Personality Theories
Personality theory stating that genetics and brain structure have strong influences on one’s personality
What is Biological Theory?
Theory that states that inherited traits, genetics, and brain chemistry have strong influences on personality traits
A motivation theory claiming that behaviors are driven by biological instincts
What is Instinct Theory?
Theory stating that behaviors and influences by inherited survival instincts
Hypothesis proposing that facial movements can influence emotional experience
What is Facial Feedback Hypothesis?
States that facial expressions can trigger/intensify emotions
The tendency to favor information that supports existing beliefs
What is Confirmation Bias?
Bias causing people to seek and interpret information that confirms what they already believe
A reduced likelihood of helping due to diffusion of responsibility
What is Bystander Effect?
Phenomenon where people are less likely to provide aid in a situation where others are present
A theory explaining personality through unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences
What is Psychodynamic Theory?
Freud’s theory stating that personality is formed through childhood experiences and unconscious motives
Theory proposed by Clark Hull stating that people act to reduce uncomfortable internal tension
What is Drive Reduction Theory?
Theory stating that humans are motivated by a need to reduce biological drives
A theory stating that emotions are caused by bodily reactions
What is James-Lange Theory?
Theory proposing that physiological reactions occur before emotions are felt
Maintaining beliefs despite contradictory evidence
What is Belief Perseverance?
Phenomenon where people continue believing something after it’s been disproven
Prioritizing the needs and wellbeing of the group over its members
What is Collectivism?
Cultural value placing emphasis on group goals rather than individual ones
A theory formed by Albert Bandura that emphasized reciprocal determinism and observational learning
What is Social-Cognitive Theory?
Theory arguing that personality develops through interaction between behaviors, learning, observation, cognitive factors, and environmental influences
Theory stating that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of alertness and activity
What is Arousal Theory?
Theory arguing that people seek an ideal level of excitement and stimulation
States that emotions and bodily reactions happen at the same time
What is Cannon-Bard Theory?
Theory stating that emotions and physiological arousal occur in conjunction with each other
Tendency to develop preferences for familiar stimuli
What is Mere Exposure Bias?
Effect causing people to prefer things just because they are familiar
Perfoming better on familiar tasks(like tying your shoes) in the presence of others
What is Social Facilitation?
Performing better on simple tasks when others are watching
A theory emphasizing personal growth and self actualization
What is Humanistic Theory?
Theory focusing on self-concept and reaching one’s full potential
Law explaining that performance improves with arousal only up to a certain point
What is Yerkes-Dodson Law?
Law stating that too much or too little arousal causes decreased performance, while moderate levels are ideal
A theory saying that positive emotions can broaden thinking and build long term resilience
What is Broaden and Build Theory?
Theory developed by Barbara Fredrickson explaining that positive emotions lead to increased thinking and resilience
Interpreting others’ actions as dispositional while viewing your own as situational
What is Actor/Observer Bias?
Bias where people blame their own actions on the situation while blaming others actions on their nature
Shared goals that can reduce conflict and encourage cooperation between groups
What are Superordinate Goals?
Objectives requiring collaboration between opposing groups
Model organizing personality into 5 broad traits(Openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism)
What is the Big Five?
(Also known as the Five Factor Model) Framework measuring and describing personality using five broad dimensions
Theory explaining how competing motivations can cause psychological conflict
What is Lewin’s Conflict Theory?
Theory involving approach-approach, approach-avoidance, and avoidance-avoidance
Social and cultural expectations for expression of emotions
What are Display Rules?
Norms influenced by culture that determine when and how emotions should be expressed
Tendency to believe that others’ behavior is mainly based on internal characteristics
What is Fundamental Attribution Error?
Error involving the overestimation of personality traits and the underestimation of situational attributes when jugding others
Psychologists that apply the sciece of human behavior to the workplace
What are Industrial Organizational Psychologists?
Psychologists that study workplace behavior to increase the productivity and well-being of employees