AP Psychology : Theories of Personality
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Theories Of Personality
Judy is a compulsive thief. She regularly steals large amounts of office supplies from her job. She does not think this is wrong because she believes that she needs them and everybody in the office takes things. This is an example of what Freudian defense mechanism?
Rationalization
Avoidance
Projection
Regression
Rationalization
Rationalization is described as attempting to intellectually justify inappropriate desires or behaviors. “Everybody else does it” or “This really is not hurting anyone” are examples of rationalization thought processes.
Example Question #22 : Personality
The hidden meaning behind a dream in psychoanalysis is called __________.
Secret content
Subliminal content
Manifest content
Latent content
Latent content
Latent content is the hidden meaning behind a dream that only a psychoanalyst can access from a patient’s dream. The word "latent" means something is inherent or dormant within a person or thing.
Example Question #23 : Personality
Carl Jung emphasized the idea that human behavior is drawn by the future and has a purpose. This is called __________.
Teleology
Synchronicity
Causality
Parsimony
Teleology
Teleology is the idea that there is a purpose to human behavior and we are drawn by the future. People make choices and behave because of the future in mind.
Example Question #22 : Theories Of Personality
Hank has recently been attending sessions with a psychoanalyst. He has developed an attachment to his analyst and feels very emotionally involved with her. This is an example of which of the following?
None of these
Transference
Reaction
Countertransference
Transference
Transference is when a patient reacts to the analyst as if they were an important person in the patient's life. The patient develops an emotional attachment to the analyst. The opposite, when an analyst develops feeling of personal attachment or significance towards a patient, is called countertransference.
Example Question #23 : Theories Of Personality
Doug was fired at work today. He really wanted to scream at his boss, but he did not. When he leaves and goes home he is unkind to his wife and yells at her. This is an example of what Freudian defense mechanism?
Identification
Projection
Sublimation
Displacement
Displacement
Displacement is described as satisfying an impulse on a substitute object. Freud initially related this concept to dreams, before expanding it to include jokes, as well as more serious ethical behavior.
Example Question #24 : Theories Of Personality
Which of these answer choices would be exemplified by the following scenario: a blind person developing a stronger than average sense of hearing?
Compensating
Repression
Competing
Rationalizing
None of these
Compensating
Alfred Alder developed the idea of “compensating” early in his career. The process of compensation has been described as focusing on other skills or abilities when another is lacking or weak.
Example Question #25 : Theories Of Personality
Which of the following psychologists coined the term “organ inferiority”?
Freud
Jung
Adler
Erikson
None of these
Adler
Alfred Alder focused greatly on the biology behind psychology in his early career. As a child, Alder was frequently physically weak and ill. He eventually recovered and went on to become a successful psychologist. The theory that a person’s psyche can become weak due to their organs being weak was influenced by Alder’s childhood experiences.
Example Question #26 : Theories Of Personality
Which of the following would be best defined as the desire to become more masculine?
None of these
Feminine protest
Masculine protest
Masculine complex
Feminine complex
Masculine protest
Masculine protest describes the desire to display more masculine traits, which may be perceived as more powerful or successful. Masculine protest is not universal in all cultures. It is primarily observed in cultures that place a high value on masculinity or associate masculinity with success.
Example Question #27 : Theories Of Personality
Thomas has a hard time believing in himself. He is extremely intelligent but never accomplishes anything due to his self-perception. Thomas has a(n) __________.
None of these
inferiority complex
superiority complex
mother complex
neurotic complex
inferiority complex
An inferiority complex is described as feelings of inferiority acting as a barrier to accomplishing positive things or goals. This answer choice would best describe Thomas in the given scenario.
Example Question #28 : Theories Of Personality
Jennifer is always bossing her friends and family around. She believes she is always right and forces her will upon others. Jennifer is an example of a(n) __________ person
avoiding
ruling-dominant
None of these
getting-leaning
socially useful
ruling-dominant
A ruling-dominant person attempts to dominate other people and impose their will. They believe they will only be happy if they control situations. This answer choice best describes Jennifer in the given situation.
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