Question 1

Frank has a Type A personality. Which personality dimension is he most likely to have a low score on?
A) agreeableness
B) openness to new experience
C) neuroticism
D) extroversion

Accepted Answer

Individuals with a Type A personality are often characterized by being competitive, highly organized, ambitious, impatient, highly aware of time management, and/or aggressive. This can sometimes lead to them having a lower score on agreeableness, as they might prioritize their goals or tasks over social harmony or cooperation.

Question 2

Shelley is an individual who can be irritable, antagonistic, and highly critical of her coworkers. Which of Costa and McCrae's five dimensions does Shelley lack?
A) conscientiousness
B) neuroticism
C) extroversion
D) agreeableness

Accepted Answer

Shelley lacks agreeableness, which includes characteristics such as being cooperative, forgiving, and compassionate. Her behaviors of being irritable, antagonistic, and highly critical indicate a lack of agreeableness.

Question 3

Though her ability to think about other things has declined significantly, 74-year-old Judith's ability to interpret the law continues to make her an excellent lawyer and judge. What has most likely happened to Judith's ability to process information?
A) It has most likely become stagnated with her knowledge of the law.
B) It has most likely become appraised with her knowledge of the law.
C) It has most likely become encapsulated with her knowledge of the law.
D) It has most likely become crystallized with her knowledge of the law.

Accepted Answer

Judith's situation is an example of encapsulated cognition, where her specific expertise (in law) remains strong even as her general cognitive abilities decline. This encapsulation allows her to continue performing well in her specialized field despite broader cognitive challenges.

Question 4

What do we call the normative middle-age trauma?
A) the midlife crisis
B) the familial crisis
C) the indulgence crisis
D) the fictive crisis

Accepted Answer

The normative middle-age trauma is commonly referred to as the midlife crisis, where individuals may experience feelings of dissatisfaction or uncertainty about their life and personal accomplishments. This crisis is considered a normal and expected part of the aging process for many individuals. B, C, and D are not commonly used to describe middle-age trauma.

Question 5

If asked to list the "processes of thinking," what should you avoid saying?
A) "memory"
B) "information processing"
C) "resilience"
D) "fluid intelligence"

Accepted Answer

The other options are valid processes of thinking, but resilience is not a process of thinking. It is a trait that can influence a person's ability to think and problem solve, but it is not an active cognitive process.

Question 6

Kevin is described by friends as having a great imagination and being willing to try anything once. Given this description, which personality dimension would Kevin most likely score very high on?
A) agreeableness
B) openness to experience
C) neuroticism
D) conscientiousness

Accepted Answer

Kevin's description suggests that he is open to new experiences and ideas, which is a key characteristic of the personality dimension of openness to experience.

Question 7

Marcy has what Costa and McCrae would classify as an "agreeable" personality. How would you expect her to be described by others?
A) as a "wall-flower"
B) as a "party animal"
C) as a "meanie"
D) as a "joy to be around"

Accepted Answer

Individuals with an "agreeable" personality are typically described as friendly, cooperative, and compassionate. Therefore, Marcy would be expected to be described as a "joy to be around."

Question 8

Why do some professors who teach difficult subjects, such as math, struggle with explaining concepts to their students?
A) because the students want to take the "easy road" to learning difficult concepts
B) because the students have shorter attention spans
C) because the professor is an expert and can skip stages in the explanation
D) because the professor can only explain a math concept in complex steps

Accepted Answer

Professors who are experts in their field may assume that certain steps or concepts are obvious, and therefore skip stages in their explanation. This can leave students feeling confused and frustrated. It takes skill to break down complex material into bite-sized pieces that students can grasp, and not all professors have this ability. It is not due to the students' lack of effort or attention.

Question 9

Costa and McCrae's model of personality includes dimensions like conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. What is this model commonly referred to?
A) the humanistic model
B) the centrality model
C) the five-factor model
D) the psychodynamic model

Accepted Answer

Costa and McCrae's model of personality is commonly referred to as the five-factor model, as it includes five dimensions: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience.

Question 10

Ruth is determined to become president of the corporation. She works more than ten hours per day, is meticulous in her work, and sticks with the most difficult projects until they are completed. Which personality dimension would Ruth most likely score highly on?
A) conscientiousness
B) agreeableness
C) extroversion
D) openness to experience

Accepted Answer

Ruth's traits of being hardworking, meticulous, and determined align with the personality dimension of conscientiousness, which is characterized by being organized, responsible, and dependable.

Question 11

Mike's high school career counsellor has suggested that he consider a career in social work, because Mike can readily handle a challenging environment with his high level of energy. At which of Costa and McCrae's five dimensions does Mike excel?
A) neuroticism
B) conscientiousness
C) agreeableness
D) extroversion

Accepted Answer

Mike's high energy level suggests that he excels in extroversion, which is characterized by high levels of sociability, assertiveness, and energy.

Question 12

Ronnie is asked to describe what it is like to work with Kelly. In response he says, "She is mean, anxious, and really tough to be around." Which of Costa and McCrae's personality dimension does this description best match?
A) neuroticism
B) openness to experience
C) extroversion
D) agreeableness

Accepted Answer

The description of Kelly as mean, anxious, and tough to be around suggests a high level of neuroticism, which is characterized by the tendency to experience negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and anger.

Question 13

Naomi is a diabetic-education nurse, and in order to keep her knowledge and skills relevant, she is taking an online course. What is the term used to describe Naomi's situation?
A) continuing educational update
B) refresher course
C) lifelong learning
D) experiential learning

Accepted Answer

Naomi's situation is best described as lifelong learning, which refers to the continuous process of learning and improving one's knowledge and skills throughout life. This is important for professionals like her to stay up-to-date with current practices and advancements in their field. The other options, continuing educational update and refresher course, imply more specific and short-term learning opportunities, whereas experiential learning refers to learning through firsthand experience.

