Psychology 3051 Psychology 305A: Theories of Personality Lecture 14 1.

Psychology 305 1

Psychology 305A: Theories of Personality

Lecture 14

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Midterm Exam: March 7th, 2013

• The exam will be scored out of 50 points: 30 multiple choice questions (1 point each), 5 extended response questions (2-6 points each; totaling 20 points).

• The exam is worth one-third of your final grade if you do not write the optional paper and one-quarter of your final grade if you do write the optional paper.

• The exam will assess your learning of the content of chapters 6-9 and related lecture material.

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• Please arrive on time to facilitate rapid distribution of the exams.

• Bring a pencil, eraser, pen, and student ID to the exam.

• All electronic devices must be stored prior to the exam.

• Bags and backpacks should be left at the front of the room. Valuables may be placed under your seat.

• Turn in extra copies of the exam at the start of the examination period; university policy requires that all exams be accounted for before students are permitted to leave the examination room.

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Analysis of the Personality of a Dictator: Adolf Hitler Discussion Questions

1.Hitler used Darwin’s theory of evolution to justify his genocidal acts. Explain how Darwin’s theory could be used to justify genocide.

2. Can evolutionary psychology offer explanations for antisocial behaviour and/or psychopathy?

3. Speculate upon the physiological causes of antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy.

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Discussion Questions, continued

4. Do you think that Hitler was primarily driven by life instincts or death instincts?

5. Freud suggested that personality is comprised of 3 components—the id, the ego, and the superego. Which

of these components do you think dominated Hitler’s personality?

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Discussion Questions, continued

6. Do you think that Hitler was fixated at an early stage of personality development? If so, at what stage

was he fixated? What experiences or personality characteristics lead you to believe that he was

fixated at this stage?

7. Do you think that Hitler used any defense mechanisms? If so, what defense mechanisms do you think he used?

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Discussion Questions, continued

8. Do you think that Hitler successfully resolved all of the crises identified in Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development?

9. Speculate upon Hitler’s attachment style as an adult.

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Psychology 305 8

• Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)

Assesses 20 symptoms associated with psychopathy.

Reflects 2 factors:

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Personality Characteristics Related to Psychopathy

A. Behavioural features: Parasitic lifestyle, poor behavioural control, promiscuous sexual behaviour, early behaviour problems, lack of realistic long-term goals, impulsivity, irresponsibility, failure to accept responsibility for actions, juvenile delinquency, criminal versatility.

B. Affective/interpersonal features: Glibness/superficial charm, grandiose sense of self-worth, need for stimulation/proneness to boredom, pathological lying, manipulative, lack of remorse or guilt, shallow affect, callous/lack of empathy.

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Psychology 305 10

• Heritability statistics (Blonigen et al., 2003; Bouchard et al., 1990; Tellegen et al., 1988):

Fearlessness ………………………………………… > .95

Carefree Nonplanfulness (i.e., impulsiveness)……... .94

Machiavellianism (i.e., enjoys manipulating others)... .74

Social potency (i.e., skilled at influencing others) …. .66

Aggressiveness ……………………………………….. .67

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1. The Id: Encompasses drives and instincts. Operates according to the pleasure principle. Engages in

primary process thought. Cannot tolerate delay in gratification or follow logic.

Freud’s 3 components of personality:

2. The Ego: Primary task is to express the drives and instincts of the id in an effective and safe manner. Operates according to the reality principle. Engages in secondary process thought. Does not abide by any moral code.

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3. The Superego: Encompasses values, morals, and ideals internalized from one’s parents. Primary tasks are to (a)

inhibit drives or instincts of the id that would be frowned upon by one’s parents, (b) ensure that the ego acts morally rather than merely logically, and (c) provide standards of perfection toward which to strive (often unrealistic).

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1. Oral Stage (0 – 18 months)

Freud’s stages of psychosexual development:

Main conflict at this stage occurs when the infant is weaned from the breast.

2. Anal Stage (18 months – 3 years)

Main conflict at this stage occurs when the child is toilet trained.

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3. Phallic Stage (3 – 5 years)

Fixation results in poor moral development in both males and females.

Main conflict at this stage is referred to as the Oedipus Complex for boys and the Electra Complex for girls.

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Alois Hitler Klara Hitler

4. Latency Stage (6 years – puberty)

There are no specific conflicts at this time; a stage of relative calm, in which there is little psychological growth.

There are no specific conflicts at this time; the stage of “psychosexual maturity,” at which point the individual is transformed into a “well-socialized, caring adult.”

5. Genital Stage (puberty – adulthood)

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• Freud’s defense mechanisms:

1. Repression: Occurs when information that was once recognized by the conscious mind is forced into the unconscious mind because it is threatening.

2. Denial: Occurs when an individual denies the reality of information that is threatening, despite evidence to the contrary. Thus, the information is never consciously accepted.

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4. Reaction Formation: Occurs when an individual behaves in a manner that is the direct opposite of her/

his unconscious, unacceptable impulses.

5. Displacement: Occurs when an individual redirects an unconscious, unacceptable impulse to another, less threatening object or person.

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3. Projection: Occurs when an individual projects unconscious, unacceptable qualities onto another object or person.

7. Intellectualization: Occurs when an individual emotionally dissociates him/herself from unconscious,

unacceptable impulses by thinking about events related to the impulse in a cold and analytical manner.

6. Rationalization: Occurs when an individual provides a rational and acceptable “post-hoc” explanation for a behaviour that was motivated by unconscious,

unacceptable impulses.

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9. Sublimation: Occurs when an individual channels unconscious, unacceptable impulses into socially desirable activities.

8. Regression: Occurs when an individual adopts coping strategies that were effective in an earlier, less

frustrating stage of development. The individual retreats to more immature patterns of behaviour and gratification.

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Age Stage Label Crisis Ego (Basic) Strength

0-1 Infancy Basic trust vs. mistrust Hope

2-3 Early childhood

Autonomy vs. shame and doubt

Will

3-5 Preschool Initiative vs. guilt Purpose

6-11 School age Industry vs. inferiority Competence

12-20 Adolescence Identity vs. role confusion Fidelity

21-35 Young adulthood

Intimacy vs. isolation Love

36-60 Adulthood Generativity vs. stagnation

Care

61-Death Old age Ego integrity vs. despair Wisdom

Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development

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MODEL OF SELF

MODEL OF OTHER

Positive

Positive

Negative

Negative

SECURE

FEARFULPREOCCUPIED

DISMISSING

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