Questions&Answer Personality

1. How does culture affect Personality?
Ans - The culture in which you live is one of the most important environmental factors that
shapes your personality. Western ideas about personality may not be applicable to other
cultures. In fact, there is evidence that the strength of personality traits varies across
cultures. Individualist cultures and collectivist cultures place emphasis on different basic
values. People who live in individualist cultures tend to believe that independence,
competition, and personal achievement are important. People who live in collectivist
cultures value social harmony, respectfulness, and group needs over individual needs.
2. How does Trait theory differ from other theories of personality?
Ans - The essential difference between the trait theory and type theory is this: type theory
views characteristics of people as discrete categories whereas trait theory views these same
characteristics as part of a larger continuum. For example, where a type theorist would claim
that introverts and extroverts are two types of people, a trait theorist would claim there is a
gradient leading from introversion to extroversion and it is possible for individuals to fall
somewhere in the middle.
3. List the differences between Humanistic and Psychodynamic theories of personality.
Ans-The underlying principles of psychodynamic perspective is that an individual’s
“behaviour is largely the result of unconscious processes, motivation and early experiences.”
(Weston, Burton & Kowalski, 2005, p. 25). Humanistic theory is centred around behaviour
and mental process they criticised psychoanalytic theorists of being too focussed on the
unconscious mind. (Theoretical perspectives in psychology, n.d, para. 3). Humanistic theory
focuses on the positive influences of behaviour such as uniqueness, choice, self actualisation
and free will while psychodynamic focuses on the negative influences of behaviour such as
unacceptable sexual urges and deplorable thoughts. Humanistic theory emphasises that
people are born “good” and psychodynamic theory emphasises that people are born ‘bad’
and that everything people do has a selfish motive.

4. What are the main tenets of Cattell’s theory?
Ans- According to Raymond Cattell, personality is a pattern of traits and that helps to
understand his personality and predict his behaviour. Traits are permanent and build the
personality of an individual.Surface Traits or Central Traits are the visible qualities of
personality like kindness, honesty, helpfulness, generosity, etc. On further study, he found
certain traits that appeared from time to time which indicated some deeper, more general
underlying factors of personality, called as source traits.The basic structure of the
personality of a person is made up of the source traits. They are the unifying factors of a
person’s personality that inter-correlate the surface traits.
5. Describe the phenomena of personality and its contributing factors.
Ans - The word "personality" stems from the Latin word persona, which refers to a theatrical
mask worn by performers to play roles or disguise their identities.Personality describes the
unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguish a person from others. A
product of both biology and environment, it remains fairly consistent throughout
life.Examples of personality can be found in how we describe other people’s traits. For
instance, “She is generous, caring, and a bit of a perfectionist,” or “They are loyal and
protective of their friends.” Heredity: This refers to the influences on your personality that
you are born with. They are in your genes and there is not much you can do to change these
traits. They can include your temperament, which helps to determine how you react to
situations and how easygoing you are. In kids, it may affect how well they get along with
others. Genetics, of course, also determines how someone looks. Environment: Our
environment is the nurturing aspect of our lives. It is the type of environment in which we
live and grow up. Environment would include home, school, work, or other places that you
spend a lot of time. Environmental factors also include such things as languages, religion,
etc. Situations: These are the experiences that each individual person goes through. The
various things that people experience will leave imprints on and help to develop his or her
personality. Everything from divorce, death, trauma, and even happy times fit into the
"situations" category of shaping one's personality.
6. What characteristics fully functioning person possess?
Ans- According to the humanist psychologist Carl Rogers, a fully functioning person is one
who is in touch with their deepest and innermost feelings and desires.1 These individuals
understand their own emotions and place deep trust in their own instincts. Unconditional
positive regard plays an essential role in becoming a fully functioning person.
Characteristics of fully functional person:-
Not feeling the need to distort or deny experiences
Flexible self-concept and the ability to change through experience
Lack of defensiveness
Living in harmony with other people
Openness to experience
Openness to feedback; willing to make realistic changes
The ability to interpret experiences accurately
The ability to trust one’s experiences and form values based on those experiences
Unconditional self-regard
7. Critically examine Freud’s theory of personality.
Ans- In simple terms, Sigmund Freud’s theory suggests that human behavior is influenced by
unconscious memories, thoughts, and urges. This theory also proposes that the psyche
comprises three aspects: the id, ego, and superego. The id is entirely unconscious, while the
ego operates in the conscious mind. The superego operates both unconsciously and
consciously.Sigmund Freud was heavily criticized for his theories and focus on sex and
aggression. Several critics stated that Freud was too simplistic and repetitive in his ways and
was focused on what could not be seen. He was also regarded as not being empathetic and
projecting his feelings into the theories he conceptualized. His theories were regarded as
mythical with no scientific basis, and even his disciples went on the same path. On the other
hand, using case studies and developing theories on defense mechanisms, His theories of
the ego and the expansion of his theories are still very valid.

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1. How does culture affect Personality?

2. How does Trait theory differ from other theories of personality?

somewhere in the middle.

3. List the differences between Humanistic and Psychodynamic theories of personality.

Ans-The underlying principles of psychodynamic perspective is that an individual’s

and that everything people do has a selfish motive.

personality of an individual.Surface Traits or Central Traits are the visible qualities of

underlying factors of personality, called as source traits.The basic structure of the

person’s personality that inter-correlate the surface traits.

5. Describe the phenomena of personality and its contributing factors.

product of both biology and environment, it remains fairly consistent throughout

"situations" category of shaping one's personality.

6. What characteristics fully functioning person possess?

positive regard plays an essential role in becoming a fully functioning person.

Characteristics of fully functional person:-

Not feeling the need to distort or deny experiences

Flexible self-concept and the ability to change through experience

Living in harmony with other people

Openness to feedback; willing to make realistic changes

The ability to interpret experiences accurately

7. Critically examine Freud’s theory of personality.

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