Which theorist most strongly suggested that unconscious processes influence personality multiple choice question?

The concept of “personality” most clearly embodies the notion of:

          a.  moral integrity.

          b.  self-consciousness.

          c.  temporal consistency.

          d.  self-actualization.

          e.  gender identity.

Freud became interested in unconscious personality dynamics when he noticed that certain patients’ symptoms:

          a.  resulted from the physical abuse they received from their parents during childhood.

          b.  resulted from the loss of an internal locus of control.

          c.  could not be removed by means of hypnosis.

          d.  could not be explained readily in terms of neurological impairments.

.        Freud observed that certain symptoms of illness were relieved when patients talked freely about their past. This led Freud to suspect that these symptoms resulted from:

          a.  genetic defects.

          b.  an inferiority complex.

          c.  psychological processes.

          d.  an internal locus of control.

          e.  reciprocal determinism.

          The use of free association is central to the process of:

          a.  identification.

          b.  self-actualization.

          c.  psychoanalysis.

          d.  reciprocal determinism.

          e.  unconditional positive regard.

Which of the following techniques did Freud use to discover the latent content of his patients’ dreams?

          a.  fixation

          b.  factor analysis

          c.  projective testing

          d.  free association

          e.  the Barnum effect

A psychotherapist instructs David to relax, close his eyes, and state aloud whatever thoughts come to mind no matter how trivial or absurd. The therapist is using a technique known as:

          a.  fixation.

          b.  free association.

          c.  reaction formation.

          d.  hypnosis.

          e.  projection.

Forgotten memories that we can easily recall were said by Freud to be:

          a.  displaced.

          b.  projected.

          c.  preconscious.

          d.  fixated.

          e.  unconscious.

According to Freud, the unconscious is:

          a.  the part of human personality that lacks a sense of right and wrong.

          b.  the thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories, of which we are largely unaware.

          c.  a set of universal concepts acquired by all humans from our common past.

          d.  a reservoir of deeply repressed memories that does not affect behavior.

          e.  all the above.

Freud believed that ________ are the “royal road to the unconscious.”

          a.  projective tests

          b.  dreams

          c.  erogenous zones

          d.  psychosexual stages

          e.  hypnotic trances

According to psychoanalytic theory, the part of the personality that strives for immediate gratification of basic drives is the:

          a.  id.

          b.  ego.

          c.  superego.

          d.  collective unconscious.

When 2‑year‑old Matthew was told he would get no dessert until he finished the food on his plate, he threw his plate on the floor in a temper tantrum. Freud would have suggested that Matthew was unable to resist the demands of his:

          a.  superego.

          b.  collective unconscious.

          c.  ego.

          d.  id.

          e.  Oedipus complex.

Ego is to id as ________ is to ________.

          a.  personality; collective unconscious

          b.  morality; biology

          c.  life instinct; death instinct

          d.  reality principle; pleasure principle

          e.  self‑esteem; self‑serving bias

When 16‑year‑old Hafez received a large inheritance from his grandfather, he was tempted to purchase an expensive new car. He decided, instead, to deposit all the money in a savings account for his college education. Hafez shows signs of a:

          a.  strong self‑serving bias.

          b.  weak id.

          c.  strong collective unconscious.

          d.  strong ego.

          e.  strong external locus of control.

According to Freud, the personality system that represents our sense of right and wrong and our ideal standards is the:

          a.  collective unconscious.

          b.  ego.

          c.  self‑concept.

          d.  id.

          e.  superego.

Janine experiences feelings of revulsion at the prospect of watching a pornographic video. Freud would have attributed these feelings to Janine’s:

          a.  ego.

          b.  id.

          c.  superego.

          d.  collective unconscious.

No matter how long and hard Oprah studies, she always feels she hasn’t studied as much as she should have. A Freudian psychologist would suggest that Oprah shows signs of a:

          a.  weak id.

          b.  weak ego.

          c.  weak superego.

          d.  strong id.

          e.  strong superego.

Elmer wants to be a loving husband but at the same time wants to express his disgust for some of his wife’s habits. According to Freud, Elmer’s ________ might enable him to partially satisfy both desires.

          a.  actualized self

          b.  collective unconscious

          c.  superego

          d.  Oedipus complex

          e.  ego

During the early psychosexual stages, the id derives pleasure from distinct:

          a.  gender identities.

          b.  defense mechanisms.

          c.  erogenous zones.

          d.  identifications.

          e.  complexes.

