D564 Exam 2 Actual Exam Style V1 | WGU
D564 Theories of Personality | Western
Governors University
1. According to Albert Bandura, what is the core concept of self-efficacy?
A. The level of self-esteem an individual feels after completing a difficult assignment.
B. The actual physical ability an individual possesses to perform a task.
C. The unconscious drive to achieve dominance over one’s environment.
D. The belief in one’s capability to organize and execute actions required to manage
prospective situations.
Answer: D
Rationale: Self-efficacy is a central pillar of social-cognitive theory that focuses on
personal beliefs about competence. It is not about the skills a person has, but rather what
they believe they can do with those skills. This perception influences how people think,
behave, and motivate themselves in the face of challenges.
2. In Carl Rogers’ self-theory, what occurs when there is a significant discrepancy between the
‘ideal self’ and the ‘real self’?
A. Self-actualization
B. Congruence
C. Functional autonomy
,D. Incongruence
Answer: D
Rationale: Incongruence represents the state of being where a person’s lived experience
does not align with their self-concept. This gap often leads to anxiety and defensiveness as
the individual struggles to maintain a consistent view of themselves. Rogers believed that
reducing this gap through therapy leads to better mental health and personal growth.
3. Abraham Maslow proposed that before an individual can pursue ‘self-actualization,’ which
of the following needs must be met?
A. Basic physiological and safety needs.
B. The need for aesthetic beauty and symmetry.
C. The need for cognitive understanding and knowledge.
D. The need for public recognition and fame.
Answer: A
Rationale: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is structured such that lower-level deficiency
needs must be satisfied before higher-level growth needs can emerge. Physiological needs
like food and water, followed by safety, form the foundation of this pyramid. Without these
basics, a person is too preoccupied with survival to focus on self-fulfillment.
4. Which behavioral concept describes a process where a behavior is strengthened because it
is followed by the removal of an unpleasant stimulus?
A. Negative reinforcement
, B. Positive punishment
C. Negative punishment
D. Positive reinforcement
Answer: A
Rationale: Negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior by taking away
an aversive condition when the behavior is performed. It is often confused with
punishment, but its goal is always to increase the frequency of a response. An example
would be taking an aspirin to remove a headache, which reinforces the act of taking aspirin.
5. Julian Rotter’s concept of ‘Locus of Control’ refers to:
A. The physiological location of the brain where personality is stored.
B. The physical environment that dictates an individual’s behavioral patterns.
C. The degree to which people believe they have control over the outcomes of their lives.
D. The unconscious instinctual drives that control human decision-making.
Answer: C
Rationale: Locus of control is a personality variable that distinguishes between internal
and external orientations. People with an internal locus believe their own actions
determine rewards, while those with an external locus attribute outcomes to luck or
powerful others. This concept is fundamental in understanding individual differences in
motivation and stress management.
D564 Theories of Personality | Western
Governors University
1. According to Albert Bandura, what is the core concept of self-efficacy?
A. The level of self-esteem an individual feels after completing a difficult assignment.
B. The actual physical ability an individual possesses to perform a task.
C. The unconscious drive to achieve dominance over one’s environment.
D. The belief in one’s capability to organize and execute actions required to manage
prospective situations.
Answer: D
Rationale: Self-efficacy is a central pillar of social-cognitive theory that focuses on
personal beliefs about competence. It is not about the skills a person has, but rather what
they believe they can do with those skills. This perception influences how people think,
behave, and motivate themselves in the face of challenges.
2. In Carl Rogers’ self-theory, what occurs when there is a significant discrepancy between the
‘ideal self’ and the ‘real self’?
A. Self-actualization
B. Congruence
C. Functional autonomy
,D. Incongruence
Answer: D
Rationale: Incongruence represents the state of being where a person’s lived experience
does not align with their self-concept. This gap often leads to anxiety and defensiveness as
the individual struggles to maintain a consistent view of themselves. Rogers believed that
reducing this gap through therapy leads to better mental health and personal growth.
3. Abraham Maslow proposed that before an individual can pursue ‘self-actualization,’ which
of the following needs must be met?
A. Basic physiological and safety needs.
B. The need for aesthetic beauty and symmetry.
C. The need for cognitive understanding and knowledge.
D. The need for public recognition and fame.
Answer: A
Rationale: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is structured such that lower-level deficiency
needs must be satisfied before higher-level growth needs can emerge. Physiological needs
like food and water, followed by safety, form the foundation of this pyramid. Without these
basics, a person is too preoccupied with survival to focus on self-fulfillment.
4. Which behavioral concept describes a process where a behavior is strengthened because it
is followed by the removal of an unpleasant stimulus?
A. Negative reinforcement
, B. Positive punishment
C. Negative punishment
D. Positive reinforcement
Answer: A
Rationale: Negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior by taking away
an aversive condition when the behavior is performed. It is often confused with
punishment, but its goal is always to increase the frequency of a response. An example
would be taking an aspirin to remove a headache, which reinforces the act of taking aspirin.
5. Julian Rotter’s concept of ‘Locus of Control’ refers to:
A. The physiological location of the brain where personality is stored.
B. The physical environment that dictates an individual’s behavioral patterns.
C. The degree to which people believe they have control over the outcomes of their lives.
D. The unconscious instinctual drives that control human decision-making.
Answer: C
Rationale: Locus of control is a personality variable that distinguishes between internal
and external orientations. People with an internal locus believe their own actions
determine rewards, while those with an external locus attribute outcomes to luck or
powerful others. This concept is fundamental in understanding individual differences in
motivation and stress management.
