Chapter 01
Introduction to Personality Psychology

Multiple Choice Questions
 
1. Features of personality that differentiate one person from another usually take the form of _____ in language. 
A. differential pronouns
B. trait-descriptive adjectives
C. action-descriptive verbs
D. trait-differentiating adverbs

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
 
2. If I describe Juan as "possessive" or Anita as "friendly," I am employing the use of 
A. trait-descriptive adjectives.
B. inner psychological states.
C. strategies to attain goals.
D. inner qualities of personality.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
 
3. How many trait-descriptive adjectives are there in the English language? 
A. More than 500
B. More than 1,800
C. More than 5,000
D. Nearly 20,000

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined

4. Psychologists have found it difficult to define personality because 
A. psychologists are not smart enough to determine the boundaries of human personality.
B. personality has a common sense definition that psychologists find hard to falsify.
C. the idea of studying human personality is a rather new concept in psychology.
D. any definition of personality needs to be sufficiently comprehensive to include a multitude of concepts.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
 
5. Research on personality traits asks all of these questions EXCEPT 
A. how many fundamental personality traits are there.
B. how personality traits are organized.
C. where personality traits come from.
D. which cues cause behaviour in a situation.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
 
6. Philippe walks the same path every day at the same time. To state that he will most likely take the same route at the same time next Wednesday is using the _____ nature of personality traits. 
A. descriptive
B. explanatory
C. predictive
D. individualistic

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-02 Personality Is the Set of Psychological Traits

7. Mike makes several social errors at a party. He calls the host by the wrong name, spills his red wine on the carpet, and insults the guest of honour. We label Mike's behaviour as "socially unskilled." This labelling of Mike's behaviour utilizes the _____ research approach to personality traits. 
A. explanatory
B. descriptive
C. intuitive
D. presumptive

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-02 Personality Is the Set of Psychological Traits
 
8. Traits define the __________ tendencies of an individual person. 
A. central
B. average
C. overt
D. outlying

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-02 Personality Is the Set of Psychological Traits
 
9. A talkative person will 
A. always talk more than a quiet person.
B. never shut up.
C. talk more than a quiet person in theaters.
D. talk more, on average, than a quiet person.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-02 Personality Is the Set of Psychological Traits

10. To say that someone will tend to display a trait with regularity is to say that the person has a(n) 
A. average tendency.
B. obsessive-compulsive disorder.
C. adaptation.
D. social-cognitive approach.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-02 Personality Is the Set of Psychological Traits
 
11. Which of the following questions does research on personality traits NOT emphasize? 
A. How many fundamental traits are there?
B. How are traits organized within individuals?
C. What are the origins of traits?
D. How are all persons similar?

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-02 Personality Is the Set of Psychological Traits
 
12. Psychological mechanisms differ from traits in that mechanisms 
A. are less stable.
B. refer more to processes.
C. do not have decision rules.
D. are biologically "hard wired."

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-03 And Mechanisms

13. Which of the following is NOT part of most personality mechanisms? 
A. Access codes
B. Decision rules
C. Inputs
D. Outputs

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-03 And Mechanisms
 
14. The trait of courageousness is an especially good example of 
A. an adaptive trait.
B. how traits are consistent.
C. how traits are activated only under certain conditions.
D. how traits change over time.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-03 And Mechanisms
 
15. Personality is 
A. outside the person.
B. inside the person.
C. both outside and inside the person.
D. inside or outside, depending on the person.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-04 Within the Individual

16. To say that someone has the trait of happiness, you need to know that the person 
A. is happy at a given moment.
B. is frequently happy.
C. remembers being happy.
D. makes others happy.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-05 That Are Organized and Relatively Enduring
 
17. Which of the following is NOT defined as part of the person-environment interaction? 
A. Serializations
B. Perceptions
C. Manipulations
D. Selections

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-07 The Individual's Interactions with
 
18. Responses to an inkblot test can demonstrate which part of the person-environment interaction? 
A. Perceptions
B. Manipulations
C. Evocations
D. Selections

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-07 The Individual's Interactions with

19. Mo looks at the inkblot and sees two birds nesting. Heidi looks at the inkblot and sees a tranquil forest. Joe looks at the inkblot and sees something sexual. These three responses are illustrating that ______ are important components of the person-environment interaction. 
A. prostheses
B. provocations
C. perceptions
D. projections