Two‑year‑old Donald frequently refuses to obey his parents because he derives immense pleasure from demonstrating his independence. Freud would have suggested that Donald is going through the ________ stage of development.

          a.  phallic

          b.  anal

          c.  genital

          d.  latency

          e.  oral

According to Freud, boys are most likely to experience the Oedipus complex during the ________ stage.

          a.  anal

          b.  phallic

          c.  oral

          d.  latency

According to psychoanalytic theory, boys’ fear of castration is most closely associated with:

          a.  an oral fixation.

          b.  free association.

          c.  learned helplessness.

          d.  the Oedipus complex.

          e.  the genital stage.

One night after he heard his parents arguing, 4‑year‑old Wei had a vivid dream in which he saved his mother from being bitten by a large snake. A psychoanalyst would most likely suspect that Wei’s dream reflects a(n):

          a.  oral fixation.

          b.  reaction formation.

          c.  self‑serving bias.

          d.  Oedipus complex.

          e.  external locus of control.

Freud suggested that the process of identification is most directly responsible for the development of:

          a.  the Oedipus complex.

          b.  free association.

          c.  the superego.

          d.  erogenous zones.

          e.  an inferiority complex.

Which theory would most likely predict that boys raised without a father figure will have difficulty developing a strongly masculine gender identity?

          a.  Allport’s trait theory

          b.  Maslow’s humanistic theory

          c.  Bandura’s social-cognitive theory

          d.  Freud’s psychoanalytic theory

According to Freud, during the period between age 6 and puberty children:

          a.  experience intense sexual feelings for peers of both sexes.

          b.  experience very little sexual interest.

          c.  direct their sexual interests toward their opposite‑sex parent.

          d.  are ambivalent about their own sexual identity.

Gene spends a good deal of time bragging about his numerous sexual exploits. Freud would have suggested that Gene is fixated at the ________ stage.

          a.  genital

          b.  oral

          c.  latency

          d.  phallic

          e.  anal

According to Freud, fixation refers to a difficulty in the process of:

          a.  free association.

          b.  psychosexual development.

          c.  projective testing.

          d.  reaction formation.

          e.  hypnosis.

Jake seeks sexual pleasure by means of solitary masturbation rather than through sexual interaction with his wife. Freud would have suggested that this illustrates a(n):

          a.  rationalization.

          b.  projection.

          c.  inferiority complex.

          d.  reaction formation.

          e.  fixation.

Freud suggested that orally fixated adults are especially likely to exhibit:

          a.  passive dependence.

          b.  an inferiority complex.

          c.  an Electra complex.

          d.  compulsive neatness.

          e.  messiness and disorganization.

Alice is terribly gullible and accepts as true just about anything she is told. According to the psychoanalytic perspective, Alice is most likely fixated at the ________ stage.

          a.  genital

          b.  phallic

          c.  anal

          d.  oral

          e.  latency

Mr. Hendriks, a high school teacher, washes the chalkboard and realigns student desks in precise rows before every class. According to the psychoanalytic perspective, Mr. Hendriks is most likely fixated at the ________ stage.

          a.  phallic

          b.  oral

          c.  latency

          d.  genital

          e.  anal

According to Freud, defense mechanisms are used by the:

          a.  id to defend against the accusations and guilt feelings produced by the superego.

          b.  ego to prevent threatening impulses from being consciously recognized.

          c.  superego to prevent expression of sexual and aggressive drives.

          d.  id, ego, and superego in a repetitive sequence of internal conflicts.

When she was 8 years old, Inge was sexually abused by her uncle. At 14, Inge felt uncomfortable whenever she saw this uncle but was unable to understand why she felt this way. A psychoanalyst would be most likely to suggest that Inge is using the defense mechanism of:

          a.  repression.

          b.  reaction formation.

          c.  rationalization.

          d.  regression.

          e.  displacement.

Freud suggested that slips of the tongue illustrate an incomplete:

          a.  fixation.

          b.  displacement.

          c.  rationalization.

          d.  projection.

          e.  repression.

An excessive fixation is most likely to contribute to:

          a.  reaction formation.

          b.  regression.

          c.  projection.

          d.  an Electra complex.

          e.  displacement.

Four‑year‑old Timmy has not wet his bed for over a year. However, he starts bed‑wetting again soon after his sister is born. Timmy’s behavior best illustrates:

          a.  reaction formation.

          b.  projection.

          c.  regression.

          d.  displacement.

          e.  repression.

Reaction formation refers to the process by which people:

          a.  disguise unacceptable unconscious impulses by attributing them to others.

          b.  consciously express feelings that are the opposite of unacceptable unconscious impulses.

          c.  retreat to behavior patterns characteristic of an earlier stage of development.

          d.  offer self‑justifying explanations in place of the real but unacceptable unconscious reasons for action.

Parents who disguise hostility toward their children by becoming overly protective of them are very likely using the defense mechanism of:

          a.  projection.

          b.  regression.

          c.  rationalization.

          d.  reaction formation.

          e.  displacement.

