This is where the definition will appear when you click on the Key Term.















aggressive personality
In Horney's personality theory, the personality type that is characterized by a need to act aggressively in a world seen as hostile.















agreeableness
The dimension in the five-factor personality theory that includes traits such as warmth, generosity, pleasantness, cooperativeness, and cheerfulness; also called friendliness.















analytical psychology
The personality theory of Carl Jung.















archetypes
In Jung's personality theory, unconscious universal ideas shared by all humans.















behavior potential
In Rotter's personality theory, the probability that a particular behavior occurs in a specific situation.















California Psychological Inventory (CPI)
An objective personality test used to study normal populations.















cardinal traits
In Allport's personality theory, the traits of an individual that are so dominant that they are expressed in everything the person does; few people possess cardinal traits.















central traits
In Allport's personality theory, the traits of an individual that form the core of the personality; they are developed through experience.















collective unconscious
Jung's representation of the thoughts shared by all humans.















compliant personality
In Horney's personality theory, the personality type that is characterized by a strong need to be loved and needed by others.















congruence
In Rogers's personality theory, the state in which the different aspects of the personality--the real self, perceived self, and ideal self--are essentially the same.















conscientiousness
The dimension in the five-factor personality theory that includes traits such as practical, cautious, serious, reliable, careful, and ambitious; also called dependability.















death instinct
(also called thanatos) Freud's term for an instinct that is destructive to the individual or species; aggression is a major expression of death instinct.















detached personality
In Horney's personality theory, the personality type that is characterized by a need to maintain distance from others.















ego
Freud's term for individual's sense of reality.















Electra complex
The Freudian idea that the young girl feels inferior to boys because she lacks a penis.















emotional stability
The dimension in the five-factor personality theory that includes traits such as relaxation, calmness, unemotionalism, security, and patience; negative pole is neuroticism.















Eros
Freud's term for an instinct that helps the individual or species survive; also called life instinct.















expectancy
In experimental research, a type of experimenter bias in which the experimenter subtly influences the outcome of an experiment; sometimes called the self-fulfilling prophecy. In Rotter's personality theory, the individual's belief that if he or she exhibits a certain behavior in a specific situation, it will result in reinforcement.















external locus of control
In Rotter's personality theory, the perception that reinforcement is independent of a person's behavior.















extraversion
The dimension in the five-factor personality theory that includes traits such as sociability, talkativeness, boldness, fun-lovingness, adventurousness, and assertiveness; also called surgency. The personality concept of Jung in which the personal energy of the individual is directed externally.















factor analysis
A statistical procedure used to determine the relationship among variables.















five-factor model of personality tracts
A trait theory of personality that includes the factors of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness.















humanistic psychologist
Psychologist who concentrates on developing theories based on the uniqueness of the human personality.















id
Freud's representation of the basic instinctual drives; the id always seeks pleasure.















individual psychology
The personality theory of Alfred Adler; this theory focuses on the uniqueness of each individual person.















individuation
Jung's concept of the process leading to the unification of all parts of the personality.















inferiority complex
Adler's personality concept that states that because children are dependent on adults and cannot meet the standards set for themselves they feel inferior.















internal locus of control
In Rotter's personality theory, the perception that reinforcement is contingent upon behavior.















introversion
The personality concept of Jung in which the personal energy of the individual is directed inward; characterized by introspection, seriousness, inhibition, and restraint.















libido
Freud's term for psychic energy that builds up in the id and powers motivation.















life instinct
(also called Eros) Freud's term for an instinct that helps the individual or species survive; sex is the major expression of life instinct.















locus of control
Rotter's theory in which a person's beliefs about reinforcement are classified as internal or external.















Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-)
An objective personality test that was originally devised to identify personality disorders.















Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Objective personality test based on Jung's type theory.















NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI)
An objective personality test developed by Costa & McCrae to measure the five major factors in personality; consists of ??? questions.















neurotic needs
In Horney's personality theory, needs that are irrational in dealing with basic anxiety.















objective personality tests
Measures of personality administered and scored according to standardized instructions.















observation
Research method that involves watching an individual's behavior in everyday situations over a period of time; also called naturalistic observation.















Oedipus complex
The Freudian idea that the young boy has sexual feelings for his mother and is jealous of his father and must identify with his father to resolve the conflict.















openness
The dimension in the five-factor personality theory that includes traits such as imagination, creativity, perception, knowledge, artistic ability, curiosity, and analytical ability; also called culture or intellect.















personal unconscious
Jung's representation of the individual's repressed thoughts and memories.















personality
The distinctive and enduring patterns of behavior and cognition that characterize a person's adaptation to life.















person-centered approach
Rogers's personality theory in which the emphasis is on the individual.















pleasure principle
In Freudian theory, the idea that the instinctual drives of the id unconsciously and impulsively seek immediate pleasure.















projective personality test
personality test that presents ambiguous stimuli to which subjects are expected to respond with projections of their own personality.















psyche
According to Jung, the thoughts and feelings (conscious and unconscious) of an individual.















psychological types
Jung's term for different personality profiles; Jung combined two attitudes and four functions to produce eight psychological types.















rating scales
Standardized forms for recording personal evaluations of a subject.















reality principle
In Freudian theory, the idea that the drives of the ego try to find socially acceptable ways to gratify the id.















reciprocal determinism
The concept proposed by Bandura that the behavior, the individual, and the situation interact and influence each other.















reinforcement value
In Rotter's personality theory, the importance or values a person attaches to a particular reinforcement.















Rorschach Inkblot Test
A projective personality test in which subjects are asked to discuss what they see in cards containing blots of ink.















secondary traits
In Allport's personality theory, the less important situation-specific traits that help round out personality; include attitudes, skills, and behavior patterns.















self-actualization
A humanistic term describing the state in which all of an individual's capacities are developed fully. Fifth and highest level of motives in Maslow's hierarchy; this level, the realization of one's potential, is rarely reached.















self-efficacy
An individual's sense of self-worth and success in adjusting to the world.















social cognitive theory
Bandura's approach to personality that proposes that individuals use observation, imitation, and cognition to develop personality.















social learning theory
An approach to social psychology that emphasizes observation and modeling. Social learning theory states that reinforcement is involved in motivation rather than in learning, and proposes that aggression is a form of learned behavior.















source traits
In Cattell's personality theory, the traits basic to the core of an individual's personality.















Strong Interest Inventory
An objective personality test that compares people's personalities to groups that achieve success in certain occupations.















superego
Freud's representation of conscience.















surface traits
In Cattell's personality theory, the observable characteristics of a person's behavior and personality.















Thanatos
Freud's term for a destructive instinct such as aggression; also called death instinct.















Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
Projective personality test in which subjects are shown pictures of people in everyday settings; subjects must make up a story about the people portrayed.















trait
A distinctive and stable attribute in people.















unconditional positive regard
Part of Rogers's personality theory; occurs when we accept someone regardless of what he or she does or says.















unstructured interview
An interview in which there is no specific list of questions that must be followed.