Question 1

The trait approach is built on the assumption that personality characteristics are relatively stable over time and that

Accepted Answer

A)   personality characteristics are also relatively stable across different situations.
B)   through trait descriptions, we can make comparisons across people.
C)   the typical behavior of a person with one trait is different from that of another.
D)   while explanation is not possible, trait researchers focus on describing personality.E) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 2

Compared to most of us, individuals who score high on the trait of openness are more likely to

Accepted Answer

A)   tell a stranger all about themselves.
B)   change their self-concept on a regular basis.
C)   make friends easily in different situations.
D)   willingly consider new ideas.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 3

Discuss several ways in which the trait approach differs from other approaches to personality. Distinguish the special features of the trait and what it emphasizes, including the advantages of studying personality through the trait approach.

Accepted Answer

The trait approach to personality differ...

Question 4

A psychologist collects data from a large number of people. She places each person on a continuum ranging from high to low conscientiousness and makes predictions about how people in the high range will act compared to those in the low range. This psychologist is using the___________ approach to understand personality.

Accepted Answer

A)   type
B)   nomothetic
C)   idiographic
D)   common traitE) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true about research on the Big Five?

Accepted Answer

A)   There are very few findings support general trends in Big Five scores over the lifespan.
B)   Different findings may reflect differences in how broadly investigators conceive the personality structure.
C)   All studies using factor analysis include the same kind of data.
D)   Controversy surrounds the inconsistent findings for the Big Five over different populations.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

Psychologists often use personality traits to predict behavior in the workplace. This research has benefited recently by looking at

Accepted Answer

A)   the Big Five personality dimensions.
B)   psychogenic needs.
C)   central traits.
D)   the idiographic approach.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 7

Many researchers fail to produce strong links between personality traits and behavior. Trait theorists have argued that this is because

Accepted Answer

A)   researchers don't perform the correct statistical analysis.
B)   researchers don't measure personality traits correctly.
C)   researchers don't measure behavior correctly.
D)   statistical analyses skew personality data.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 8

Critics of the trait approach have argued that there is

Accepted Answer

A)   little consistency of behavior across situations.
B)   no valid prediction of behavior from test scores.
C)   too much reliance on situational factors rather than the traits themselves.
D)   all of the above.E) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 9

Identify the different measures that are built into the MMPI to identify when people are answering in an invalid way. Which of these do you think is the most important? Why? Give an example of why someone might try to "outsmart" each of these scales?

Accepted Answer

The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personal...

Question 10

Social desirability scales measure the extent to which a person

Accepted Answer

A)   possesses socially desirable characteristics.
B)   understands the rules of social interaction.
C)   tries to present himself or herself in a favorable light.
D)   is able to understand the meaning of the test items.E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 11

Which approach to personality has relatively little to say about how people develop specific personality characteristics?

Accepted Answer

A)   Trait
B)   Psychoanalytic
C)   Behavioral/social learning
D)   CognitiveE) A) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 12

Each of the following is true about the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)  except one. Which one?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is among the most widely used psychological tests.
B)   It provides a pattern of scores on a number of scales.
C)   It provides test givers with an overall mental health score for each test-taker.
D)   It is a self-report inventory.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C) C

Question 13

Which of the following is not a psychogenic need that exists as one of the basic elements of personality?

Accepted Answer

A)   Dominance
B)   Affiliation
C)   Autonomy
D)   NutritionE) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 14

Which of the following assumptions underlies the trait approach to personality?

Accepted Answer

A)   Each person belongs in one and only one personality category.
B)   Personality characteristics can be represented along a continuum.
C)   People in one personality category are distinctly different from people in other categories.
D)   Personality can change as a function of the situation the person is in.E) B) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 15

While research shows that personalities continue to develop, the changes are gradual, evolving over a period of years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Discuss the contributions of Gordon Allport to understanding personality and distinguish between nomothetic and idiographic approaches to personality. Give three kinds of personality traits proposed by Allport and an example of each. What alternative explanations for adult behavior and personality did Allport propose?

Accepted Answer

Gordon Allport made significant contribu...

Question 17

Karen always approaches tasks in an organized, faithful manner. She persists at a difficult job longer than most people and generally accomplishes more. Karen is probably high in which of the Big Five traits?

Accepted Answer

A)   Agreeableness
B)   Openness
C)   Conscientiousness
D)   ExtraversionE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 18

Summarize the situation versus trait controversy. Discuss two criticisms of the trait approach given by Mischel with respect to this controversy. Give a defense of the trait approach and specify how the criticisms and defense have improved our understanding of personality traits.

Accepted Answer

The situation versus trait controversy i...

