WSU Psych 321 Exam 2 questions with correct
answers
what is the trait approach to personality psychology? Correct Answer--
relies on correlational design (traits should be able to predict behavior)
-focuses on individual differences (no absolute measurements - always
relative)
-seeks to measure the degree to which a person might be more or less
dominant, sociable, or nervous than someone else
-individual differences are the building blocks of personality
what is meant by individual differences? Correct Answer-no absolute
measurement (always relative)
what are the strengths and weakness of the trait approach? Correct
Answer-strength: assess and attempts to understand how people differ
weaknesses: neglects aspects of personality common to all people and
how each person is unique
why are people so inconsistent in their behaviors? Correct Answer-
personality traits aren't the only factors that control an individual's
behavior; situations matter as well
what is the situationist argument? Correct Answer--there's an upper limit
to how well one can predict what a person will do based on any
,measurement of that person's personality; this upper limit is a low upper
limit
-situations are more important than personality traits in determining
behavior
-professional practice of personality assessment mostly a waste of time;
everyday intuitions about people are fundamentally flawed; trait words
used to describe people aren't legitimately descriptive, because people
generally tend to see others as being more consistent across situations
than they really are
use zimbardo's analysis of the psychology of evil as an example. make
sure you can identify 3 aspects to the argument Correct Answer--person:
bad apple (personality psychology)
-situation: bad apple barrel (social psychology)
-system: bad apple barrel makers (sociology)
what is the personality psychologist's rebuttal to: the idea that
personality is so inconsistent it is not worth measuring? Correct
Answer--the .40 limit may be due to poor methodology (get out of lab)
-study individual consistency as a moderator variable (a variable that
alters the relationship between two other variables - ex. self-monitoring)
-focus on behavioral trends (average level of behavior across many
situations)
-correlation of .40 isn't small
-unfair
, what is the proposed upper-limit? Correct Answer-there's an upper limit
to how well one can predict what a person will do based on any
personality assessment
is it a low upper limit? could it be higher? Correct Answer--this upper
limit is low
-rarely exceeds .30
the idea that the situation is more important than personality in
determining behavior? Correct Answer--situationism: belief that
behavior is largely driven by the situation, and that personality is
relatively unimportant
-in any given situation, people are free to do what they want
why make a distinction between absolute and relative consistency?
Correct Answer--individual differences are maintained across situations,
even when absolute behavior changes
-situations influence behavior, but people are still consistent
-ex. meeting the first and second time
-we can maintain relative consistency even as absolute consistency may
change
what are personality traits best at predicting (instead of individual
situations)? Correct Answer-a person's behavior
answers
what is the trait approach to personality psychology? Correct Answer--
relies on correlational design (traits should be able to predict behavior)
-focuses on individual differences (no absolute measurements - always
relative)
-seeks to measure the degree to which a person might be more or less
dominant, sociable, or nervous than someone else
-individual differences are the building blocks of personality
what is meant by individual differences? Correct Answer-no absolute
measurement (always relative)
what are the strengths and weakness of the trait approach? Correct
Answer-strength: assess and attempts to understand how people differ
weaknesses: neglects aspects of personality common to all people and
how each person is unique
why are people so inconsistent in their behaviors? Correct Answer-
personality traits aren't the only factors that control an individual's
behavior; situations matter as well
what is the situationist argument? Correct Answer--there's an upper limit
to how well one can predict what a person will do based on any
,measurement of that person's personality; this upper limit is a low upper
limit
-situations are more important than personality traits in determining
behavior
-professional practice of personality assessment mostly a waste of time;
everyday intuitions about people are fundamentally flawed; trait words
used to describe people aren't legitimately descriptive, because people
generally tend to see others as being more consistent across situations
than they really are
use zimbardo's analysis of the psychology of evil as an example. make
sure you can identify 3 aspects to the argument Correct Answer--person:
bad apple (personality psychology)
-situation: bad apple barrel (social psychology)
-system: bad apple barrel makers (sociology)
what is the personality psychologist's rebuttal to: the idea that
personality is so inconsistent it is not worth measuring? Correct
Answer--the .40 limit may be due to poor methodology (get out of lab)
-study individual consistency as a moderator variable (a variable that
alters the relationship between two other variables - ex. self-monitoring)
-focus on behavioral trends (average level of behavior across many
situations)
-correlation of .40 isn't small
-unfair
, what is the proposed upper-limit? Correct Answer-there's an upper limit
to how well one can predict what a person will do based on any
personality assessment
is it a low upper limit? could it be higher? Correct Answer--this upper
limit is low
-rarely exceeds .30
the idea that the situation is more important than personality in
determining behavior? Correct Answer--situationism: belief that
behavior is largely driven by the situation, and that personality is
relatively unimportant
-in any given situation, people are free to do what they want
why make a distinction between absolute and relative consistency?
Correct Answer--individual differences are maintained across situations,
even when absolute behavior changes
-situations influence behavior, but people are still consistent
-ex. meeting the first and second time
-we can maintain relative consistency even as absolute consistency may
change
what are personality traits best at predicting (instead of individual
situations)? Correct Answer-a person's behavior