Question 14

An individual low on a certain characteristic would likely be described as even-tempered and comfortable. What is that characteristic?
A) neuroticism
B) openness to experience
C) conscientiousness
D) agreeableness

Accepted Answer

Individuals low in neuroticism tend to be even-tempered and comfortable, as neuroticism is characterized by emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness, and irritability.

Question 15

According to Costa and McCrae (1994), at what approximate age do personality traits become entrenched and stop changing in an individual?
A) 25 years
B) 30 years
C) 35 years
D) 40 years

Accepted Answer

Costa and McCrae's research suggests that personality traits become more stable and less likely to change after the age of 30.

Question 16

What is another term for the "products of thinking?"
A) sensory memory
B) unexercised ability
C) mechanics intelligence
D) expertise

Accepted Answer

Expertise refers to the products of thinking, such as knowledge, skills, and abilities, that are acquired through experience and practice. Sensory memory refers to the initial stage of memory where sensory information is briefly stored. Unexercised ability refers to a potential to perform a task or skill that has not yet been developed through practice. Mechanics intelligence is not a commonly used term in psychology and does not refer to the products of thinking.

Question 17

How does encapsulation assist older thinkers?
A) It helps compensate for declining processes of thinking.
B) It increases the capacity of short-term memory.
C) It allows them to begin to deal with abstract ideas.
D) It increases convergent thinking while inhibiting divergent thinking.

Accepted Answer

Encapsulation involves breaking down information into smaller, more manageable chunks. This can help older thinkers compensate for declining cognitive processes, such as reduced working memory capacity or processing speed. By organizing information into smaller pieces, older thinkers are able to more effectively process and retain information.

Question 18

Harvey is 22 years old, extroverted, very conscientious, and not very open to experience. Based on the longitudinal research of Costa and McCrae's personality dimensions, what will Harvey most likely be like when he is 55 years old?
A) extroverted, conscientious, and open to experience
B) not extroverted, conscientious and not open to experience
C) extroverted, conscientious, and not open to experience
D) extroverted, not conscientious, and not open to experience

Accepted Answer

According to the research of Costa and McCrae, the three personality dimensions tend to remain stable across the lifespan, with only minor changes. Therefore, it is predicted that Harvey will remain extroverted and very conscientious. However, his low openness to experience suggests that he is less likely to become more open-minded or curious in his older age, leading to the choice of C as the best answer.

Question 19

Newton is known for being very opinionated, extremely sociable, and loving a challenge. According to Costa and McCrae (2002), which personality dimension would Newton score high on?
A) neuroticism
B) introversion
C) extroversion
D) agreeableness

Accepted Answer

Newton's characteristics of being sociable and loving a challenge indicate high levels of extroversion.

Question 20

How can one describe the difference between adult learners and their younger counterparts?
A) Adults are more willing to learn about abstract problems.
B) Adults tend to be more motivated by internal factors.
C) Younger learners tend to have a larger variety of experiences on which they can build.
D) Younger learners have a higher need to know why they should learn something.

Accepted Answer

Adult learners are typically more intrinsically motivated, whereas younger learners may be more motivated by external factors such as grades or praise from teachers or parents.

Quiz 14: Making It in Midlife

Frank has a Type A personality. Which personality dimension is he most likely to have a low score on?

Shelley is an individual who can be irritable, antagonistic, and highly critical of her coworkers. Which of Costa and McCrae's five dimensions does Shelley lack?

Though her ability to think about other things has declined significantly, 74-year-old Judith's ability to interpret the law continues to make her an excellent lawyer and judge. What has most likely happened to Judith's ability to process information?

What do we call the normative middle-age trauma?

If asked to list the "processes of thinking," what should you avoid saying?

Kevin is described by friends as having a great imagination and being willing to try anything once. Given this description, which personality dimension would Kevin most likely score very high on?

Marcy has what Costa and McCrae would classify as an "agreeable" personality. How would you expect her to be described by others?

Why do some professors who teach difficult subjects, such as math, struggle with explaining concepts to their students?

Costa and McCrae's model of personality includes dimensions like conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. What is this model commonly referred to?

Ruth is determined to become president of the corporation. She works more than ten hours per day, is meticulous in her work, and sticks with the most difficult projects until they are completed. Which personality dimension would Ruth most likely score highly on?

Mike's high school career counsellor has suggested that he consider a career in social work, because Mike can readily handle a challenging environment with his high level of energy. At which of Costa and McCrae's five dimensions does Mike excel?

Ronnie is asked to describe what it is like to work with Kelly. In response he says, "She is mean, anxious, and really tough to be around." Which of Costa and McCrae's personality dimension does this description best match?

Naomi is a diabetic-education nurse, and in order to keep her knowledge and skills relevant, she is taking an online course. What is the term used to describe Naomi's situation?

An individual low on a certain characteristic would likely be described as even-tempered and comfortable. What is that characteristic?

According to Costa and McCrae (1994) , at what approximate age do personality traits become entrenched and stop changing in an individual?

What is another term for the "products of thinking?"

How does encapsulation assist older thinkers?

Harvey is 22 years old, extroverted, very conscientious, and not very open to experience. Based on the longitudinal research of Costa and McCrae's personality dimensions, what will Harvey most likely be like when he is 55 years old?

Newton is known for being very opinionated, extremely sociable, and loving a challenge. According to Costa and McCrae (2002) , which personality dimension would Newton score high on?

How can one describe the difference between adult learners and their younger counterparts?