Self Test #20 - Social Cognitive & Trait Theories
Note: These questions are part of a larger data base of questions on Module 20 & are selected to
represent the type of question you should expect on unit exam five. You can, in fact, expect to see many of these
very same questions on that exam. Exam questions, however, may deal with topics not covered in the self tests or
in lectures but are disucssed in your textbook. You are responsible for the content of your text book plus the content
of lectures, interactive activities, & material on the web site.
Use these sample questions to test yourself & to practice for the test.
1. Who you are is shaped by environmental conditions (learning), cognitive-personal factors, & behavior all
interacting & influencing how information is processed & used. What kind of theorist would be most likely
to make that statement?
trait
analytical
humanistic
social cognitive
2. Albert Bandura developed a theory by which personality development is influenced by four factors; highly
developed language ability, observational learning, purposeful behavior, & self-analysis. His theory is called:
trait theory
self efficacy theory
social cognitive theory
self actualization theory
3. Bandura is to Skinner as __________ is to _________.
elicited; emitted
cognitive; behavioral
voluntary; involuntary
involuntary; voluntary
4. Our belief about how much control we have over situations or rewards is called:
self-analysis
self-efficacy
locus of control
purposeful behavior
5. Researchers have found correlations between locus of control & psychological
functioning. Which of the following is an incorrect summary of the research?
- People with an internal locus of control report less stress
- People with an internal locus of control are generally more depressed
- People with an internal locus of control are generally higher achievers
- People with an internal locus of control are generally more likely to take
preventive health measures
6. To postpone an immediate reward in favor of completing a task for a future
reward is called:
self-efficacy
self-actualization
postponement bias
delay of gratification
7. Our personal belief of how capable we are of exercising control over events
in our lives is called:
self-regard
self-esteem
self-efficacy
self-actualization
8. Which of the following does Bandura not include in the keys to determining
our sense of self-efficacy?
comparing ourselves to others
what others say about our capabilities
the power of our conscience to make us feel guilty
successes and failures we have experienced in the past
9. Which of the following is not an assumption of the trait approach to personality?
Differences between personalities can be described with the 5-factor model.
Traits are relatively enduring and stable and influence a persons behavior.
An individuals personality can be described completely by listing all traits.
Personality is the result of unconscious forces that create conflict within the person.
10. Which of the following is not one of the five groups of traits in the five-factor
model used to describe personality?
neuroticism
intelligence
extraversion
agreeableness
conscientiousness
openness
11. Who was it that constructed a list of traits that was considered too long
& therefore impractical to use in research?
Daryl Bem
Gordon Allport
Albert Bandura
Raymond Cattell
12. To understand a person's behavior, the person's ____ and the ____
must be considered.
traits; culture
traits; situation
history; situation
intelligence; culture
13. If there is personality change after the age of 30, it generally is:
due to stressors & challenges
adoption of a totally new theme
restricted to openness to new ideas
only temporary and tied to the situation
14. The area of behavioral genetics suggest that genetic factors:
are fixed
set a range for behaviors
do not interact with the environment
account for more than 55% of the development of personality traits
15. If intelligence has a heritability of .5 to .7, it means that:
50-70% of IQ scores are explained by genetic factors
50-70% of a person's IQ score is explained by genetic factors
.5-.7% of a person's IQ score is explained by genetic factors
5-7% of a person's IQ score is explained by genetic factors
16. The heritability of personality traits range from:
.05-.10
.41-.51
.69-.99
1.56-2.90
17. Two variables that have minimal impact on personality
development are:
shared environmental factors & genetics
parental practices & shared family experiences
genetics & non-shared environmental factors
economic status of family & gender of child
18. Personality appears to be influenced by several factors. Of the following lists,
which one correctly orders the factors contributing to personality
(from most to least):
- error, genetic factors, nonshared environmental factors, shared
environmental factors
- genetic factors, shared environmental factors, nonshared environmental
factors, error
- shared environmental factors, genetic factors, nonshared environmental
factors, error
- genetic factors, nonshared environmental factors, error, shared
environmental factors
19. Some people experience a very sudden (in a single day) and radical or
dramatic shift in personality, beliefs, or values; psychology calls this a:
quantum personality change
born again spiritual experience
quantitative personality change
flash of insight, or ah ha experience
20. Which of the following types of personality tests consists of ambiguous stimuli?
projective
objective
behavioral
traditional psychological interview
21. According to Bandura, social cognitive theory (&/or reciprocal determinism) involves multidirectional
influences among
id, ego, & superego.
mind, body, & behavior.
thoughts, emotions, & actions.
learned helplessness, locus of control, & optimism.
behaviors, internal personal factors, & environmental events.
22. The social-cognitive perspective is least likely to be criticized for neglecting the importance of
personality traits.
genetic influences.
unconscious motives.
environmental influences.
23. Linda was informed by a palm reader: You generally communicate openly with others, but you have
certain dark secrets that even your closest friends could never guess. The fact that Linda was impressed by the
palm reader's insight into her personality best illustrates
attributional style.
the Barnum effect.
the Electra complex.
reciprocal determinism.
unconditional positive regard.
24. Which of the following is not a goal in the construction of trait theory?
To specify a set of independent central traits that do not correlate with each other.
To explain the personality differences among individuals rather than merely describe them.
To account for the greatest amount of meaningful psychological variation among individuals with a minimum
number of central traits.
To specify a manageable set of personality distinctions that can be used to summarize the fundamental psychological
differences among individuals.
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Topics in Psychology
Robert C. Gates