer
reinforced.
Answer: D
Rationale: Extinction occurs in operant conditioning when a behavior that was previously
reinforced no longer results in that reinforcement. This process leads to a gradual decrease
and eventual disappearance of the behavior. It is a key concept in behavioral therapy used
to eliminate maladaptive habits.
4. Albert Bandura’s concept of ‘reciprocal determinism’ implies that personality is shaped by
the interaction of which three factors?
A. Behavior, internal cognitive factors, and environmental influences.
B. Genetics, Environment, and Culture.
, C. Id, Ego, and Superego.
D. Self-actualization, esteem, and safety needs.
Answer: A
Rationale: Reciprocal determinism suggests that a person’s behavior both influences and
is influenced by personal factors and the social environment. This model challenges
unidirectional views that see behavior as purely a result of environment or biology. It
highlights the active role individuals play in creating their own life circumstances.
5. Carl Rogers defined ‘congruence’ as the state in which:
A. A person’s ideal self and actual experience are consistent.
B. A person receives unconditional positive regard from everyone.
C. A person’s basic physiological needs are fully met.
D. The individual has successfully suppressed their shadow self.
Answer: A
Rationale: Congruence is a central concept in Rogerian humanistic theory, representing
the alignment between the ‘real self’ and the ‘ideal self’. When these two versions of the self
are similar, the individual experiences high self-worth and psychological health.
Incongruence, or a large gap between these selves, often leads to anxiety and
defensiveness.
