Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Personality - Allport
definitions from Allport's personality theory
46
Psychology
Undergraduate 3
11/11/2010

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
attitude
Definition
are like habits, are more specific than traits.
Term
becoming
Definition
according to Allport, personality is never static; rather, it is always becoming something else
Term
bodily "me"
Definition
attribute that emerges during the first stage in the development of the proprium. at this stage, infants learn that their bodies exist because of their sensory experience
Term
capacity for self-extension
Definition
participation in a wide range of events that characterizes the healthy, mature adult
Term
capacity for warm, human interactions
Definition
ability to have intimate relationships with others without being possessive or jealous. such an ability characterizes the healthy, mature adult
Term
cardinal dispositions
Definition
"ruling passion" that influences almost everything a person does. only a few individuals possess a cardinal disposition
Term
central dispositions
Definition
those qualities about a person that you would mention in a letter of recommendation. the 5-10 characteristics that summarize a particular person's personality
Term
character
Definition
description of a person that includes a value judgement. it can be "good" or "bad" whereas a personality cannot be
Term
common traits
Definition
used to describe a group of individuals (changed the name to personal disposition)
Term
emotional security and self-acceptance
Definition
two of the characteristics of a healthy, mature adult
Term
extrinsic religion
Definition
superficial religion that is participated in for entirely selfish, pragmatic reasons. Allport considered such religion to be unhealthy
Term
functional autonomy
Definition
motive that existed once for some practical reason later exists for its own sake. in other words, a motive that was once a means to an end becomes an end in itself. Allport's most famous and controversial concept
Term
habit
Definition
specific mode of responding - for example, putting on clean clothing in the morning - that develops because a more general trait exists, for example, the trait of cleanliness
Term
idiographic method
Definition
research method that studies a single case in great detail and depth
Term
individual traits
Definition
either the unique patterns of traits possessed by an individual or the unique way that a particular trait manifests itself in the personality of a particular person. for example, a particular person's way of dispaying aggressiveness. later in the development of his theory, (Allport changed the term to personal disposition)
Term
intrinsic religion
Definition
religion that seeks a higher meaning and purpose in life and provides possible answers to the many mysteries that characterize human existence. Allport considered such a religion to be healthy
Term
must conscience
Definition
moral guide used by children whereby their moral judgments are determined by the internalized values of authority figures such as the parents. (This is similar to the superego postulated by Freud)
Term
need induction
Definition
creation of needs rather than their reduction. Allport believed the healthy human lives in accordance with long-term goals that create more problems than they solve. thus his theory is said to emphasize this rather than emphasize need reduction
Term
need reduction
Definition
satisfaction of a basic need. to many theorists, the elimination or reduction of needs is the primary goal in live. Allport did not agree
Term
nomothetic methods
Definition
research method that studies groups of individuals and therefore concentrates on average performance, rather than on the performance of a single individual
Term
ought conscience
Definition
moral guide used by normal, healthy adults whereby their moral judgments are governed by their own personal values and propriate strivings
Term
perseverative functional autonomy
Definition
low-level habits retained even though they are no longer functional
Term
personal disposition
Definition
identical to an individual trait. the term individual trait was changed to personal disposition to avoid confusion with the term common trait
Term
personal documents
Definition
to Allport, one of the best ways to study an individual's personality was to examine personal documents such as diaries, autobiographies, and letters
Term
personality
Definition
according to Allport, personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine characteristic behavior and thought
Term
prejudice
Definition
tendency to prejudge persons or objects in terms of how they are categorized as members of groups, rather than in terms of actual experience with them
Term
principle of mastery and competence
Definition
principle stating that there is an innate need for healthy adults to increase their efficiency and effectiveness and to aspire to greater mastery. In other words as Allport says: healthy humans have a need to become better and better at more and more tasks
Term
principle of organizing energy level
Definition
principle that states that when one no longer needs to be concerned with survival and early adjustments in life, an considerable amount of energy becomes available to that person
Term
principle of propriate patterning
Definition
principle stating that the proprium is the frame of reference that is used by a person in determining what is worth pursuing and what is not
Term
propriate functional autonomy
Definition
important motives around which one organizes one's life. such motive are independent of the conditions that originally produce them
Term
propriate striving
Definition
attribute that emerges during the seventh stage in the development of the proprium. at this stage, the adolescent becomes almost completely future oriented
Term
proprium
Definition
all the facts about a person that make him or her unique
Term
raw materials of personality
Definition
temperament, intelligence, and physique
Term
realistic perceptions
Definition
those accurate perceptions that characterize the healthy, mature adult
Term
secondary dispositions
Definition
more specific than cardinal or central dispositions but still more general than habits and attitudes. It maybe be a person's preference for flamboyant clothing or for sweet food
Term
self as knower
Definition
attribute that emerges during the eighth and final stage of development of the proprium. at this stage, the proprium is aware of, unifies, and transcends the preceding seven aspects of the proprium
Term
self as rational coper
Definition
attribute that emerges during the sixth stage in the development of proprium. at this stage, the child begins to use complex mental operations (thinking) to solve problems
Term
self-esteem
Definition
attribute that emerges during the third stage in the development of the proprium. at this stage, the child develops a feeling of pride by doing things on his or her own
Term
self-extension
Definition
attribute that emerges during the fourth stage in the development of the proprium. at this stage, the child's self-identity generalizes to external objects
Term
self-identity
Definition
attribute that emerges during the second stage in the development of the proprium. at this stage, the child realizes that he or she is the same person although conditions change
Term
self-image
Definition
attribute that emerges during the fifth stage in the development of the proprium. at this stage, the child develops a conscience and begins to formulate future goals
Term
self-objectification
Definition
honest appraisal of one's assets and liabilities that characterizes the healthy, mature adult. a person typically has a good sense of humor
Term
temperament
Definition
one of the raw materials from which personality is shaped. it is the emotional components of the personality
Term
trait
Definition
mental structures that initiates and guides reactions and thus accounts for the consistency in one's behavior
Term
type
Definition
category into which one person can be placed by another person. to label a person as an "aggressive type" is to place him or her in a descriptive category based on behavior
Term
unifying philosophy of life
Definition
unifying themes that hold together the life of a healthy, mature adult and gives it meaning. such a theme is often religious in nature but, according to Allport, it does not need to be
Supporting users have an ad free experience!