PPE 3003 Exam 1 Questions Answered Correctly Latest Update 2026/2027
Personality is the set of psychological _________ and _________. - Answers traits; mechanisms
Define trait-descriptive adjectives and average tendencies and understand how these interplay
with psychological traits. - Answers Descriptive adjectives (about 20,000) are used to describe
certain traits that characterize an individual's average tendencies or behaviors.
True or false: Personality is stable over time and consistent over situations. - Answers true
Define psychological mechanisms, be able to describe and identify the three essential
ingredients of psychological mechanisms. - Answers 3 ingredients: inputs, decision rules and
outputs.
Explain how certain personality traits are activated only under particular circumstances. -
Answers Some personality traits may be activated only under specific circumstances such as
courage:
-Inputs (environment) - danger (snake)
-Decision rules (options) - if courageous, face it; if not, run
-Outputs (behaviors) - run
Describe the four types of interactions with situations. (perceptions, selections, evocations and
manipulations) - Answers 1. perceptions-how we see the world
2. selections- manner in which we choose situations to enter
3. evocations- reactions we produce in others
4. manipulations- ways we intentionally attempt to influence other people
Give an example of how maladaptive traits may be functional - Answers Excessive worrying can
lead to a lot of support from others
Identify the types of questions that personality researchers ask. (4) - Answers 1. How many
traits are there?
2. How are the traits organized?
3. What are the origins of traits?
4. What are the correlations and consequences of traits?
What are the 3 levels of personality analysis? - Answers 1. human nature (universals)
2. individual and group differences (particulars)
, 3. individual uniqueness
Describe the human nature level of personality analysis. - Answers -How we are "like all others"
-Traits and mechanisms of personality that are typical of our species and possessed by nearly
everyone
Give 2 examples of traits and mechanisms that are typical of our species. - Answers 1. language
skills
2. need to belong
Describe the individual and group differences level of personality analysis. - Answers -how we
are "like some others"
-Individual differences:
ways in which each person is like some other people (e.g., extraverts, sensations-seekers, high
self-esteem persons)
-Group differences:
ways in which the people of one group differ from people in another group (e.g., cultural
differences, age differences)
Describe the individual uniqueness level of personality analysis - Answers -how we are "like no
others"
-Every individual has personal and unique qualities not shared by any other person in the world
Differentiate idiographic and nomothetic approaches to personality research. - Answers
Nomothetic- statistical comparisons of individuals or groups to identify human universals
Idiographic- single person used to identify uniqueness
Name the 6 domains of knowledge: - Answers Dispositional
Biological
Intrapsychic
Cognitive-Experiential
Social and Cultural
Adjustment
This primary goal of the __________ domain is to analyze individual differences. - Answers
dispositional
Personality is the set of psychological _________ and _________. - Answers traits; mechanisms
Define trait-descriptive adjectives and average tendencies and understand how these interplay
with psychological traits. - Answers Descriptive adjectives (about 20,000) are used to describe
certain traits that characterize an individual's average tendencies or behaviors.
True or false: Personality is stable over time and consistent over situations. - Answers true
Define psychological mechanisms, be able to describe and identify the three essential
ingredients of psychological mechanisms. - Answers 3 ingredients: inputs, decision rules and
outputs.
Explain how certain personality traits are activated only under particular circumstances. -
Answers Some personality traits may be activated only under specific circumstances such as
courage:
-Inputs (environment) - danger (snake)
-Decision rules (options) - if courageous, face it; if not, run
-Outputs (behaviors) - run
Describe the four types of interactions with situations. (perceptions, selections, evocations and
manipulations) - Answers 1. perceptions-how we see the world
2. selections- manner in which we choose situations to enter
3. evocations- reactions we produce in others
4. manipulations- ways we intentionally attempt to influence other people
Give an example of how maladaptive traits may be functional - Answers Excessive worrying can
lead to a lot of support from others
Identify the types of questions that personality researchers ask. (4) - Answers 1. How many
traits are there?
2. How are the traits organized?
3. What are the origins of traits?
4. What are the correlations and consequences of traits?
What are the 3 levels of personality analysis? - Answers 1. human nature (universals)
2. individual and group differences (particulars)
, 3. individual uniqueness
Describe the human nature level of personality analysis. - Answers -How we are "like all others"
-Traits and mechanisms of personality that are typical of our species and possessed by nearly
everyone
Give 2 examples of traits and mechanisms that are typical of our species. - Answers 1. language
skills
2. need to belong
Describe the individual and group differences level of personality analysis. - Answers -how we
are "like some others"
-Individual differences:
ways in which each person is like some other people (e.g., extraverts, sensations-seekers, high
self-esteem persons)
-Group differences:
ways in which the people of one group differ from people in another group (e.g., cultural
differences, age differences)
Describe the individual uniqueness level of personality analysis - Answers -how we are "like no
others"
-Every individual has personal and unique qualities not shared by any other person in the world
Differentiate idiographic and nomothetic approaches to personality research. - Answers
Nomothetic- statistical comparisons of individuals or groups to identify human universals
Idiographic- single person used to identify uniqueness
Name the 6 domains of knowledge: - Answers Dispositional
Biological
Intrapsychic
Cognitive-Experiential
Social and Cultural
Adjustment
This primary goal of the __________ domain is to analyze individual differences. - Answers
dispositional
