Humanistic Theory
What is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
A theory that human needs are arranged in a five-level pyramid from basic physical needs to self-actualisation.
What is classical conditioning, and which theorist is it associated with?
Learning through association; associated with Ivan Pavlov.
Who developed the Social Learning Theory?
Albert Bandura.
What are traits, and how do trait theories define personality?
Traits are stable, measurable characteristics that shape how people think, feel, and behave.
What is the difference between a sample and a population in research?
A population is the entire group being studied.
A sample is a smaller group selected from the population for the research.
What is the highest level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and what does it involve?
Self-actualisation – achieving one's full potential, creativity, and personal growth.
In Pavlov’s experiment with dogs, what role did the bell play before and after conditioning?
Before: neutral stimulus;
After: conditioned stimulus causing salivation.
What is observational learning (modelling), and how does it occur according to Bandura?
Learning by watching and imitating others.
List any two of the Big Five traits identified by Costa and McCrae.
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism
Define the terms ‘sensation’ and ‘perception’.
Sensation: The process of detecting and receiving physical energy (stimuli) from the environment.
Perception: The process of organising and interpreting sensory information.
According to Carl Rogers, what are the three essential conditions for healthy personality development in a supportive environment?
Genuineness (openness and honesty)
Empathy (understanding the person’s experience)
Unconditional positive regard (acceptance without judgment)
What was the purpose of Watson’s “Little Albert” experiment, and what did it demonstrate?
To show that fear can be learned through classical conditioning.
Describe the findings of Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment.
Children who observed aggressive adult behaviour were more likely to imitate that aggression.
What are the three dimensions of Eysenck’s PEN model, and what do they represent?
Psychoticism – aggressiveness, impulsivity, and lack of empathy
Extraversion – sociability, assertiveness, and activity levels
Neuroticism – emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness
Explain the difference between mediation, negotiation, and counselling as methods of conflict resolution.
Mediation: third party helps reach agreement.
Negotiation: parties directly discuss to resolve conflict.
Counselling: professional helps improve communication/understanding.
Explain the concept of incongruence in Carl Rogers’ theory of personality.
Incongruence occurs when a person's real self and ideal self do not match, leading to anxiety or low self-worth.
What is Thorndike’s “Law of Effect” and how does it relate to behaviour shaping?
Behaviours followed by positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated.
What is self-efficacy, and how does it affect an individual’s behaviour according to Bandura?
A person’s belief in their ability to succeed; high self-efficacy increases persistence and effort.
Identify one strength and one criticism of trait theory in understanding personality.
Strength: supported by research, useful for prediction
Criticism: doesn’t explain how traits develop or account for situational behaviour
Describe the difference between objective quantitative and subjective quantitative measures in psychological research.
Objective quantitative measures are direct, observable, and measurable (e.g., physiological data). Generally relies less on opinions / judgment
Subjective quantitative measures rely on participant self-report or ratings (e.g., checklists, Likert scales). Generally relies more on opinions / judgment
Using Maslow’s theory, explain how growing up in poverty might impact an individual’s personality development.
People in poverty may focus on meeting basic needs and struggle to reach higher levels like self-esteem or self-actualisation.
Compare Skinner’s operant conditioning with Pavlov’s classical conditioning in terms of how they explain personality development.
Pavlov: learning through association (involuntary responses)
Skinner: learning through consequences (reinforcement/punishment for voluntary behaviours)
Name and briefly outline the four aspects of behaviour modelling in Social Learning Theory
Attention – noticing the behaviour
Retention – remembering the behaviour
Reproduction – ability to perform the behaviour
Motivation – wanting to imitate the behaviour
What does the acronym OCEAN stand for in the Big Five model?
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Neuroticism
How does statistical significance help psychologists interpret research data?
It indicates the likelihood that results are not due to chance.
A statistically significant result suggests a reliable effect or relationship.
Score closer to 1/-1 = strong relationship. Closer to 0 = weak or no relationship