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-07 The Individual's Interactions with
 
20. Evocations are demonstrated when 
A. different people see the same situation differently.
B. our characteristics unintentionally cause other people to act a certain way.
C. we intentionally attempt to make other people act in a certain way.
D. individuals select environments to match their traits.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-07 The Individual's Interactions with
 
21. Every time Neil walks into the room everyone laughs. This demonstrates the person-environment interaction of 
A. evocation.
B. elocution.
C. exultation.
D. emaciation.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-07 The Individual's Interactions with

22. Lena always picks out restaurants that have a very quiet, subdued atmosphere. She always tries to avoid loud restaurants. _____ is the person-environment fit mechanism that may account for this behaviour. 
A. Sublimation
B. Selection
C. Suggestion
D. Sophistication

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-07 The Individual's Interactions with
 
23. To say that a trait is adaptive means that the trait 
A. is the result of sexual selection.
B. easily changes as necessary.
C. serves a useful function.
D. indicates psychopathology.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-08 And Adaptations to
 
24. At the psychological level, the physical environment may lead to the development of 
A. shivering mechanisms when people are cold.
B. hunger pangs to motivate people to seek food.
C. friction mechanisms to prevent calluses in skin.
D. fear mechanisms to help us avoid environmental threats.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-09 The Environment

25. In the social environment, our "effective environment" represents the/a 
A. strongest environmental cues that are found in any given environment.
B. environmental cues that are directly related to survival in the immediate environment.
C. set of cues emitted by other people in the environment.
D. subset of environmental features people attend to based on their psychological mechanisms.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-09 The Environment
 
26. The intrapsychic environment is 
A. not as objectively verifiable as the social or physical environment.
B. often easy to verify through the analysis of dreams.
C. relatively consistent across social, but not physical, environments.
D. based on how others in the environment react to a person.

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Topic: 01-01 Personality Defined
Topic: 01-09 The Environment
 
27. The human nature level of personality analysis addresses how every human is 
A. like all others.
B. like some others.
C. like no others.
D. somewhat like other mammals.

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Topic: 01-10 Three Levels of Personality Analysis
Topic: 01-11 Human Nature

28. The group differences level of personality analysis addresses how every human is 
A. like all others.
B. like some others.
C. like no others.
D. somewhat like other mammals.

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Topic: 01-10 Three Levels of Personality Analysis
Topic: 01-12 Individual and Group Differences
 
29. The individual uniqueness level of personality analysis addresses how every human is 
A. like all others.
B. like some others.
C. like no others.
D. somewhat like other mammals.

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Topic: 01-10 Three Levels of Personality Analysis
Topic: 01-13 Individual Uniqueness
 
30. The ability to learn spoken language is an example of the 
A. human nature level of analysis.
B. individual and group differences level of analysis.
C. individual uniqueness level of analysis.
D. social psychological level of analysis.

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Topic: 01-10 Three Levels of Personality Analysis
Topic: 01-11 Human Nature

31. Studying how people vary in levels of anxiety, self-esteem, or worry represents a(n) _____ approach to studying personality psychology. 
A. individual differences
B. human nature
C. ideographic
D. environmental

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Topic: 01-10 Three Levels of Personality Analysis
Topic: 01-12 Individual and Group Differences
 
32. Which of the following is an example of "idiographic research"? 
A. Comparing men and women on emotionality.
B. Developing a questionnaire that measures sociability.
C. Writing a case study of Albert Einstein's personality.
D. Conducting a field study of helping behaviours.

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Topic: 01-10 Three Levels of Personality Analysis
Topic: 01-13 Individual Uniqueness
 
33. Which of the following is an example of "nomothetic research"? 
A. Preparing a case study of Sigmund Freud.
B. Comparing freshmen and seniors on a personality inventory.
C. Attempting to identify the genes related to impulsivity.
D. Analyzing the correspondence of Chris Rock.

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Topic: 01-10 Three Levels of Personality Analysis
Topic: 01-13 Individual Uniqueness

34. The study of a single individual is an example of 
A. idiographic research.
B. nomothetic research.
C. correlational research.
D. cognitive psychology research.