The defense mechanism by which people disguise threatening impulses by attributing them to others is called:

          a.  projection.

          b.  displacement.

          c.  fixation.

          d.  reaction formation.

          e.  repression.

Abdul mistakenly believes that his classmates at school are unusually hostile. In fact, Abdul is the most quarrelsome and aggressive child in the school. According to psychoanalytic theory, Abdul’s belief that his classmates are hostile is a:

          a.  regression.

          b.  projection.

          c.  fixation.

          d.  reaction formation.

Mrs. Smith, who is white and unconsciously in favor of racial segregation, tells her friends that most Blacks prefer to live in residential neighborhoods inhabited predominantly by Blacks. According to psychoanalytic theory, Mrs. Smith best illustrates:

          a.  sublimation.

          b.  reaction formation.

          c.  projection.

          d.  displacement.

          e.  regression.

The defense mechanism in which self‑justifying explanations replace the real, unconscious reasons for actions is:

          a.  projection.

          b.  reaction formation.

          c.  repression.

          d.  rationalization.

          e.  displacement.

Melissa is unconsciously fearful that her husband is a better cook than she. Recently, she refused his offer to prepare dinner because, said she, “You could better spend the time playing with our kids.”  Melissa’s comment best illustrates:

          a.  regression.

          b.  projection.

          c.  rationalization.

          d.  displacement.

          e.  reaction formation.

While Professor Gomez was going through a painful divorce, he tended to create unnecessarily difficult tests and gave his students unusually low grades. A psychoanalyst would be most likely to view the professor’s treatment of students as an example of:

          a.  reaction formation.

          b.  rationalization.

          c.  displacement.

          d.  projection.

          e.  regression.

The defense mechanism by which people rechannel their unacceptable impulses into socially approved activities is:

          a.  displacement.

          b.  repression.

          c.  reaction formation.

          d.  sublimation.

          e.  projection.

Freud suggested that Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings of Madonnas could be traced back to his desire for intimacy with his own mother. According to Freud, da Vinci’s artistry provides an example of:

          a.  displacement.

          b.  projection.

          c.  sublimation.

          d.  regression.

          e.  reaction formation.

Projective tests are most closely associated with the ________ perspective.

          a.  social‑cognitive

          b.  psychoanalytic

          c.  humanistic

          d.  trait

Henry Murray found that children’s perceptions of photographs were biased by their previous participation in a frightening game. Their perceptual reactions most clearly highlighted the potential value of:

          a.  projective tests.

          b.  free association.

          c.  unconditional positive regard.

          d.  reciprocal determinism.

          e.  an internal locus of control.

Mr. Dutoit was asked by his psychotherapist to look at some ambiguous pictures and make up a story about each. Mr. Dutoit was most likely taking the:

          a.  TAT.

          b.  Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

          c.  MMPI‑2.

          d.  Personal Orientation Inventory.

          e.  Rorschach test.

The major reason for the unreliability of the Rorschach inkblot test is the fact that:

          a.  the test inhibits individuals from communicating honestly in clinical interviews.

          b.  psychologists often do not agree on how to score the results of this test.

          c.  the test does not discriminate effectively between those who are suicidal and those who are not.

          d.  the test can be used effectively only with individuals who are severely maladjusted.

Neo‑Freudian personality theorists were most likely to disagree with Freud about the importance of:

          a.  the unconscious dynamics underlying behavior.

          b.  childhood sexual instincts.

          c.  anxiety and defense mechanisms.

          d.  distinguishing between id, ego, and superego.

Sharon was an abused child; as an adult, she is homeless and squanders any money she can find on alcohol. Alfred Adler would have suggested that Sharon suffers from:

          a.  an Electra complex.

          b.  role confusion.

          c.  an oral fixation.

          d.  feelings of inferiority.

          e.  the Barnum effect

Karen Horney, a prominent neo‑Freudian, disputed Freud’s assumption that women:

          a.  have weak superegos.

          b.  suffer an Electra complex.

          c.  often experience learned helplessness.

          d.  have stronger sexual instincts than men.

          e.  never experience a phallic stage of development.

Which neo‑Freudian theorist emphasized the influence of the collective unconscious in personality development?

          a.  Jung

          b.  Adler

          c.  Horney

          d.  Maslow

          e.  Bandura

Contemporary psychodynamic theorists are most likely to emphasize the importance of:

          a.  sexual instincts.

          b.  free association.

          c.  motivational conflict.

          d.  the collective unconscious.

Contemporary psychologists are least likely to agree with Freud’s belief that:

          a.  conscience and gender identity form during the process of resolving the Oedipus complex.

          b.  conscious awareness of our own mental processes is very limited.

          c.  memories are often distorted and incomplete.

          d.  defense mechanisms help protect individuals from anxiety.

