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Unit 10: Myers' Psychology for AP; Personality Flashcards

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2609267324Free AssociationIn psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind no matter how trivial or embarrassing.0
2609277901PsychoanalysisFreud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; techniques used in treating psychological disorders by speaking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions.1
2609285466UnconsciousAccording to Freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories. According to contemporary psychologists, information processing of which we are unaware.2
2609292355IdA reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. The Id operates on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification.3
2609303084EgoThe largely conscious, "executive" part of personality that, according to Freud, mediated among the demands of the Id, Superego, and Reality. The ego operates on the reality principle, satisfying the Id's desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain.4
2609314328SuperegoThe part of personality that, according to Freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment (the conscience) and for future aspirations.5
2609322478Psychosexual StagesThe childhood stages of development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital) during which, according to Freud, the Id's pleasure-seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones.6
2618807960PersonalityAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.7
2618812676Oedipus ComplexAccording to Freud, a boy's sexual desires toward his mother and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the rival father.8
2618816313IdentificationThe process by which, according to Freud, children incorporate their parents' values into their developing superegos.9
2618822738FixationAccording to Freud, a lingering focus of pleasure seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved.10
2618825094Defense MechanismsIn psychoanalytic theory, the ego's protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality.11
2618830196RepressionIn psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness.12
2618832374RegressionPsychoanalytic defense mechanism in which an individual faced with anxiety retreats to a more infantile psychosexual stage, where some psychic energy remains fixated.13
2618837538Reaction FormationPsychoanalytic defense mechanism by which the ego unconsciously switches unacceptable impulses into their opposites. Thus, people may express feelings that are the opposite of their anxiety- arousing unconscious feelings.14
2618841398ProjectionPsychoanalytic defense mechanism by which people disguise their own threatening impulses by attributing them to others.15
2618844798RationalizationPsychoanalytic defense mechanism that offers self-justifying explanations in place of the real, more threatening, unconscious reason's for one's actions.16
2618850748DisplacementPsychoanalytic defense mechanism that shifts sexual or aggressive impulses toward a more acceptable or less threatening object or person, as when redirecting anger toward a safer outlet.17
2618855679SublimationPsychoanalytic defense mechanism by which people re-channel their unacceptable impulses into socially approved activities.18
2618859723DenialPsychoanalytic defense mechanism by which people refuse to believe or even to perceive painful realities.19
2618868913Collective UnconsciousCarl Jung's concept of a shred, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species' history.20
2618872936Projective TestA personality test, such as the Rorschach or TAT, that provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one's inner dynamics.21
2618878963Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)A projective test in which people express their inner feelings and interest through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes.22
2618884746Rorschach Inkblot TestThe most widely used projective test, a set of 10 inkblots, designed by Herman Rorschach; seeks to identify people's inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots.23
2618890584Terror-management TheoryA theory of death-related anxiety; explores people's emotional and behavioral responses to reminders of their impending death.24
2618896817Self-ActualizationAccording to Maslow, one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill ones' potential.25
2618902577Unconditional Positive RegardAccording to Rogers, an attitude of total acceptance toward another person.26
2618904393Self-ConceptAll our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to question, " Who am I?"27
2618906485TraitA characteristic patter of behavior or a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports.28
2618910892Personality InventoryA questionnaire on which people respond to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors; used to assess selected personality traits.29
2618916063Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)The most widely researched and clinically used of all personality tests. Originally developed to identify emotional disorders, this test is now used for many other screening purposes.30
2618922255Empirically Derived TestA test (such as the MMPI) developed by testing a pool of items and then selecting those that discriminate between two groups.31
2618925518Social-cognitive PerspectiveViews behavior as influenced by the interaction between people's traits and their social context.32
2618927802Reciprocal DeterminismThe interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment.33
2618929976Personal ControlThe extent to which people perceive control over their environment rather than feeling helpless.34
2618932300External Locus of ControlThe perception that chance or outside forces beyond your personal control determine your fate35
2618936127Internal Locus of ControlThe perception that you control your own fate.36
2618939931Positive PsychologyThe scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.37
2618943547SelfIn contemporary psychology, assumed to be the center of personality, the organizer of our thoughts, feelings, and actions.38
2618945631Spotlight EffectOverestimating others' noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders( as if we presume a spotlight shines on us.).39
2618947995Self-esteemOne's feelings of high or low self-worth.40
2618949120Self-Serving BiasA readiness to perceive oneself favorably.41
2618950247IndividualismGiving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identification.42
2618953355CollectivismGiving priority to the goals of one's group(often ones extended family or work group) and defining ones identity accordingly.43

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