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Topic: 01-10 Three Levels of Personality Analysis
Topic: 01-13 Individual Uniqueness
 
35. Most current personality research is done at the _____ level of analysis. 
A. idiographic
B. human nature
C. individual uniqueness
D. group and individual differences

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Topic: 01-14 A Fissure in the Field
 
36. Most grand theories of personality focus on the _____ level of analysis. 
A. idiographic
B. human nature
C. individual uniqueness
D. group and individual differences

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Topic: 01-14 A Fissure in the Field
Topic: 01-15 Grand Theories of Personality

37. A problem with studying only the grand theories of personality is that only portions of the grand theories 
A. have stood the test of time and inform modern personality research.
B. apply to men.
C. are based on non-German populations.
D. address the human nature level of analysis.

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Topic: 01-14 A Fissure in the Field
Topic: 01-15 Grand Theories of Personality
 
38. Grand theories of personality are usually based on statements about the 
A. universal core of human nature.
B. major individual differences.
C. individual uniqueness of all humans.
D. differences between the sexes.

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Topic: 01-14 A Fissure in the Field
Topic: 01-15 Grand Theories of Personality
 
39. In modern personality psychology, the grand theories 
A. guide all modern personality research.
B. are still argued about in the literature.
C. are seen as having primarily historical interest.
D. are used only in clinical applications of personality theory.

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Topic: 01-14 A Fissure in the Field
Topic: 01-15 Grand Theories of Personality

40. The textbook presents the example of the three blind men and the elephant to suggest that 
A. people are like animals in some ways and all living creatures have a personality.
B. individual and group differences are the most effective approach to studying personality.
C. each of the different approaches to personality research is inadequate for studying the full range of human personality.
D. using ancient legends is an inadequate approach to explaining the full range of differences in human personality.

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Topic: 01-14 A Fissure in the Field
Topic: 01-16 Contemporary Research in Personality
 
41. The fact that there are many differing views on personality suggests that 
A. researchers study different domains of knowledge.
B. most views about personality psychology are incorrect.
C. one of the views is probably more accurate than others.
D. personality psychologists ignore one another's theories.

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
 
42. A "domain of knowledge" is a 
A. laboratory where personality research is conducted.
B. single theory about the nature of personality.
C. specialty area of science and scholarship.
D. grand theory of personality psychology.

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature

43. Researchers in a given domain of personality share all of these EXCEPT 
A. common methods of inquiry.
B. foundations of known facts.
C. theoretical explanations.
D. common laboratory space.

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
 
44. The domains of knowledge in personality differ mainly in the 
A. number of active researchers.
B. degree to which they emphasize internal or external factors.
C. degree to which they emphasize adaptation and adjustment.
D. degree to which they understand personality.

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
 
45. When different domains of knowledge contradict one another, we can conclude that 
A. the most recent domains are most correct.
B. the more historical domains are most correct.
C. none of the domains is correct.
D. the contradictions may be more apparent than real.

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
 
46. The dispositional domain focuses on 
A. understanding the ways individuals differ from one another.
B. the emotional consequences of dispositions.
C. the biological nature of dispositions.
D. the outer nature of dispositions.

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-18 Dispositional Domain

47. Which of the following does NOT fall within the biological domain of knowledge? 
A. Subjective experience
B. Genetics
C. Psychophysiology
D. Evolution

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-19 Biological Domain
 
48. A researcher who compares identical twins to fraternal twins probably conducts most of her research within which domain? 
A. Intrapsychic
B. Biological
C. Adjustment
D. Cognitive-Experiential

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-19 Biological Domain
 
49. The domain of knowledge most concerned with unconscious mechanisms is the 
A. cognitive-experiential domain.
B. biological domain.
C. intrapsychic domain.
D. adjustment domain.

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-20 Intrapsychic Domain

50. Sigmund Freud's theory of personality falls within the _____ domain of knowledge. 
A. biological
B. dispositional
C. social and cultural
D. intrapsychic

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-20 Intrapsychic Domain
 
51. Jay is interested in investigating unconscious conflict in a sample of college interns. Jay will most likely use the methods and theories associated with the ______ domain of personality. 
A. dispositional
B. biological
C. social and cultural
D. intrapsychic

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-20 Intrapsychic Domain
 
52. Which domain is most concerned with identifying the number of fundamental individual differences? 
A. Biological
B. Dispositional
C. Intrapsychic
D. Social and cultural

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-18 Dispositional Domain

53. The lexical approach (i.e., using natural language to identify fundamental traits) falls most squarely within the 
A. social and cultural domain.
B. cognitive-experiential domain.
C. dispositional domain.
D. intrapsychic domain.

