Question 1

How would B.F.Skinner explain why one student responds positively to receiving a B on a test while another student responds negatively to a B

Accepted Answer

According to Skinner's theory of operant conditioning, behavior is shaped by its consequences. If a behavior is reinforced (e.g. by receiving a desired grade), it is more likely to be repeated in the future. Therefore, the student who responds positively to a B may have had past experiences where receiving a B was reinforced (e.g. by receiving praise or rewards), while the student who responds negatively to a B may have had past experiences where receiving a B was punished (e.g. by criticism or negative consequences).

Question 2

Which personality theorist suggested that the birth order of a child in a family influenced the child's personality

Accepted Answer

Adler believed that a child's position in the family (birth order) influenced their personality development. He suggested that first-born children tend to be more responsible and achievement-oriented, while later-born children may be more rebellious and creative. Adler's theory on birth order is still a topic of debate among psychologists, but it has influenced the field of personality psychology.

Question 3

What do behavioural personality theories focus on

Accepted Answer

Behavioural personality theories focus on learning as a result of experience, in contrast to genetic factors, unconscious mental forces, and freedom and potential for growth. These theories suggest that behaviour is shaped by environmental factors, such as rewards and punishments, and can be modified through conditioning and reinforcement.

Question 4

Jarod has fairly high self-efficacy regarding his academic performance.As a result of his self-efficacy,what is likely to also be true of Jarod

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that individuals with high self-efficacy are better able to cope with stress and recover quickly from setbacks. Therefore, it is likely that Jarod would be able to cope with exam stress well. The other options are not directly related to self-efficacy.

Question 5

What do humanistic personality theories focus on

Accepted Answer

Humanistic personality theories focus on an individual's freedom and potential for growth, emphasizing the importance of understanding people's subjective experiences and unique perspectives. They reject the deterministic view of behavior and believe that individuals have the capacity to make choices and decisions that affect their lives. These theories aim to help individuals achieve self-actualization, a state of personal fulfillment and realization of their potential.

Question 6

Which statement best describes one strength of the behavioural perspective theories of personality

Accepted Answer

The behavioural perspective theories of personality are based on extensive empirical research, which makes them highly reliable and valid. The focus of this approach is on observable behaviours, and the theories developed through this approach are based on concrete evidence rather than conjecture or subjective experience. This strength enables researchers and practitioners to develop effective interventions for changing specific behaviours.

Question 7

Benjamin is friendly and outgoing and tells a lot of jokes.He feels very comfortable at parties or whenever he meets new people.According to B.F.Skinner,what mechanism is responsible for Benjamin's personality

Accepted Answer

According to B.F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning, behaviour that is positively reinforced is more likely to be repeated in the future. Therefore, it is likely that Benjamin's friendly and outgoing behaviour has been reinforced in the past, leading to the development of his personality.

Question 8

Gurvinder is working on a research project that is trying to determine whether celebrity scandals increase the likelihood that average people will engage in the same scandalous behaviours.Which theoretical approach would Gurvinder base his hypothesis on

Accepted Answer

Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory emphasizes the importance of observational learning and modeling behavior. Therefore, Gurvinder's hypothesis that celebrity scandals could increase the likelihood of average people engaging in the same behavior is based on this theoretical approach.

Question 9

Who would be most likely to suggest that a person's behaviour will be highly variable from one situation to another

Accepted Answer

Walter Mischel was a psychologist known for his work on personality theory and pioneered the idea of situationalism, which suggests that people's behavior may be highly variable from one situation to another. Mischel argued that behaviors are not determined solely by personality traits, but rather by the specific situations in which individuals find themselves.

Question 10

Mary observes another's performance and says,"Gee,I think I can do that." What would Albert Bandura call this personal evaluation

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers to a person's belief in their ability to successfully perform a specific task or behavior. Mary's observation of someone else's performance and the statement "Gee, I think I can do that" denotes a belief in her own ability, which is an example of self-efficacy. Self-esteem (A) refers to a person's overall evaluation of themselves, self-concept (C) refers to a person's beliefs and perceptions about themselves, and self-appraisal (D) refers to a person's evaluation of their own abilities or performance.

