Learning Objectives Exam 1 Chapters 1 3 Lecture 1 Chapter 1 1 Know the definition of personality discussed in class A patterning of dispositional traits characteristic adaptations and integrative life stories set in culture and shaped by human evolution 2 At what levels do personality psychologists analyze similarities and differences HINT We how we are all alike discussed four 1 Human Nature 2 Group Differences 3 4 Individual Differences Individual Uniqueness how people are like others in their group different from others how people are alike different from other people how people are unlike any others 3 What is the difference between personality traits and characteristic adaptations Characteristic adaptations are more flexible they depend on differing characteristics situations contextualized in time place and or role Motivational Factors Developmental Factors evolution of self identity over time Cognitive Factors values beliefs plans expectations etc 4 What are three reasons personality traits are useful Because they Describe People Explain Behavior Predict Future Behavior 5 What are the main differences between personality psychology and the other related fields within psychology Developmental Psychology how people change over time Personality psychology studies in what ways people stay the same o Focuses on adulthood Personality psychology is the study of normal functioning study of disorders focus on the situation Clinical Psychology Social Psychology Personality psychology focuses on the person But Social and Personality Psych are very common in that you cannot study the situation without studying the person and vice versa In your book 6 Know what induction is Reasoning from the concrete and the particular to the abstract and general the ultimate result is to create an abstract and general theory 7 Be able to recognize an example of a case study Case study an in depth investigation of a single individual sometimes conducted over a substantial period of time An example of a prospective case study might be to watch a group of people with a various disorder over a defined period of time By observing documenting any changes differences between the individuals it will be possible to see how the disorder progresses 8 Know what parsimony testability and generativity are was in which a scientific theory may be judged Parsimony more complex one Testability research Generativity a simpler and more straightforward explanation is generally preferred to a hypothesis that can be readily evaluated tested through empirical a good theory should generate new research and new theorizing 9 Know the differences between correlational and experimental designs examinations of how variables RELATE to each other scientist manipulates alters one variable or interest to observe its effect Correlational Experimental on another variable of interest 10 Be able to recognize examples of positive and negative correlations When 2 variables move in the same direction as each other both When an increase in one variable generally is associated with a Positive Correlation move up both decrease etc decrease in the other variable Negative Correlation 11 Know the difference between nomothetic and idiographic approaches Nomothetic approach Allport s term for an approach to personality study that seeks to discover general laws for all persons principals laws of behavior Idiographic approach uniqueness of the individual case ignores general laws to discern the specific and individual patternings of particular lives Allport s term that he argued for that focuses on the 12 Know the three periods of personality psychology and their dates from pages 22 23 I know Establishment of the field of personality psychology and development of a some of the eras overlap so I won t give you a year that is contained in the overlap on the test 1930 1950 number of general systems 1930s 1940s Proposal of comprehensive conceptual systems for understanding the person Some of the theories in this era are still very influential today like Allport s 1970 today Critiques and pervasive doubts concerning the legitimacy and worth of personality studies Trait vs Situation debate 13 Know who Gordon Allport is and what he is famous for He published the first major textbook on personality Personality A Psychological Interpretation He was the first to articulate a grand vision for the field of personality and to place it within the context of historical and contemporary scholarship in the arts and sciences Lecture 2 Chapter 2 Evolutionary Psychology 1 What does survival of the fittest mean Survival is more likely for those who are best equipped to survive to reproductive age and reproduce Best equipped having better genes that code for beneficial traits 2 What are adaptations Traits that help survival reproduction Features selected for by evolution They become more common in the gene pool Includes both physical and psychological traits For something to be an adaptation it must Deal with an adaptive problem and have some genetic basis Variation heritability natural selection principals of evolution 3 How does natural selection work Offspring inherit traits that led to success Heritable traits that last long enough for reproduction are more likely to enable an organism to survive 4 How is sexual selection different from natural selection Sexual selection is different in that even f a trait threatens survival it will be selected for as long as it helps reproduction 5 What is the difference between intrasexual and intersexual competition members of the same sex COMPETE with rivals for access to members of one sex CHOOSE a mate based on their preferences Intersexual Competition mates Intersexual Selection toward the opposite sex 6 What is inclusive fitness Who would inclusive fitness predict we would save in an emergency We share genes with our family siblings so we help them to survive and reproduce We act in a way that makes sure our genes are replicated Your survival doesn t matter only the survival of your genes does Research shoes that we would save our closest genetic relative ex Brother or sister 7 What are the three kinds of products of evolution Be able to describe and recognize deals with an adaptive problem something that impedes survival examples of each Adaptations reproduction and has some genetic basis ex Eyebrows sense of smell etc By products Random Noise feature that doesn t affect reproduction ex Shape of earlobe side effects of
View Full Document
Unlocking...