PSYC 4520 1st EditionExam #1 Study Guide Lectures: 1 - 7Lecture 1 (August 25)The Person and the SituationWhat shapes our behavior?Our behavior is shaped both by who we are (we do not act the same way in every situation) andour circumstances (different people behave differently in identical situations). Our situations influence our behaviors, and our behaviors reflect us as individuals. What is the difference between social psychology and personality psychology?All psychologists attempt to determine how most people will respond to a certain environmental demand. However, they do this in different ways. A social psychologist will createdifferent scenarios in which individuals see someone in need of help, to determine which situations promote or discourage helping behavior. Meanwhile, personality psychologists will ask why one person would choose to help in a certain situation while another would not. They wonder what makes you different from everyone else. Defining PersonalityWhat does “personality” consist of?There is no single definition of personality, but the basic definition is: consistent behavior patterns and intrapersonal processes originating within the individual. Firstly, personality is consistent: someone who is outgoing today is expected to be outgoing tomorrow. Secondly, personality involves intrapersonal processes: these are the emotional/cognitive processes that occur inside of us that determine the ways we feel and behave. They have nothing to do with outsiders. Thirdly, these consistencies and intrapersonal processes originate within the individual: the different ways we each behave or express our emotions comes from within us. External sources (such as our home lives or other events) do affect personality, but they are not the only determinant of our personalities.Six Approaches to PersonalityDefine the six approaches to personality. Give examples to explain.1. Psychoanalytic—says that our unconscious minds determine behavioral differences. In terms of aggression, this approach says that aggressive behavior stems from an unconscious death instinct, but because people with a healthy personality do not self-destruct, this instinct is turned onto others. In terms of depression, this approach says that depression is anger turned inward; people with depression hold unconscious feelings of hostility/anger. And since we eachhave internalized values of society, which discourage hostility, we turn against ourselves.2. Trait—identifies where a person lies somewhere along a continuum of various personality traits. In terms of aggression, this approach focuses on individual differences and the stability ofaggressive behavior; research has found that aggressive children are more likely to become aggressive adults. In terms of depression, this approach focuses on identifying depression-proneindividuals: a person’s general emotional level today is a good predictor of his/her future emotions.3. Biological—says that an individual’s inherited predispositions and physiological processes explain his/her unique personality. In terms of aggression, this approach believes in a genetic predisposition to aggressive behavior (hormones, neurotransmitters, etc.). It also explains aggressive behavior in terms of evolution: men are more aggressive than women due to the former’s inherited need to overpower his rivals so he can survive and pass on his genes. In terms of depression, this points to evidence that some people inherit a genetic susceptibility to depression; a person like this would be more likely to react to stress with depression.4. Humanistic—says that personal responsibility and feelings of self-acceptance cause personality differences. In terms of aggression, this approach denies that some individuals are born aggressive and that the natural growth process leads to happy, nonviolent adults. It says that problems like aggression develop when something interferes with this natural process: aggressive children may often come from homes in which basic needs are not adequately met. In terms of depression, this approach explains depression in terms of self-esteem. People who do not develop a good sense of self-worth are more likely to suffer from depression. 5. Behavioral/Social Learning—says that a person’s personality is determined by conditioning and expectations. In terms of aggression, it says that people learn to be aggressive like they learn other behaviors. Bullies get what they want because other children fear them, so they repeat this behavior in other situations. If this behavior continues to get them what they want, they will become aggressive adults. Other children may also learn from bullies that this behaviorcan be useful and learn the behavior themselves. Also, parents worry that aggressive role models on TV may be responsible for the increasing amount of violence in children. In terms of depression, this approach argues that depression stems from a lack of positive reinforcement in a person’s life: we feel down and unmotivated because we don’t see many activities worth doing.6. Cognitive—says that differences in the way people process information explain their behavioral differences. In terms of aggression, this approach focuses on the way aggressive people process information. For example, images of guns/fighting can trigger aggressive thoughts; when these thoughts are highly accessible, people will more likely interpret situationsas threatening and respond to them with violence. In terms of depression, this approach says that whether people become depressed depends on how they interpret their inability to controlevents. For example, people who attribute their failure to get a promotion to a temporary economic recession are less likely to become depressed than those who attribute their failure topersonal inadequacies. People may also use a “depressive filter” to process information; they see the world in the most depressing terms possible.Can we reconcile these approaches?We cannot combine these approaches to form one broad picture of personality. Some explanations are completely incompatible with others, so each psychologist must determine which theory works for him or her.Personality and CultureWhat role does culture play in developing personality?In an individualistic culture (most Northern European nations and the U.S.), people emphasize individual needs and accomplishments. In a collectivist culture (many Asian, African,