Question 19

According to critics of the five-factor model of personality,

Accepted Answer

A)   knowing how sociable a person is allows for a better prediction of behavior than knowing how extraverted that person is.
B)   researchers need to use factor analysis in order to determine the number of basic personality factors.
C)   although Extraversion is a basic personality factor, there is no evidence that Neuroticism is.
D)   factor analytic researchers should all use the same personality tests so that they can produce the same results.E) All of the above
F) None of the above A

Question 20

In his quest to understand the basic structure of personality, Cattell relied heavily on

Accepted Answer

A)   the idiographic approach.
B)   factor analysis.
C)   the examination of central traits.
D)   case studies.E) All of the above
F) C) and D) B

Exam 7: The Trait Approach: Theory, Application, and Assessment

The trait approach is built on the assumption that personality characteristics are relatively stable over time and that

Correct Answer
verified

Compared to most of us, individuals who score high on the trait of openness are more likely to

Correct Answer
verified

Discuss several ways in which the trait approach differs from other approaches to personality. Distinguish the special features of the trait and what it emphasizes, including the advantages of studying personality through the trait approach.

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The trait approach to personality differ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements is true about research on the Big Five?

Correct Answer
verified

Psychologists often use personality traits to predict behavior in the workplace. This research has benefited recently by looking at

Correct Answer
verified

Many researchers fail to produce strong links between personality traits and behavior. Trait theorists have argued that this is because

Correct Answer
verified

Critics of the trait approach have argued that there is

Correct Answer
verified

Identify the different measures that are built into the MMPI to identify when people are answering in an invalid way. Which of these do you think is the most important? Why? Give an example of why someone might try to "outsmart" each of these scales?

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personal...
View Answer

Social desirability scales measure the extent to which a person

Correct Answer
verified

Which approach to personality has relatively little to say about how people develop specific personality characteristics?

Correct Answer
verified

Each of the following is true about the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) except one. Which one?

Correct Answer
verified
C

Which of the following is not a psychogenic need that exists as one of the basic elements of personality?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following assumptions underlies the trait approach to personality?

Correct Answer
verified

While research shows that personalities continue to develop, the changes are gradual, evolving over a period of years.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Gordon Allport made significant contribu...
View Answer

Karen always approaches tasks in an organized, faithful manner. She persists at a difficult job longer than most people and generally accomplishes more. Karen is probably high in which of the Big Five traits?

Correct Answer
verified

Summarize the situation versus trait controversy. Discuss two criticisms of the trait approach given by Mischel with respect to this controversy. Give a defense of the trait approach and specify how the criticisms and defense have improved our understanding of personality traits.

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The situation versus trait controversy i...
View Answer

According to critics of the five-factor model of personality,

Correct Answer
verified
A

In his quest to understand the basic structure of personality, Cattell relied heavily on

Correct Answer
verified
B

Exam 7: The Trait Approach: Theory, Application, and Assessment

The trait approach is built on the assumption that personality characteristics are relatively stable over time and that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Compared to most of us, individuals who score high on the trait of openness are more likely to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Discuss several ways in which the trait approach differs from other approaches to personality. Distinguish the special features of the trait and what it emphasizes, including the advantages of studying personality through the trait approach.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe trait approach to personality differ...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true about research on the Big Five?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Psychologists often use personality traits to predict behavior in the workplace. This research has benefited recently by looking at

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Many researchers fail to produce strong links between personality traits and behavior. Trait theorists have argued that this is because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Critics of the trait approach have argued that there is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Identify the different measures that are built into the MMPI to identify when people are answering in an invalid way. Which of these do you think is the most important? Why? Give an example of why someone might try to "outsmart" each of these scales?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personal...View AnswerShow Answer

Social desirability scales measure the extent to which a person

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which approach to personality has relatively little to say about how people develop specific personality characteristics?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Each of the following is true about the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) except one. Which one?

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Which of the following is not a psychogenic need that exists as one of the basic elements of personality?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following assumptions underlies the trait approach to personality?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

While research shows that personalities continue to develop, the changes are gradual, evolving over a period of years.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIGordon Allport made significant contribu...View AnswerShow Answer

Karen always approaches tasks in an organized, faithful manner. She persists at a difficult job longer than most people and generally accomplishes more. Karen is probably high in which of the Big Five traits?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Summarize the situation versus trait controversy. Discuss two criticisms of the trait approach given by Mischel with respect to this controversy. Give a defense of the trait approach and specify how the criticisms and defense have improved our understanding of personality traits.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe situation versus trait controversy i...View AnswerShow Answer

According to critics of the five-factor model of personality,

Correct AnswerverifiedA

In his quest to understand the basic structure of personality, Cattell relied heavily on

Correct AnswerverifiedB

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Answered by ExamLex AI
The trait approach to personality differ...
View Answer

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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personal...
View Answer

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C

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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Gordon Allport made significant contribu...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The situation versus trait controversy i...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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A

Correct Answer
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B