D564 Final Exam V3 | WGU D564 Theories
of Personality | Western Governors
University
1. According to Freud, which component of personality is entirely unconscious and driven by
the pleasure principle?
A. Ego
B. Superego
C. Id
D. Ideal Self
Answer: C
Rationale: The id is the most primitive part of the personality and exists entirely within
the unconscious mind. It functions based on the pleasure principle, which demands
immediate gratification of all biological urges and instincts. Unlike the ego, it has no contact
with reality and operates without logic or morality.
2. Carl Jung proposed that the shared memories and ideas inherited from our ancestors
reside in the:
A. Personal unconscious
B. Social unconscious
C. Preconscious
,D. Collective unconscious
Answer: D
Rationale: The collective unconscious is a concept central to analytical psychology and
refers to structures of the unconscious mind which are shared among beings of the same
species. It contains archetypes, which are universal patterns or images that appear in
myths and dreams across cultures. Jung believed these inherited predispositions influence
how we perceive the world.
3. In Adler’s theory, the primary motivation for human behavior is:
A. Sexual energy
B. Striving for superiority
C. Aggression
D. Self-actualization
Answer: B
Rationale: Alfred Adler believed that all individuals start life with feelings of inferiority
and spend their lives trying to overcome them. This process, which he called striving for
superiority, is the fundamental motive behind personality development. It represents a
movement toward perfection and completion rather than just social status.
4. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own unacceptable impulses or
qualities to others?
A. Rationalization
, B. Reaction formation
C. Displacement
D. Projection
Answer: D
Rationale: Projection is a psychological defense mechanism in which individuals deal with
conflict by falsely attributing their own unacknowledged feelings to others. For example, a
person who is angry might accuse their partner of being the one with the anger problem.
This mechanism helps reduce anxiety by shifting the focus away from the self.
5. Karen Horney described ‘basic anxiety’ as being the result of:
A. Feelings of isolation and helplessness in a hostile world
B. Unresolved Oedipal conflicts
C. The fear of the shadow archetype
D. The frustration of biological needs
Answer: A
Rationale: Basic anxiety is a core concept in Horney’s theory, stemming from a child’s
sense of being alone in a potentially unfriendly environment. It develops when parents do
not provide a secure and loving atmosphere, leading the child to feel vulnerable. This
anxiety drives the development of interpersonal strategies to find safety.
of Personality | Western Governors
University
1. According to Freud, which component of personality is entirely unconscious and driven by
the pleasure principle?
A. Ego
B. Superego
C. Id
D. Ideal Self
Answer: C
Rationale: The id is the most primitive part of the personality and exists entirely within
the unconscious mind. It functions based on the pleasure principle, which demands
immediate gratification of all biological urges and instincts. Unlike the ego, it has no contact
with reality and operates without logic or morality.
2. Carl Jung proposed that the shared memories and ideas inherited from our ancestors
reside in the:
A. Personal unconscious
B. Social unconscious
C. Preconscious
,D. Collective unconscious
Answer: D
Rationale: The collective unconscious is a concept central to analytical psychology and
refers to structures of the unconscious mind which are shared among beings of the same
species. It contains archetypes, which are universal patterns or images that appear in
myths and dreams across cultures. Jung believed these inherited predispositions influence
how we perceive the world.
3. In Adler’s theory, the primary motivation for human behavior is:
A. Sexual energy
B. Striving for superiority
C. Aggression
D. Self-actualization
Answer: B
Rationale: Alfred Adler believed that all individuals start life with feelings of inferiority
and spend their lives trying to overcome them. This process, which he called striving for
superiority, is the fundamental motive behind personality development. It represents a
movement toward perfection and completion rather than just social status.
4. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own unacceptable impulses or
qualities to others?
A. Rationalization
, B. Reaction formation
C. Displacement
D. Projection
Answer: D
Rationale: Projection is a psychological defense mechanism in which individuals deal with
conflict by falsely attributing their own unacknowledged feelings to others. For example, a
person who is angry might accuse their partner of being the one with the anger problem.
This mechanism helps reduce anxiety by shifting the focus away from the self.
5. Karen Horney described ‘basic anxiety’ as being the result of:
A. Feelings of isolation and helplessness in a hostile world
B. Unresolved Oedipal conflicts
C. The fear of the shadow archetype
D. The frustration of biological needs
Answer: A
Rationale: Basic anxiety is a core concept in Horney’s theory, stemming from a child’s
sense of being alone in a potentially unfriendly environment. It develops when parents do
not provide a secure and loving atmosphere, leading the child to feel vulnerable. This
anxiety drives the development of interpersonal strategies to find safety.
