Study Guide for Exam 6
Part I – The Trait Perspective in Personality Theory
The Big Five is the term currently used to refer to basic trait dimensions. What are the “Big Five” traits?
Give examples of the characteristics associated with each Big Five trait. (very important)
What are your Big Five results? In what ways do you agree with the dimensions described?
Evidence that our traits persist over time and across different settings is of great relevance to the person-situation controversy. In what ways have trait theorists been criticized?
Part 2 – Emotion
Compare and describe the James Lange theory of emotion with the Cannon Bard theory of emotion.
Which theory states that emotion results from the cognitive labeling of our physiological arousal?
What is the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in emotion?
What types of emotions are associated with the right frontal lobe? The left frontal lobe?
Be familiar with the “epinephrine’ study.
What is the spillover effect? Recognize examples.
What evidence supports that some emotional reactions occur without conscious thinking?
What are the components of emotion?
What is the most powerful communicator of emotion?
What is a great way to communicate intimacy (using face)?
Many facial expressions associated with particular emotions are the same throughout the world. Name six of the emotions have universal expression.
Which emotion are people likely to detect quicker?
What is the facial feedback hypothesis? Can you give examples of research with this effect?
What is the role of the amygdala in fear?
What is the feel good-do good phenomenon? Be able to recognize examples.
What is subjective well-being?
What is the adaptation- level phenomenon?
Explain the concept of relative deprivation.
Part 3 – Psychological Disorders
What are indicators of abnormality? Clearly define each. Recognize examples.
Describe the ‘medical model’ of psychological disorders.
What are some psychological attributions regarding psychological disorders?
What is the DSM-IV TR? Why is it considered reliable?
What is a syndrome?
Describe (and recognized examples of) the following anxiety disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (What is an obsession? What is a compulsion? )
Specific phobia
Social phobia
Agoraphobia
Post traumatic stress disorder (also note pt personal growth)
What is a somatoform disorder? Recognize an example of conversion disorder.
What are characteristics of dissociative disorders?
What is dissociative identity disorder? What evidence suggests that it is ‘more than role-playing’?
What are mood disorders?
Recognize examples of major depressive disorder.
What are characteristics of bipolar disorder?
Are men or women more likely to be diagnosed with depression? Why?
In terms of neurotransmitter levels which neurotransmitters are associated with depression?
What is schizophrenia?
What are delusions?
Hallucinations experienced by those who suffer schizophrenia are most likely to involve hearing (rather than seeing) things that are not there.
What is catatonic schizophrenia?
What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Is it true that prenatal viral infections contribute to schizophrenia?
What are personality disorders?
What are the three clusters?
What is an example of a personality disorder marked by anxiety?
What are some characteristics of antisocial personality disorder?