Question 11

What is the major criticism that humanistic personality theorists have concerning both psychodynamic and behavioural theories of personality

Accepted Answer

Humanistic personality theorists criticize psychodynamic and behavioural theories because they see them as deterministic and dehumanizing. In other words, they believe that these theories limit our ability to make choices and define us solely by our past experiences or environmental conditions, rather than acknowledging our innate potential to grow and evolve.

Question 12

Eric is a careful driver.He usually obeys the speed limit and abides by all traffic regulations.Today,however,as he is driving to Florida with some friends for spring break,he is driving 40 km/h over the speed limit.Who would be best able to explain this inconsistency in Eric's behaviour

Accepted Answer

Walter Mischel is best known for his work on situationism, which suggests that human behavior is not solely a result of inherent personality traits but is also significantly influenced by situational factors. In this case, Mischel's theories would provide insight into why Eric, who is usually a careful driver, might behave differently under the influence of the specific situation of driving to Florida with friends for spring break.

Question 13

Which perspective would be most likely to agree with the statement that "in order to understand another person,you must walk a mile in his shoes"

Accepted Answer

The humanistic perspective emphasizes empathy and personal experience in understanding individuals. The saying "walk a mile in his shoes" reflects the humanistic perspective's emphasis on taking an individual's perspective and empathizing with their experiences in order to understand them.

Question 14

According to Bandura's description of observational learning,which characteristic of a model would be least likely to result in a child imitating the model's behaviour

Accepted Answer

According to Bandura, if the model is someone the child fears, the child is less likely to imitate their behaviour as they perceive the behaviour as threatening or negative. Therefore, this characteristic would be least likely to result in a child imitating the model's behaviour.

Question 15

Which personality theory is most likely to be criticized for viewing human behaviour as overly simple or mechanistic

Accepted Answer

Radical behaviorism is most likely to be criticized for viewing human behavior as overly simple or mechanistic. This is because radical behaviorism emphasizes the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior, often to the exclusion of internal mental processes such as thoughts and emotions. This reductionist approach can be seen as overly simplistic and one-dimensional. The other theories listed (humanism, psychoanalytic theory, and social cognitive theory) place more emphasis on the complexity and diversity of human behavior, and are less likely to be criticized for reducing behavior to simple causes and effects.

Question 16

Who defines personality as a collection of response tendencies that are tied to various stimulus situations

Accepted Answer

B. F. Skinner defines personality as a collection of response tendencies that are tied to various stimulus situations, emphasizing the role of the environment in shaping behavior through reinforcement and punishment.

Question 17

Trina feels that her brother would be less shy if only he would see himself differently.She tries to point out how smart and funny he is,and that people really like him when they get to know him.She really hopes that if she can change the way that he defines himself,that he will be more outgoing and get the chance to meet more people.Which approach is most similar to Trina's

Accepted Answer

Trina's approach is most similar to Carl Rogers' person-centered theory, which emphasizes the importance of self-perception and encourages a positive self-concept to foster personal growth and fulfillment.

Question 18

Which statement is consistent with the phenomenological approach

Accepted Answer

The phenomenological approach emphasizes the subjective experience of individuals and seeks to understand their perspective on a situation. This involves trying to see a situation from another person's perspective, which is consistent with option B. Option A describes a mechanistic approach, which is not consistent with the phenomenological approach. Option C describes the psychoanalytic approach, and option D describes the cognitive-behavioral approach, neither of which are consistent with the phenomenological approach.

Question 19

Which term refers to Albert Bandura's idea that internal mental events,external environmental events,and overt behaviours all influence one another

Accepted Answer

Bandura's idea that internal mental events, external environmental events, and overt behaviors all influence one another is known as reciprocal determinism. Self-efficacy refers to one's belief in their abilities to perform a task, introversion-extraversion refers to a personality trait, and archetypes refer to universal patterns of behavior and thought that are present in all cultures.

Question 20

What is one criticism of psychodynamic personality theories

Accepted Answer

The vagueness and subjective nature of many psychodynamic concepts make it difficult to test them scientifically. The concepts are often based on introspection, case studies, and ambiguous interpretations of verbal statements, which all limit their reliability and validity.

Quiz 12: B: Personality: Theory, Research, and Assessment