Freud emphasized that emotional healing is associated with the:

          a.  fixation of repressed sexual desires.

          b.  projection of repressed fears.

          c.  recovery of repressed memories.

          d.  displacement of repressed hostilities.

Survivors’ memories of Nazi death camp experiences most clearly challenge Freud’s concept of:

          a.  fixation.

          b.  repression.

          c.  the Oedipus complex.

          d.  motivational conflict.

          e.  learned helplessness.

Compared with Freud, contemporary research psychologists are less likely to think of unconscious mental dynamics as involving:

          a.  parallel processing.

          b.  motivational conflict.

          c.  implicit memory.

          d.  right hemisphere activity.

People who cheat on their taxes are especially likely to think many others do as well. This false consensus effect is most similar to Freud’s concept of:

          a.  displacement.

          b.  reaction formation.

          c.  sublimation.

          d.  projection.

          e.  fixation.

Freud’s theory of personality has been criticized because it:

          a.  underestimates the importance of biological contributions to personality development.

          b.  is contradicted by recent research demonstrating the human capacity for destructive behavior.

          c.  is overly reliant upon observations derived from Freud’s use of projective tests.

          d.  offers few testable predictions that allow one to determine its validity.

Freud is to the psychoanalytic perspective as Allport is to the ________ perspective. a. behavioral b. humanistic c. trait d. social cognitive

Characteristic patterns of behavior and motivation are called:

          a.  aptitudes.

          b.  fixations.

          c.  projections.

          d.  traits.

Trait theorists are more concerned with ________ personality than ________ it.

          a.  predicting; assessing

          b.  describing; explaining

          c.  changing; analyzing

          d.  interpreting; observing

Santa Claus is to Superman as ________ is to ________.

          a.  endomorph; mesomorph

          b.  pleasure principle; reality principle

          c.  anal fixation; oral fixation

          d.  internal locus of control; external locus of control

          e.  regression; projection

The Myers‑Briggs Type Indicator classifies people according to personality types identified by:

          a.  Gordon Allport.

          b.  Carl Jung.

          c.  Albert Bandura.

          d.  Carl Rogers.

          e.  Abraham Maslow.

Factor analysis has been used to identify the most basic:

          a.  self‑serving biases.

          b.  defense mechanisms.

          c.  personality traits.

          d.  psychosexual stages.

Coretta is quiet, pessimistic, anxious, and moody. In terms of the Eysencks’ basic personality dimensions she would be classified as:

          a.  unstable–introverted.

          b.  internal–impulsive.

          c.  manic–depressive.

          d.  external–dependent.

          e.  passive–aggressive.

The Big Five trait dimensions were identified by means of:

          a.  the MMPI.

          b.  free association.

          c.  projective tests.

          d.  factor analysis.

          e.  clinical intuition.

A person who is careless and disorganized most clearly ranks low on the Big Five trait dimension known as:

          a.  emotional stability.

          b.  extraversion.

          c.  openness.

          d.  agreeableness.

          e.  conscientiousness.

Which of the following Big Five trait dimensions is most closely related to one’s level of creativity?

          a.  extraversion

          b.  openness

          c.  emotional stability

          d.  agreeableness

Morning types are to evening types as ________ is to ________.

          a.  conscientiousness; extraversion

          b.  agreeableness; openness

          c.  extraversion; conscientiousness

          d.  openness; agreeableness

Research on individual differences in children’s temperament indicates that the trait of shyness most clearly results from:

          a.  a weak superego.

          b.  genetic predispositions.

          c.  an internal locus of control.

          d.  unresolved conflicts.

          e.  fixation and regression.

The tendency to accept favorable descriptions of one’s personality that could really be applied to almost anyone is known as:

          a.  the halo effect.

          b.  the Barnum effect.

          c.  projection.

          d.  factor analysis.

          e.  unconditional positive regard.

Carol was informed by a professional palm reader: “You generally communicate openly with others, but you have certain dark secrets that even your closest friends could never guess.”  The fact that Carol was impressed by the palm reader’s insight into her personality best illustrates:

          a.  unconditional positive regard.

          b.  the Barnum effect.

          c.  the Electra complex.

          d.  reciprocal determinism.

          e.  attributional style.

A personality inventory that utilizes only those items that have been shown to differentiate particular groups of people is called a(n) ________ test.

          a.  factor analytic

          b.  multiphasic

          c.  aptitude

          d.  projective

          e.  empirically derived

Which of the following tests was empirically derived?

          a.  TAT

          b.  Rorschach Inkblot Test

          c.  MMPI-2

          d.  Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Dr. Zytowics wants to assess the extent to which a client is suffering from depression, delusions, and other symptoms of psychological disorder. Which personality inventory would be most helpful for this purpose?

          a.  MMPI‑2

          b.  Rorschach

          c.  TAT

          d.  Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Personality inventories typically gather information by means of:

          a.  projection.

          b.  factor analysis.

          c.  free association.

          d.  self‑reports.

          e.  random selection.

