Chapter 1 Vocab Flashcards Preview

Personality Psychology > Chapter 1 Vocab > Flashcards

Flashcards in Chapter 1 Vocab Deck (28)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

Personality

A

The underlying causes within the person of individual behavior and experience.

2
Q

Description

A

Theoretical task of identifying the units of personality, with particular emphasis on the differences between people.

3
Q

Dynamics

A

The motivational aspect of personality

4
Q

Development

A

Formation or change over time.

5
Q

Individual differences

A

Qualities that make one person different from another

6
Q

Type

A

A category of people with similar characteristics

7
Q

Quantitative measures

A

Measures that permit expression of various amounts of something such as a trait

8
Q

Trait

A

Personality characteristic that makes one person different from another and/or that describes an individual’s personality.

9
Q

Factor

A

A statistically derived, quantitative dimension of personality that is broader than most traits

10
Q

Nomothetic

A

Involving comparisons with other individuals; research based on groups of people

11
Q

Idiographic

A

Focusing on one individual

12
Q

Adaptation

A

Coping with the external world

13
Q

Temperament

A

Consistent styles of behavior and emotional reactions present from early life onward, presumably caused by biological factors.

14
Q

Scientific method

A

The method of knowing based on systematic observation

15
Q

Determinism

A

The assumption that phenomena have causes that can be discovered by empirical research

16
Q

Theory

A

A conceptual tool, consisting of systematically organized constructs and propositions for understanding certain specified phenomena

17
Q

Construct

A

A concept used in a theory

18
Q

Operational definition

A

Procedure for measuring a theoretical construct

19
Q

Theoretical proposition

A

Theoretical statement about relationships among theoretical constructs

20
Q

Hypothesis

A

A prediction to be tested

21
Q

Empirical

A

based on scientific observations

22
Q

Verifiable

A

The ability of a theory to be tested by empirical procedures, resulting in confirmation or disconfirmation

23
Q

Disconfirmation

A

Evidence against a theory; observations that contradict the predictions of a hypothesis

24
Q

Comprehensiveness

A

The ability of a theory to explain a broad variety of observations

25
Q

Applied value

A

The ability of a theory to guide practical use

26
Q

Applied research

A

Research intended for practical use

27
Q

Basic research

A

Research intended to develop theory

28
Q

Implicit theories of personality

A

Ideas about personality that are held by ordinary people (not based on formal theory)