Personality Psychology Exam 4 UPDATED
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the Social Cognitive Theory? - CORRECT ANSWER - This theory states that
when people observe a model performing a behavior and the consequences of that behavior, they
remember the sequence of events and use this information as a guide for their own behaviors.
This is the most contemporary and widespread concept in many areas of research. It explains the
thinking process in relation to the social environment. Within social learning we contemplate the
present, past, and hypothetical future, as well as reflect on their own thinking and self.
Who was Albert Bandura? - CORRECT ANSWER - A psychologist who expanded on this
idea of social learning, after beginning his career observing social modeling in human
motivation, thought, and action.
What was the Social Learning & Personality Study, in 1959? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Bandura, and his colleague, Walters, conducted a study to observe Adolescent Aggression, and
understand the relationship of child-training practices and family interrelationships.
What is the Social Foundations of Thought and Action, in 1986? - CORRECT ANSWER -
A book, written by Bandura, that had a monumental contribution to psychology and the
understanding of social learning. The theory explains human motivation and action from a social
cognitive perspective, analyzing the role of cognitive, vicarious, self-regulatory, and self-
reflective processes in psychosocial functioning. Also in this book, he emphasizes the presence
of Reciprocal Determinism.
What is Reciprocal Determinism? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is the theory set forth by
Albert Bandura which states that a person's behavior both influences and is influenced by
personal factors and the social environment. Behavior may be conditioned by consequences,
environments we chose to reflect our personality. A relationship between person, behavior, and
environment.
Who was Walter Mischel? - CORRECT ANSWER - A well known psychologist
specializing in personality theory and social psychology.
, What was the study Personality and Assessment, in 1968? - CORRECT ANSWER - An
influential study, written by Walter Mischel, that highlighted a major issue within the way
personality pbsyhoclogy has been studied thus far. He realized that the situation occurring when
these behaviors were made was not accounted for, and actually held a major influence on the
behavior. He noted that people behave much differently due to the situation they are subjected to,
and that behavior is highly dependent on social cues. Mischel coined the term personality
signatures, where a "individual does A when X, but does B when Y". Parts that work together.
What structures our personality? - CORRECT ANSWER - Competencies and skills,
Beliefs and expectations, goals, and evaluative standards.
Structure of Personality: What are Competencies and Skills? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Related to the way an individual will deal with challenges and adapts their thinking to that
change. It is the interaction of how an individual will think about problem and then use
behavioral skills to solve them. Based on declarative knowledge, which is conscious knowledge
that can be verbalized (Paris is the capital of France), and procedural knowledge, which is how to
physically do it (How to ride a bike). It is also based on context specificity, the understanding of
what skills will work best in that particular situation, and psychological change, which is the
influence of social situations on behavior.
Different personalities also acquire different sets of skills, not just different emotions.
Structure of Personality: What are Beliefs and Expectancies? - CORRECT ANSWER -
This is the future conception within the structure of personality. These are the beliefs individuals
have about what the world is actually like. It also includes the expectations the individual holds
for the future, their future aspirations and goals. Perceived situations create certain expectations
about future circumstances which can be engaged in different ways, thus developing particular
patterns. These reactions to expectations have evaluative standards, based on the worth of things.
Unique to the person.
What are perceived self-efficacy beliefs? - CORRECT ANSWER - How we perceive our
capabilities in future situations. This is the foundation for the situational motivation and and
behavior that influences selection (goal selection: high self-efficacy, more difficult the task that is
chosen to achieve), effort (persistence/performance: high self-efficacy, high levels of effort are
used), emotion (high self-efficacy, better moods, little depression/anxiety), and coping (more
self-efficacy, enhanced coping mechanisms).
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the Social Cognitive Theory? - CORRECT ANSWER - This theory states that
when people observe a model performing a behavior and the consequences of that behavior, they
remember the sequence of events and use this information as a guide for their own behaviors.
This is the most contemporary and widespread concept in many areas of research. It explains the
thinking process in relation to the social environment. Within social learning we contemplate the
present, past, and hypothetical future, as well as reflect on their own thinking and self.
Who was Albert Bandura? - CORRECT ANSWER - A psychologist who expanded on this
idea of social learning, after beginning his career observing social modeling in human
motivation, thought, and action.
What was the Social Learning & Personality Study, in 1959? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Bandura, and his colleague, Walters, conducted a study to observe Adolescent Aggression, and
understand the relationship of child-training practices and family interrelationships.
What is the Social Foundations of Thought and Action, in 1986? - CORRECT ANSWER -
A book, written by Bandura, that had a monumental contribution to psychology and the
understanding of social learning. The theory explains human motivation and action from a social
cognitive perspective, analyzing the role of cognitive, vicarious, self-regulatory, and self-
reflective processes in psychosocial functioning. Also in this book, he emphasizes the presence
of Reciprocal Determinism.
What is Reciprocal Determinism? - CORRECT ANSWER - It is the theory set forth by
Albert Bandura which states that a person's behavior both influences and is influenced by
personal factors and the social environment. Behavior may be conditioned by consequences,
environments we chose to reflect our personality. A relationship between person, behavior, and
environment.
Who was Walter Mischel? - CORRECT ANSWER - A well known psychologist
specializing in personality theory and social psychology.
, What was the study Personality and Assessment, in 1968? - CORRECT ANSWER - An
influential study, written by Walter Mischel, that highlighted a major issue within the way
personality pbsyhoclogy has been studied thus far. He realized that the situation occurring when
these behaviors were made was not accounted for, and actually held a major influence on the
behavior. He noted that people behave much differently due to the situation they are subjected to,
and that behavior is highly dependent on social cues. Mischel coined the term personality
signatures, where a "individual does A when X, but does B when Y". Parts that work together.
What structures our personality? - CORRECT ANSWER - Competencies and skills,
Beliefs and expectations, goals, and evaluative standards.
Structure of Personality: What are Competencies and Skills? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Related to the way an individual will deal with challenges and adapts their thinking to that
change. It is the interaction of how an individual will think about problem and then use
behavioral skills to solve them. Based on declarative knowledge, which is conscious knowledge
that can be verbalized (Paris is the capital of France), and procedural knowledge, which is how to
physically do it (How to ride a bike). It is also based on context specificity, the understanding of
what skills will work best in that particular situation, and psychological change, which is the
influence of social situations on behavior.
Different personalities also acquire different sets of skills, not just different emotions.
Structure of Personality: What are Beliefs and Expectancies? - CORRECT ANSWER -
This is the future conception within the structure of personality. These are the beliefs individuals
have about what the world is actually like. It also includes the expectations the individual holds
for the future, their future aspirations and goals. Perceived situations create certain expectations
about future circumstances which can be engaged in different ways, thus developing particular
patterns. These reactions to expectations have evaluative standards, based on the worth of things.
Unique to the person.
What are perceived self-efficacy beliefs? - CORRECT ANSWER - How we perceive our
capabilities in future situations. This is the foundation for the situational motivation and and
behavior that influences selection (goal selection: high self-efficacy, more difficult the task that is
chosen to achieve), effort (persistence/performance: high self-efficacy, high levels of effort are
used), emotion (high self-efficacy, better moods, little depression/anxiety), and coping (more
self-efficacy, enhanced coping mechanisms).