Which theorists have been most directly criticized for underestimating the variability of behavior from situation to situation?

          a.  social‑cognitive

          b.  psychoanalytic

          c.  humanistic

          d.  trait

Hartshorne and May gave thousands of children opportunities to lie, cheat, and steal while at home, at school, and at play. Results of this research, according to Walter Mischel, should make us more cautious about emphasizing:

          a.  personality traits.

          b.  self-efficacy.

          c.  reciprocal determinism.

          d.  defense mechanisms.

          e.  unconditional positive regard.

Sheen is usually animated and talkative when he is with his girlfriend, but he is often quiet and reserved at home. He actively participates in many classroom discussions but frequently seems reluctant to talk with friends at the campus coffee shop. According to Walter Mischel, Sheen’s behavior should lead us to question the importance of:

          a.  personality traits.

          b.  unconditional positive regard.

          c.  reciprocal determinism.

          d.  defense mechanisms.

          e.  self‑efficacy.

In rejecting claims that personality trait measures fail to predict behavior effectively, Seymour Epstein emphasized the importance of:

          a.  multiple behavior assessments.

          b.  reciprocal determinism.

          c.  factor analysis.

          d.  projective tests.

People’s scores on a test of extraversion are likely to be most strongly correlated with the number of social conversations they initiate during the course of a single:

          a.  hour.

          b.  day.

          c.  week.

          d.  month.

An individual’s responses to a personality inventory would be most useful for accurately predicting that person’s behavior ________ that involve(s) highly ________ social expectations or roles.

          a.  in a single situation; ambiguous

          b.  in a single situation; unambiguous

          c.  across a wide variety of situations; ambiguous

          d.  across a wide variety of situations; unambiguous

The humanistic perspective emphasizes the importance of:

          a.  free association.

          b.  self‑determination.

          c.  reciprocal determinism.

          d.  personality inventories.

          e.  projective tests.

Abraham Maslow studied the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Eleanor Roosevelt in order to understand the nature of:

          a.  reciprocal determinism.

          b.  unconditional positive regard.

          c.  self‑actualization.

          d.  personality traits.

Self-actualized people, as described by Maslow, are least likely to be highly:

          a.  compassionate.

          b.  religious.

          c.  conforming.

          d.  self-accepting.

Which theorist emphasized that personal growth is promoted by interactions with others who are genuine, accepting, and empathic?

          a.  Allport

          b.  Jung

          c.  Rogers

          d.  Freud

          e.  Bandura

Mrs. Sunstedt believes that parents should accept and try to understand their children’s feelings and should honestly disclose their own inner feelings to their children. Her approach to parent‑child interaction was most explicitly recommended by:

          a.  Bandura.

          b.  Allport.

          c.  Freud.

          d.  Rogers.

          e.  Jung.

Carl Rogers suggested that the ________ is a central feature of personality.

          a.  collective unconscious

          b.  Oedipus complex

          c.  inferiority complex

          d.  persona

          e.  self‑concept

Carl Rogers would have suggested that many of the defense mechanisms described by Freud are used to minimize the perceived discrepancy between:

          a.  individualism and collectivism.

          b.  the collective unconscious and the personal unconscious.

          c.  the actual self and the ideal self.

          d.  an internal locus of control and an external locus of control.

Which psychologists are most likely to criticize standardized personality tests for failing to capture the unique subjective experience of the individual personality?

          a.  psychoanalytic theorists

          b.  trait theorists

          c.  social-cognitive theorists

          d.  humanistic theorists

If we are nervous about our personal appearance after adopting a new hairstyle, we are likely to ________ the extent to which others notice our nervousness and we are likely to ________ the extent to which they notice our new hair style.

          a.  overestimate; underestimate

          b.  underestimate; overestimate

          c.  overestimate; overestimate

          d.  underestimate; underestimate

Larry studies diligently because he is haunted by an image of himself being unable to gain employment after his college graduation. Larry’s diligence best illustrates the motivational impact of:

          a.  an internal locus of control.

          b.  unconditioned positive regard.

          c.  learned helplessness.

          d.  possible selves.

          e.  sublimation.

Individuals with high self‑esteem are more likely than those with low self‑esteem to:

          a.  have a strong ego.

          b.  experience an external locus of control.

          c.  dismiss flattering descriptions of themselves as untrue.

          d.  underestimate the accuracy of their own beliefs.

          e.  associate with people whose attitudes and personality are very similar to their own.

Self-esteem is negatively correlated with:

          a.  personal control.

          b.  self-serving bias.

          c.  depression.

          d.  individualism.

          e.  extraversion.

