AP Psychology: Personality Notes

Key Takeaways: Personality

1. Personality theories are ways of describing the qualities of people that make them unique individuals. Type and trait theories seek to classify people or specific parts of their personality. The behavioral perspective says that people are a product of their environment, while the biopsychological perspective says that people are a product of their genes. The social cognitive perspective says that personality and environment influence each other, and the humanistic perspective focuses on the positive and healthy aspects of personality.
2. The psychoanalytic perspective is a controversial theory of personality that has evolved over time. Psychoanalysts use unconscious instincts and desires to explain thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
3. Psychologists use objective and projective tests to study personality. Objective tests are questionnaires that reveal personality traits, but care must be taken to ensure their internal and external validity. Projective tests seek to reveal unconscious thoughts through the use of ambiguous images, but critics feel these tests reveal more about recent experiences or conscious thoughts than unconscious feelings.
4. Culture has an impact on the way personality develops. In particular, collectivist and individualistic cultures differently affect personal thoughts, behaviors, and values.