Personality Psych 4

To overcome the paradox of studying self-aware beings by focusing on uniquely human phenomena like free will, reflection, and imagination.

To regain contact with the raw experience of being alive and aware.

What is the nature of existence? How does existence feel? What does existence mean?

The biological sensations (pain, heat, pleasure) from being a physical organism.

The social emotions and thoughts arising from interactions with others.

The psychological, introspective experience of your own self and existence.

The time, place, and circumstances (family, culture, historical moment) into which a person is born.

The unpleasant feeling caused by contemplating life's meaning and one's mortality.

Forlornness (we must make our own choices), Anguish (our choices aren't perfect), and Despair (outcomes are beyond our control).

The duty to face angst and mortality directly and to seek personal purpose and authenticity.

Ignoring existential questions and living inauthentically by conforming to external expectations.

1. Living a cowardly lie. 2. Leading to unhappiness. 3. Being ultimately impossible to sustain.

Accepting mortality and choosing to live honestly, insightfully, and by self-determined moral principles.

The philosophical study of one's conscious experience of the world, considered the basis of free will.

A person's personal interpretation or understanding of an experience; free will involves choosing your construal.

The observation of one's own perceptions, thoughts, and feelings.

Bipolar dimensions (e.g., strong-weak, liberal-conservative) that a person uses to interpret and predict events.

An assessment to identify a person's unique personal constructs by comparing how they see similarities/differences between people or ideas.

To understand another person, you must understand their personal construct system.

The idea that any event can be construed in multiple ways, and people can choose to change their interpretations.

1. Phenomenology is central. 2. People have free will. 3. People are basically good.

The inherent, basic need to maintain and enhance one's life; the driving force of personality.

Physiological -> Safety -> Belonging -> Esteem -> Self-Actualization. Lower needs must be met before higher ones.

Building the best qualities in life (happiness, meaning, virtue) rather than just repairing pathology.

Hedonia (pursuit of pleasure) and Eudaimonia (pursuit of meaning).

The pursuit of pleasure and comfort and avoidance of pain; often involves extrinsic goals like money or fame.

The pursuit of meaning, virtue, and personal growth through the intrinsic goals of Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness.

1. Overall life satisfaction. 2. Satisfaction with specific domains (work, relationships). 3. High positive emotion & low negative emotion.

Set Point (50%, genetic), Intentional Activity (40%, choices), and Circumstances (10%, demographics).

Happiness levels tend to increase with age, shifting from excitement to peace/contentment.

Positive correlation up to a point of comfort, after which additional income yields diminishing returns.

Linked to better health, professional success, supportive relationships, and less substance use.

Can lead to risk blindness, complacency, ignoring problems, and arrogant or harmful behavior.

A tendency to view oneself, one's life, and the future with a positive outlook; encompasses self-esteem, life satisfaction, and optimism.

Acts as a psychological asset that can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms and promote resilience.

A state of optimal experience from autotelic activities where challenge matches skill, characterized by deep concentration and loss of time sense.

An activity done for its own sake, purely for enjoyment, which is most likely to induce Flow.

A state of non-judgmental, present-moment awareness of one's thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.

Intentional activities (e.g., journaling) that focus on appreciating positive aspects of life, linked to increased happiness and health.

The psychological attributes of a group, including customs, habits, beliefs, values, language, and modes of thinking.

Research that compares and attempts to explain psychological differences between different cultural groups.

Research that seeks to understand a single culture in its own terms and the unique differences among individuals within that culture.

Because ~80% of psychological research is based on WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) samples.

Because culture acts as a lens, shaping fundamental perceptions of reality (e.g., color categorization).

Components of a concept that are universal across cultures (e.g., the concept of "duty").

Components of a concept that are specific to a particular culture (e.g., the Japanese concept of "amae").

The process of learning one's native culture, primarily occurring early in life.

The process of partially or fully acquiring a new cultural outlook, often after moving to a new culture.

Belonging to two cultures and integrating both into one's identity.

The theory that cultural differences arise because groups developed in different environments with unique problems to solve.

Judging another culture by the standards and values of one's own culture, often viewing one's own way as the "norm."

The tendency to see members of an outgroup as more similar to each other than members of one's ingroup.

A system that values independence, personal achievement, and the self as more important than the group.

A system that values group harmony, duty, and interdependence, where the group's needs outweigh the individual's.

A system that accepts hierarchy and status differences as natural and legitimate.

A system that emphasizes equality and views people as having essentially the same status.

A system where self-worth is seen as internal and inalienable, not based on others' opinions (common in individualistic West).

A system focused on protecting one's own and others' social image, promoting Hierarchy, Humility, and Harmony (common in East Asia).

A system where self-worth is tied to reputation; insults must be defended against (common in U.S. South, Latin America).

Men from honor cultures showed greater physiological stress, increased dominance hormones, and more aggressive responses when insulted.

They have been observed in over 50 cultures, with Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Agreeableness being the most universal.

Traits that promote good relationships: Extraversion, Agreeableness, warmth, high positive emotionality, and low negative emotionality.

Traits that undermine relationships: Introversion, disagreeableness, untrustworthiness, anger, dispositional contempt, and rejection sensitivity.

A sense of superiority coupled with scornful feelings toward others; a major deal-breaker.

A hypersensitivity to perceived rejection by a partner, leading to anxious or hostile reactions.

"Birds of a feather flock together." Similarity on average traits generally predicts higher relationship satisfaction.

Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional. A good "Personality-Job Fit" leads to satisfaction.

High Conscientiousness, Integrity, and Trustworthiness.

Emotional Stability, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Openness. Best leaders use persuasion, not coercion.

Conscientiousness and Extraversion.

Agreeableness (possibly due to less negotiation).

An enduring, inflexible pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates from cultural norms and causes distress/impairment.

The individual does not perceive their thoughtsehaviors as a problem (contrasts with ego-dystonic disorders).

To standardize diagnosis for objective assessment and insurance billing.

Into 10 specific disorders across three clusters: A (Odd/Eccentric), B (Dramatic/Erratic), C (Anxious/Fearful).

It emphasizes dimensional assessment, focusing on 6 primary disorders and rating impairment on 5 maladaptive trait domains.

Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Avoidant, Obsessive-Compulsive PD (OCPD), and Narcissistic PD.

Extreme odd thoughts, superstitions, unconventional behavior, and discomfort with close relationships.

Decetiful, manipulative, dangerous, and impulsive behavior without remorse. More common in men.

Extreme emotional instability, identity disturbance, chaotic relationships, and fear of abandonment. More common in women.

Pervasive fear of rejection, leading to avoidance of social interaction despite a deep desire for connection.

Preoccupation with order, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility. (Not the same as OCD).

Grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy, and sense of entitlement. Highly ego-syntonic.

Negative Affectivity, Detachment, Antagonism, Disinhibition, and Psychoticism.

1. Assess level of personality functioning. 2. Identify a specific PD type. 3. Rate severity on the five maladaptive trait domains.

Characterized by a complex, integrated self-concept, rich emotional life, productive work, and fulfilling relationships.

1. Biological (e.g., stress response). 2. Behavioral (e.g., health habits).

It was originally linked to heart disease in studies later questioned due to tobacco industry funding.

Hostility (cynicism, anger) is a well-established risk factor.

High conscientiousness is the strongest and most consistent personality predictor of longevity.

Industriousness (hard-working), Order (organized), and Responsibility.

It is generally associated with poorer health outcomes, though the relationship is complex.

A state of heightened, constant alertness and scanning for threats, involving physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms.

Generally associated with better health and stress resistance, but can sometimes lead to ignoring risks.