A person whose self‑esteem is momentarily threatened is especially likely to:

          a.  demonstrate an independence from social pressure to conform.

          b.  criticize the shortcomings of others.

          c.  lack a clear sense of gender identity.

          d.  experience an internal locus of control.

          e.  be motivated by a desire for self‑actualization.

People who are challenged by severe physical disabilities are likely to maintain normal levels of self-esteem by:

          a.  displacing their feelings of resentment.

          b.  developing an external locus of control.

          c.  comparing themselves with others who are similarly disabled.

          d.  accepting more personal responsibility for their problems than for their accomplishments.

In one survey, Americans were more optimistic that they themselves would go to heaven than would either Michael Jordan or Bill Clinton. This best illustrates:

          a.  an internal locus of control.

          b.  the Barnum effect.

          c.  an Electra complex.

          d.  sublimation.

          e.  self-serving bias.

Judy failed her last history midterm. Which of the following conclusions would be most representative of a self‑serving bias on Judy’s part?

          a.  “I really didn’t prepare well enough for that test.”

          b.  “I wasn’t concentrating very hard during the test.”

          c.  “I lack ability in history.”

          d.  “I think the test questions were ambiguous and confusing.”

Athletes often attribute their loses to bad officiating. This best illustrates:

          a.  an Electra complex.

          b.  learned helplessness.

          c.  repression.

          d.  self-serving bias.

          e.  the Barnum effect.

Research on self‑perception indicates that most people:

          a.  suffer extensively from feelings of unrealistically low self‑esteem.

          b.  feel more personally responsible for their failures than for their successes.

          c.  view themselves very favorably in comparison to most others.

          d.  underestimate the accuracy of their beliefs and judgments.

          e.  are unrealistically pessimistic about their personal future.

Although Jerry frequently cheats on classroom tests, he justifies his behavior by erroneously thinking that most other students cheat even more than he does. His mistaken belief best illustrates:

          a.  reciprocal determinism.

          b.  the Barnum effect.

          c.  reaction formation.

          d.  an external locus of control.

          e.  self‑serving bias.

Which of the following is most likely to contribute to raising one’s self-esteem?

          a.  free association

          b.  an Electra complex

          c.  self-serving bias

          d.  an external locus of control

          e.  the Barnum effect

A collectivist culture is especially likely to emphasize the importance of:

          a.  social responsibility.

          b.  personal control.

          c.  self-actualization.

          d.  racial diversity.

          e.  free association.

Professor Shankar believes that her students’ most important personal characteristics are those that distinguish them as uniquely different from most other people. Her attitude best illustrates one of the consequences of:

          a.  individualism.

          b.  self‑serving bias.

          c.  reciprocal determinism.

          d.  reaction formation.

          e.  the Barnum effect.

Individualism is most likely to be emphasized in:

          a.  Africa.

          b.  Asia.

          c.  India.

          d.  North America.

American university students are more likely than Japanese university students to describe themselves in terms of their:

          a.  academic abilities.

          b.  university affiliation.

          c.  ethnic background.

          d.  marital status.

          e.  gender.

Japanese students are more likely than American students to describe themselves in terms of their:

          a.  physical appearance.

          b.  social identities.

          c.  political ideology.

          d.  personality traits.

A willingness to switch jobs and move from one part of the country to another best illustrates one of the consequences of:

          a.  reciprocal determinism.

          b.  collectivism.

          c.  free association.

          d.  learned helplessness.

          e.  individualism.

When Professor Thompson lived overseas for a year, he was very surprised at how much respect he received from people simply because he was a retired college professor. His sense of surprise suggests that he had not previously lived in a culture that valued:

          a.  social diversity.

          b.  self-actualization.

          c.  reciprocal determinism.

          d.  individualism.

          e.  collectivism.

People are somewhat more likely to demonstrate self-serving bias in a culture that values:

          a.  individualism.

          b.  collectivism.

          c.  reciprocal determinism.

          d.  conformity.

          e.  role playing.

Individualism is to collectivism as ________ is to ________.

          a.  personal control; learned helplessness

          b.  displacement; sublimation

          c.  independence; interdependence

          d.  responsibility; freedom

          e.  pleasure principle; reality principle

The importance of romance in marriage relationships is most likely to be emphasized in cultures that value:

          a.  role playing.

          b.  collectivism.

          c.  reciprocal determinism.

          d.  individualism.

          e.  gender stereotypes.

People living in a culture that promotes individualism are more likely than those in collectivist cultures to experience:

          a.  divorce.

          b.  loneliness.

          c.  homicide.

          d.  stress‑related diseases.

          e.  any of the above.

