Introduction to Personality Theory

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What does the word 'personality' stem from?

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The word 'personality' stems from 'persona', which is Latin for 'mask'.

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How is personality defined?

Back

Personality is defined as a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behavior.

Front

What are the three key aspects of traits in personality?

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1. Consistency over time 2. Individual differences in behavior 3. Stability across situations.

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What are characteristics in the context of personality?

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Characteristics are unique qualities such as temperament, physique, and intelligence.

Front

What is a theory?

Back

A theory is a set of related assumptions that allows scientists to use logical deductive reasoning to formulate testable hypotheses.

Front

What is the difference between theory and philosophy?

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Philosophy is broader than theory.

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What is a hypothesis?

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A hypothesis is a specific guess that can be tested using the scientific method.

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What is taxonomy in the context of theories?

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Taxonomy is the classification according to natural relationships.

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Why are there different theories in personality psychology?

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Different theories arise from various personal backgrounds, philosophical orientations, unique perspectives, and the data chosen to observe.

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How do theorists' personalities influence their theories?

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The personalities and psychology of different theorists influence the kinds of theories that they develop.