WGU D564 THEORIES OF PERSONALITY OA
QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+ LATEST
Question 1
Sigmund Freud proposed that personality develops through a series of
psychosexual stages. Which stage is characterized by the Oedipus or Electra
complex?
A. Oral
B. Anal
C. Phallic
D. Latency
Answer: C. Phallic
Rationale: The phallic stage (ages 3–6) is when children develop unconscious
sexual desires for the opposite-sex parent and feelings of rivalry toward the same-
sex parent, known as the Oedipus (boys) or Electra (girls) complex.
Question 2
Carl Rogers emphasized the importance of self-actualization in his humanistic
theory. What did Rogers identify as essential for an individual to reach self-
actualization?
A. Reinforcement of behaviors
B. Unconditional positive regard
C. Defense mechanisms
D. Superego development
Answer: B. Unconditional positive regard
,Rationale: Rogers believed that individuals need an environment of unconditional
positive regard, where they are accepted without judgment, to grow and achieve
self-actualization. Conditional acceptance can hinder personal growth.
Question 3
Albert Bandura’s concept of reciprocal determinism highlights that:
A. Genetics alone determine personality
B. Behavior, cognition, and environment interact to shape personality
C. Personality is entirely unconscious
D. Personality develops only in childhood
Answer: B. Behavior, cognition, and environment interact to shape personality
Rationale: Reciprocal determinism posits that a person’s behavior, personal
cognitive factors, and environmental influences all interact to determine
personality development.
Question 4
According to Erik Erikson, the major psychosocial conflict in adolescence is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Identity vs. Role Confusion
C. Intimacy vs. Isolation
D. Generativity vs. Stagnation
Answer: B. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Rationale: Adolescents explore personal identity and social roles. Success leads to
a strong sense of self, whereas failure results in role confusion.
,Question 5
Which of the following best illustrates a defense mechanism called projection?
A. A student who fails an exam blames the teacher for being unfair
B. A person who is angry at their spouse starts yelling at a coworker instead
C. A man who is jealous of a colleague accuses the colleague of being jealous
D. A child reverts to thumb-sucking under stress
Answer: C. A man who is jealous of a colleague accuses the colleague of being
jealous
Rationale: Projection involves attributing one’s unacceptable feelings or impulses
onto someone else, as seen in this example of jealousy.
Question 6
Gordon Allport categorized personality traits into three levels. Which of the
following is not one of Allport’s trait levels?
A. Cardinal traits
B. Central traits
C. Secondary traits
D. Tertiary traits
Answer: D. Tertiary traits
Rationale: Allport described cardinal traits (dominant traits shaping behavior),
central traits (general characteristics), and secondary traits (context-specific traits).
Tertiary traits are not part of his model.
Question 7
Which personality assessment tool is most associated with projective testing?
A. MMPI-2
B. Rorschach Inkblot Test
C. Big Five Inventory
D. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
, Answer: B. Rorschach Inkblot Test
Rationale: Projective tests present ambiguous stimuli, like inkblots, to uncover
unconscious thoughts, feelings, and conflicts. The Rorschach is a classic example.
Question 8
Alfred Adler emphasized the role of inferiority feelings in personality
development. What is the primary goal of behavior according to Adler?
A. Pleasure-seeking
B. Overcoming feelings of inferiority and striving for superiority
C. Achieving cognitive mastery
D. Obeying societal rules
Answer: B. Overcoming feelings of inferiority and striving for superiority
Rationale: Adler believed that humans are motivated by social interest and a drive
to overcome perceived weaknesses to achieve personal competence.
Question 9
Which theorist is associated with the concept of collective unconscious?
A. Sigmund Freud
B. Carl Jung
C. Abraham Maslow
D. John Watson
Answer: B. Carl Jung
Rationale: Jung proposed that humans share a collective unconscious, a set of
inherited universal experiences, symbols, and archetypes, beyond the personal
unconscious.
QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+ LATEST
Question 1
Sigmund Freud proposed that personality develops through a series of
psychosexual stages. Which stage is characterized by the Oedipus or Electra
complex?
A. Oral
B. Anal
C. Phallic
D. Latency
Answer: C. Phallic
Rationale: The phallic stage (ages 3–6) is when children develop unconscious
sexual desires for the opposite-sex parent and feelings of rivalry toward the same-
sex parent, known as the Oedipus (boys) or Electra (girls) complex.
Question 2
Carl Rogers emphasized the importance of self-actualization in his humanistic
theory. What did Rogers identify as essential for an individual to reach self-
actualization?
A. Reinforcement of behaviors
B. Unconditional positive regard
C. Defense mechanisms
D. Superego development
Answer: B. Unconditional positive regard
,Rationale: Rogers believed that individuals need an environment of unconditional
positive regard, where they are accepted without judgment, to grow and achieve
self-actualization. Conditional acceptance can hinder personal growth.
Question 3
Albert Bandura’s concept of reciprocal determinism highlights that:
A. Genetics alone determine personality
B. Behavior, cognition, and environment interact to shape personality
C. Personality is entirely unconscious
D. Personality develops only in childhood
Answer: B. Behavior, cognition, and environment interact to shape personality
Rationale: Reciprocal determinism posits that a person’s behavior, personal
cognitive factors, and environmental influences all interact to determine
personality development.
Question 4
According to Erik Erikson, the major psychosocial conflict in adolescence is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Identity vs. Role Confusion
C. Intimacy vs. Isolation
D. Generativity vs. Stagnation
Answer: B. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Rationale: Adolescents explore personal identity and social roles. Success leads to
a strong sense of self, whereas failure results in role confusion.
,Question 5
Which of the following best illustrates a defense mechanism called projection?
A. A student who fails an exam blames the teacher for being unfair
B. A person who is angry at their spouse starts yelling at a coworker instead
C. A man who is jealous of a colleague accuses the colleague of being jealous
D. A child reverts to thumb-sucking under stress
Answer: C. A man who is jealous of a colleague accuses the colleague of being
jealous
Rationale: Projection involves attributing one’s unacceptable feelings or impulses
onto someone else, as seen in this example of jealousy.
Question 6
Gordon Allport categorized personality traits into three levels. Which of the
following is not one of Allport’s trait levels?
A. Cardinal traits
B. Central traits
C. Secondary traits
D. Tertiary traits
Answer: D. Tertiary traits
Rationale: Allport described cardinal traits (dominant traits shaping behavior),
central traits (general characteristics), and secondary traits (context-specific traits).
Tertiary traits are not part of his model.
Question 7
Which personality assessment tool is most associated with projective testing?
A. MMPI-2
B. Rorschach Inkblot Test
C. Big Five Inventory
D. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
, Answer: B. Rorschach Inkblot Test
Rationale: Projective tests present ambiguous stimuli, like inkblots, to uncover
unconscious thoughts, feelings, and conflicts. The Rorschach is a classic example.
Question 8
Alfred Adler emphasized the role of inferiority feelings in personality
development. What is the primary goal of behavior according to Adler?
A. Pleasure-seeking
B. Overcoming feelings of inferiority and striving for superiority
C. Achieving cognitive mastery
D. Obeying societal rules
Answer: B. Overcoming feelings of inferiority and striving for superiority
Rationale: Adler believed that humans are motivated by social interest and a drive
to overcome perceived weaknesses to achieve personal competence.
Question 9
Which theorist is associated with the concept of collective unconscious?
A. Sigmund Freud
B. Carl Jung
C. Abraham Maslow
D. John Watson
Answer: B. Carl Jung
Rationale: Jung proposed that humans share a collective unconscious, a set of
inherited universal experiences, symbols, and archetypes, beyond the personal
unconscious.