Religious and ethnic diversity are most likely to be appreciated in a culture that values:

          a.  cooperation.

          b.  individualism.

          c.  reciprocal determinism.

          d.  collectivism.

          e.  nationalism.

Parents in collectivist cultures are more likely than parents in individualist cultures to encourage teenage children to:

          a.  pick out and purchase their own clothes.

          b.  participate in household chores.

          c.  publicly protest against repressive government policies.

          d.  establish close friendships with ethnically diverse groups of people.

Humanistic psychologists would most likely be criticized for underestimating the value of:

          a.  an internal locus of control.

          b.  self-serving bias.

          c.  social influence.

          d.  the Barnum effect.

          e.  individualism.

Maslow most clearly interjected his own personal values into his study of self-actualized individuals by:

          a.  selectively studying people with qualities he admired.

          b.  interpreting their flattering self-descriptions as a self-serving bias.

          c.  overemphasizing the value of their loyalty to cultural norms.

          d.  assuming that self-actualization usually takes priority over all other human motives.

The humanistic perspective has been criticized for promoting an excessive degree of:

          a.  sexism.

          b.  spiritualism.

          c.  nationalism.

          d.  individualism.

          e.  personality testing.

Humanistic theorists have been criticized for:

          a.  overestimating the impact of childhood experiences on adult personality.

          b.  underestimating the inconsistency of behavior from one situation to another.

          c.  overestimating the degree of similarity among people.

          d.  underestimating the inherent human capacity for destructive and evil behaviors.

The humanistic perspective is to Maslow as the social‑cognitive perspective is to:

          a.  Allport.

          b.  Rogers.

          c.  Adler.

          d.  Bandura.

          e.  Jung.

According to Bandura, reciprocal determinism involves multidirectional influences among:

          a.  mind, body, and behavior.

          b.  thoughts, emotions, and actions.

          c.  behaviors, internal personal factors, and environmental events.

          d.  id, ego, and superego.

          e.  learned helplessness, locus of control, and optimism.

Randy’s substandard academic performance is both a result and a cause of his feelings of academic inferiority. This best illustrates the importance of:

          a.  self-serving bias.

          b.  an internal locus of control.

          c.  the Barnum effect.

          d.  reciprocal determinism.

          e.  reaction formation.

Because Mr. Maloney trusts his employees, he treats them very kindly. His kindness leads them to work diligently on his behalf, which in turn increases his trust in them. This pattern of trust, kindness, diligence, and increasing trust illustrates what is meant by:

          a.  reaction formation.

          b.  the Barnum effect.

          c.  displacement.

          d.  external locus of control.

          e.  reciprocal determinism.

Because Jill is extremely extraverted, she frequently goes to parties where she is encouraged to laugh and socialize. Because Jim is extremely introverted, he frequently spends weekends in the library where it’s easy to quietly reflect and study. Jill and Jim best illustrate what is meant by:

          a.  an external locus of control.

          b.  reciprocal determinism.

          c.  the self-serving bias.

          d.  the Barnum effect.

          e.  reaction formation.

The perception that one’s fate is determined by luck reflects:

          a.  reciprocal determinism.

          b.  self‑serving bias.

          c.  an external locus of control.

          d.  the pleasure principle.

          e.  the Barnum effect.

Sasha believes that the questions on college tests are so unrelated to course work that studying is useless. Sasha’s belief most clearly illustrates:

          a.  reciprocal determinism.

          b.  reaction formation.

          c.  an external locus of control.

          d.  the Barnum effect.

          e.  displacement.

Laura fails to recognize any connection between her unsafe sexual practices and the likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Laura’s lack of perceptiveness best illustrates the dangers of:

          a.  free association.

          b.  an Electra complex.

          c.  the Barnum effect.

          d.  an external locus of control.

          e.  unconditional positive regard.

Dorothy believes that she will be highly successful in business if she works hard and carefully manages her time. Her belief most clearly illustrates:

          a.  reaction formation.

          b.  reciprocal determinism.

          c.  unconditional positive regard.

          d.  an Electra complex.

          e.  an internal locus of control.

Compared to those with an external locus of control, people who perceive an internal locus of control are more likely to:

          a.  be introverted personalities.

          b.  give others unconditional positive regard.

          c.  conform to social pressure.

          d.  cope effectively with stress.

An individual who perceives an internal locus of control would most likely show signs of a:

          a.  weak id.

          b.  strong id.

          c.  weak ego.

          d.  strong ego.

          e.  weak superego.

Learned helplessness is most likely to contribute to:

          a.  the Barnum effect.

          b.  a self-serving bias.

          c.  an external locus of control.

          d.  unconditional positive regard.

          e.  an Oedipus complex.

