Sample Questions and Answers
According to Jung, “archetypes” are:
A) Specific traits that make up a person’s personality
B) Universal, inherited symbols found in the collective unconscious
C) The internal conflicts between different personality components
D) The unconscious desires that drive human behavior
Answer: B
Which of the following is NOT one of the primary motivations in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
A) Physiological needs
B) Safety needs
C) Cognitive needs
D) Self-actualization needs
Answer: C
The “myth of the innocence of childhood” refers to the idea that:
A) Childhood is a period free from anxiety and moral struggles
B) Children are naturally equipped with knowledge of right and wrong
C) Children are inherently more intelligent than adults
D) Children are unaware of their own psychological development
Answer: A
According to Freud, which part of the personality is primarily concerned with reality and makes decisions based on external constraints?
A) Id
B) Superego
C) Ego
D) Unconscious
Answer: C
Which of the following statements is most consistent with the humanistic approach to personality?
A) Personality is shaped mainly by unconscious drives and instincts
B) Personality is a reflection of the individual’s ability to self-actualize
C) Personality is largely determined by the biological factors and hereditary influences
D) Personality is a result of reinforcement and punishment
Answer: B
According to the trait theory, individuals who score high on the “openness to experience” dimension tend to:
A) Be more conventional and prefer routine
B) Have a strong need for security and stability
C) Enjoy novelty, creativity, and abstract thinking
D) Avoid taking risks and prefer familiar situations
Answer: C
Which of the following would most likely be an example of an extraverted behavior?
A) Preferring to stay home and read
B) Seeking out social gatherings and excitement
C) Spending time introspecting on personal thoughts
D) Avoiding large groups of people
Answer: B
Which of the following is a key characteristic of the biological approach to personality?
A) Emphasis on the role of unconscious conflict
B) Focus on the influence of genetic and physiological factors
C) Importance of social and environmental factors
D) Emphasis on personal growth and self-actualization
Answer: B
Which of the following best describes the “person-situation controversy”?
A) The debate about whether personality traits or situational factors determine behavior
B) The conflict between the conscious and unconscious mind
C) The argument about the role of free will in personality development
D) The debate over whether genetics or environment influence personality
Answer: A
According to Carl Rogers, which of the following is necessary for a person to experience personal growth?
A) Congruence between self-concept and experience
B) Repression of unwanted thoughts and feelings
C) Avoidance of social interaction and external feedback
D) Overcoming unconscious drives and desires
Answer: A
Which of the following is a hallmark of the psychodynamic approach to personality?
A) Focus on observable behaviors and reinforcement patterns
B) Emphasis on conscious thought and decision-making
C) Focus on the role of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences
D) Emphasis on the self-actualization process and growth potential
Answer: C
In the context of personality, “defense mechanisms” refer to:
A) The conscious efforts to cope with stress
B) The unconscious strategies used to protect the ego from anxiety
C) The deliberate attempts to manipulate others
D) The genetically determined traits that form personality
Answer: B
Which of the following is NOT a stage in Freud’s psychosexual development theory?
A) Oral stage
B) Phallic stage
C) Latency stage
D) Intellectual stage
Answer: D
According to the biological perspective, which of the following traits is most influenced by genetics?
A) Behavior patterns in response to environmental stressors
B) Patterns of emotional expression and intensity
C) The influence of social learning on personality
D) The development of an individual’s moral values
Answer: B
According to the trait theory of personality, “neuroticism” refers to:
A) A person’s tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety, fear, and depression
B) A person’s emotional stability and resistance to stress
C) A person’s openness to novel experiences
D) A person’s level of social assertiveness
Answer: A
According to Julian Rotter’s concept of “locus of control,” individuals with an internal locus of control believe:
A) Their successes or failures are the result of external factors, like luck or fate
B) Their behavior is shaped by the unconscious mind
C) Their successes or failures are the result of their own efforts and decisions
D) They have no control over their personality development
Answer: C
According to the social-cognitive theory, what is the primary influence on personality development?
A) Genetic predispositions and physical traits
B) The interactions between personal, environmental, and behavioral factors
C) The level of moral development a person achieves
D) The strength of an individual’s unconscious desires
Answer: B
A person who frequently exhibits behaviors like aggressiveness, risk-taking, and dominance would most likely score high on which of the Big Five personality traits?
A) Openness
B) Neuroticism
C) Extraversion
D) Agreeableness
Answer: C
In the context of humanistic psychology, “self-concept” refers to:
A) A person’s subjective interpretation of their life events
B) The organized set of beliefs and perceptions about oneself
C) The hidden desires and impulses that are repressed from consciousness
D) The biological foundation of personality traits
Answer: B
In the context of the Big Five personality traits, which of the following traits is most associated with the ability to manage stress and stay calm in difficult situations?
A) Neuroticism
B) Openness
C) Extraversion
D) Conscientiousness
Answer: A
According to Alfred Adler, which of the following is the primary motivator for human behavior?
A) The desire for power and control over others
B) The pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain
C) The striving for superiority and overcoming feelings of inferiority
D) The unconscious desires of the id
Answer: C
According to the cognitive perspective on personality, individuals who have an “optimistic explanatory style” are more likely to:
A) View setbacks as temporary and controllable
B) Focus on their negative traits and weaknesses
C) View their environment as uncontrollable and unchangeable
D) Display high levels of neuroticism
Answer: A
In Freud’s theory, the “latency stage” of psychosexual development is characterized by:
A) A focus on the development of the genital region
B) A period of emotional stability and calmness
C) A lack of interest in sexual activity and a focus on intellectual and social development
D) A focus on identifying with the same-sex parent
Answer: C
The “self-serving bias” refers to the tendency for people to:
A) Attribute their successes to external factors
B) View their behavior in a negative light when they fail
C) Attribute their successes to internal factors and failures to external factors
D) Focus on the failures of others rather than their own
Answer: C
In the context of personality, “self-actualization” is best described as:
A) The process of seeking social approval and acceptance
B) Achieving one’s full potential and becoming the best version of oneself
C) The development of strong defense mechanisms
D) The conscious effort to repress unwanted thoughts and feelings
Answer: B
According to Erikson’s psychosocial development theory, the conflict of “generativity vs. stagnation” occurs during which stage of life?
A) Adolescence
B) Young adulthood
C) Middle adulthood
D) Late adulthood
Answer: C
Which of the following is most closely associated with the cognitive perspective on personality development?
A) The emphasis on genetic influences
B) The importance of unconscious drives and instincts
C) The role of cognitive processes such as perception, memory, and interpretation
D) The influence of environmental rewards and punishments
Answer: C
Which of the following theories emphasizes the role of free will, personal growth, and self-actualization in personality development?
A) Psychodynamic theory
B) Humanistic theory
C) Behaviorist theory
D) Trait theory
Answer: B
In Freud’s theory, the “Oedipus complex” occurs during which stage of psychosexual development?
A) Phallic stage
B) Oral stage
C) Latency stage
D) Genital stage
Answer: A
Which of the following would be a key characteristic of someone with high levels of “openness to experience” according to the Big Five personality traits?
A) Preference for routine and predictability
B) Strong focus on practical, concrete ideas
C) Curiosity, creativity, and willingness to try new things
D) High emotional stability and calmness in stressful situations
Answer: C
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