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-18 Dispositional Domain
 
54. Which domain relies most on statistical methods to identify fundamental traits? 
A. Dispositional
B. Biological
C. Adjustment
D. Social and cultural

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-18 Dispositional Domain
 
55. Lena collects data on three personality tests from several hundred participants. She then examines the systematic statistical similarities and differences among the traits assessed by each test. Lena is using the logic and methods of the ______ domain of personality. 
A. biological
B. intrapsychic
C. social and cultural
D. dispositional

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-18 Dispositional Domain

56. Which domain of knowledge places the most emphasis on the external (to the person) dimensions of personality? 
A. dispositional
B. social and cultural
C. biological
D. intrapsychic

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-22 Social and Cultural Domain
 
57. The fact that almost all humans live in groups suggests the importance of the _____ domain. 
A. intrapsychic
B. cognitive-experiential
C. adjustment
D. social and cultural

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-22 Social and Cultural Domain
 
58. Sidney is interested in differences in the levels of extraversion of British men and Italian men. Sidney will most likely use the methods and theories used by researchers studying personality within the _____ domain. 
A. cognitive-experiential
B. dispositional
C. social and cultural
D. intrapsychic

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-22 Social and Cultural Domain

59. Which domain focuses most on the relationships between personality and health behaviours? 
A. dispositional
B. adjustment
C. social and cultural
D. cognitive-experiential

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-23 Adjustment Domain
 
60. The study of personality disorders falls within the _____ domain. 
A. biological
B. social and cultural
C. adjustment
D. intrapsychic

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-23 Adjustment Domain
 
61. Hugo is interested in how borderline personality disorder affects everyday behaviours in a clinical population. He most likely will use the methods and the models of the _____ domain of personality in conducting his research. 
A. dispositional
B. biological
C. adjustment
D. intrapsychic

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Topic: 01-17 Six Domains of Knowledge About Human Nature
Topic: 01-23 Adjustment Domain

62. Which of the following is NOT a function of a theory? 
A. Guides research
B. Eliminates domains of knowledge
C. Organizes research findings
D. Makes predictions

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Topic: 01-24 The Role of Personality Theory
 
63. Which of the following is NOT an example of a theory that provides a guide for researchers? 
A. A Freudian psychoanalyst predicting stinginess from the ideas about development through a particular stage of psychological development.
B. A biological psychologist predicting a decrease in social behaviour when the frontal lobe of the brain is damaged.
C. A personality psychologist analyzing a large pool of responses to questionnaire items to find the underlying structure of the data.
D. A cognitive psychologist predicting how an individual's self-evaluation will determine theirreaction to a specific stimuli.

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Topic: 01-24 The Role of Personality Theory
 
64. Which of the following is a scientific theory? 
A. astrology
B. Einstein's ideas on relativity
C. reincarnation
D. extra sensory perception

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Topic: 01-24 The Role of Personality Theory

65. _____ are based on systematic observation, whereas _____ are not. 
A. Theories; beliefs
B. Beliefs; theories
C. Domains; approaches
D. Approaches; domains

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Topic: 01-24 The Role of Personality Theory
 
66. John's theory of personality leads to the discovery of new links between cognition and brain functioning that were previously believed to be impossible. John's theory has 
A. comprehensiveness.
B. heuristic value.
C. testability.
D. parsimony.

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Topic: 01-25 Standards for Evaluating Personality Theories
 
67. The most important criterion for generating a testable theory is 
A. the generalizability of its predictions.
B. its compatibility with other theories.
C. the precision of its predictions.
D. its comprehensiveness.

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Topic: 01-25 Standards for Evaluating Personality Theories
 
68. Which trait theory best exemplifies the principle of parsimony? A theory that proposes 
A. two personality dispositions.
B. three personality dispositions.
C. five personality dispositions.
D. 16 personality dispositions.

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Topic: 01-25 Standards for Evaluating Personality Theories

69. If it is ever found, what would a grand theory of personality have to accomplish? 
A. It would have to explain personality characteristics and how they develop over time.
B. It would have to explain how people experience the world and process information about it.
C. It would have to unify all major domains of personality theory and research.
D. All of the above.

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Topic: 01-26 Is There a Grand Ultimate and True Theory of Personality?