Dogs strapped into a harness and given repeated and unavoidable shocks developed:

          a.  a fixation.

          b.  a reaction formation.

          c.  learned helplessness.

          d.  a higher threshold of pain.

          e.  unrealistic optimism.

After experiencing inescapable brutalities as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, Mr. Sternberg became apathetic, stopped eating, and gave up all efforts to physically survive the ordeal. Mr. Sternberg’s reaction most clearly illustrates:

          a.  an inferiority complex.

          b.  repression.

          c.  learned helplessness.

          d.  an internal locus of control.

          e.  reaction formation.


Learned helplessness is most likely to promote:

          a.  collectivism.

          b.  unconditional positive regard.

          c.  an internal locus of control.

          d.  the Barnum effect.

          e.  pessimism.

The best indicator of a person’s level of optimism is his or her:

          a.  individualism.

          b.  ideal self.

          c.  gender identity.

          d.  attributional style.

          e.  unconditional positive regard.

Researchers found that new life insurance representatives were less likely to quit during their first year on the job if they demonstrated the trait of:

          a.  agreeableness.

          b.  openness.

          c.  extraversion.

          d.  optimism.

Martin Seligman’s positive psychology differs from humanistic perspective in that it:

          a.  admits to humankind’s capacity for evil.

          b.  focuses more on a person’s interaction with the environment.

          c.  involves the scientific study of optimal human functioning.

          d.  has greater application in the educational setting.

An unrealistic optimism about future life events could best be described as a(n):

          a.  Electra complex.

          b.  self-serving bias.

          c.  reaction formation.

          d.  fixation.

          e.  external locus of control.

Sexually active undergraduate women perceive themselves as much less likely to experience an unwanted pregnancy than other women at their university. This best illustrates:

          a.  an Electra complex.

          b.  low self-esteem.

          c.  displacement.

          d.  the Barnum effect.

          e.  unrealistic optimism.

The social‑cognitive perspective suggests that the best way to predict a political candidate’s performance effectiveness after election is to assess that individual’s:

          a.  current feelings of personal control.

          b.  specific political goals for the future.

          c.  general feelings of optimism about the future.

          d.  past performance in situations involving similar responsibilities.

          e.  personality traits as revealed by the MMPI‑2.

The social‑cognitive perspective is least likely to be criticized for neglecting the importance of:

          a.  environmental influences.

          b.  unconscious motives.

          c.  personality traits.

          d.  genetic influences.

Personality is best defined as an individual’s:

          a.  characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

          b.  most noticeable characteristics.

          c.  biologically inherited temperament.

          d.  hidden thoughts and emotions.

Mark typically responds to stress in a calm and thoughtful manner. Tom, on the other hand, usually becomes agitated. The reactions of Mark and Tom indicate that each has a distinctive:

          a.  reaction formation.

          b.  collective unconscious.

          c.  Oedipus complex.

          d.  self‑serving bias.

          e.  personality.

The belief that some distressing physical symptoms could not be readily explained in terms of neurological impairments contributed most directly to:

          a.  Allport’s interest in personality traits.

          b.  Freud’s interest in unconscious conflicts.

          c.  Maslow’s interest in self‑actualization.

          d.  Bandura’s interest in personal control.

          e.  Rogers’s interest in unconditional positive regard.

Prior to his use of free association, Freud had encouraged patients to retrieve their forgotten memories by means of:

          a.  hypnosis.

          b.  projective tests.

          c.  psychoactive drugs.

          d.  fixation.

Which of the following techniques was Freud most likely to use in an attempt to discover the hidden conflicts underlying his patients’ symptoms?

          a.  factor analysis

          b.  free association

          c.  projective testing

          d.  self‑assessment techniques

          e.  sublimation

In suggesting that the mind is like an iceberg, Freud was most clearly emphasizing the importance of the:

          a.  ego.

          b.  superego.

          c.  instincts.

          d.  unconscious.

          e.  psychosexual stages.

Which theory of personality largely focuses on the unconscious?

Psychodynamic theory (sometimes called psychoanalytic theory) explains personality in terms of unconscious psychological processes (for example, wishes and fears of which we're not fully aware), and contends that childhood experiences are crucial in shaping adult personality.

Which of the following theorists was the first to focus his efforts on the unconscious mind?

Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and introduced influential theories such as: his ideas of the conscious and unconscious; the id, ego, and superego; dream interpretation; and psychosexual development.

Which of the following is a strong advantage of the trait approach to personality multiple choice question?

Which of the following is a strong advantage of the trait approach to personality? It provides a clear, straightforward description of people's behavior patterns.

Which approach to personality says personality rests in the unconscious?

Psychoanalytic psychologists see psychological problems as rooted in the unconscious mind. Manifest symptoms are caused by latent (hidden) disturbances. Typical causes include unresolved issues during development or repressed trauma.