Lesson 7

Which step in the process of factor analysis is not subjective?

· extracting the factors

· interpreting the factors

· labeling the factors

· deciding which variables to study

Relative to the current DSM-IV system of classifying mental disorders, the Five-Factor Model suggests

· a larger number of diagnoses in the mood disorders category.

· a larger number of diagnoses in the psychotic disorders category.

· a continuum between normality and abnormality.

· none of these.

Cattell defined personality as

· libidinal drive.

· the enduring internal characteristics of an individual.

· that which permits prediction of what an individual will do.

· observable behavior and the observable precedents and consequences of it.

Which of the following is an example of propriate functional autonomy?

· A student is tired of studying, so she goes to sleep even though she is not prepared for the test that she will be taking in the morning.

· Because his parents always wanted him to be a doctor, Jordan applies to medical school.

· A person who had to work odd jobs to be able to buy food keeps working after winning a huge amount of money in a lottery.

· A rat in a maze is sated and no longer hungry, so it stops running through the maze.

Sean is extremely dependent on other people. In fact, his dependency is so pervasive that almost all of Sean’s behavior is influenced by it. In other words, Sean’s dependency is a

· central disposition.

· secondary disposition.

· proprium.

· cardinal disposition.

In order of decreasing influence on behavior, the types of personal dispositions described by Allport are

· central, cardinal, secondary.

· secondary, cardinal, central.

· secondary, central, cardinal.

· cardinal, central, secondary.

In Allport’s theory, common traits refer to which aspects of personality?

· those that are universal

· those that cannot be measured statistically

· those that are unique to each person

· those that allow comparison of individuals within a culture

For Allport, maturity entails a

· clear understanding of one’s past.

· perseverative functional autonomy.

· plan that encompasses goals and purposes. · conscience that dictates what one must do to gain others’ approval.

Which of the following is true according to Five-Factor Theory? Select all that apply.

· One’s basic tendency for openness is biologically rooted and stable, but how one characteristically expresses it can change over time.

· Characteristic adaptations are unaffected by external influences.

· Core components of the personality system have nothing to do with biological factors such as genes or brain structure.

While Allport is considered the father of dispositional theories, his theory is different from most modern incarnations in that

· he used factor analysis to support his assertions.

· his perspective held that personal choice was a major component.

· he differentiated between central and peripheral traits.

· felt that traits should be reduced to a small manageable number.

The statistical procedure that Cattell used to find relationships among traits is

· analysis of variance.

· factor analysis.

· trait analysis.

· criterion analysis.

Which of the following is not a theoretical claim of the Five-Factor Model?

· Personality characteristics are the product of internal mechanisms.

· Personality traits are stable over time.

· Each personality trait is allocated a different region in the brain.

· Personality differences have a genetic basis.

What is Allport’s view of the role of neurosis versus health in personality theory?

· To understand health, we must understand neurosis.

· Health is best viewed as the absence of neurotic symptoms.

· Neurosis versus health may be seen as a continuous dimension.

· We need a positive rather than a negative definition of health and maturity.

Both trait theories like the Big 5 and type theories can be criticized for

· restricting human nature to a small set of descriptions.

· suggesting that every individual is absolutely unique.

· lacking a quantitative, empirical component.

· not rigorously testing their constructs.