All Flashcards
Explain the core idea of Social-Cognitive Theories.
Personality is shaped by interactions with the environment, learning, cognition, and social behavior.
What is the Fundamental Postulate of Personal Construct Theory?
Our behavior is influenced by our thinking; knowing past behavior helps predict future actions.
What are the three factors involved in Reciprocal Determinism?
Thoughts (cognition), environment, and behavior.
How does an internal locus of control affect mental health?
It is generally associated with better mental health.
What is the relationship between Learned Helplessness and Locus of Control?
Learned helplessness often accompanies an external locus of control.
Explain the focus of Positive Psychology.
Focuses on positive well-being, health, and education to help individuals thrive.
How do behavioral theories explain personality development?
Personalities are influenced by the environment through conditioning; behaviors are repeated if rewarded and avoided if punished.
How does self-efficacy impact behavior?
High self-efficacy leads to greater persistence and success in completing tasks.
What is the key idea behind Skinner's view on personality?
Personality is determined by the environment; change the environment, change the personality.
What is the role of conditioning in behavioral theories of personality?
Personalities are influenced by the environment through conditioning. We repeat behaviors that are rewarded and avoid those that are punished.
Compare Internal vs. External Locus of Control.
Internal: belief in controlling one's fate. External: belief that fate is controlled by external forces.
Compare Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy.
Self-esteem is how much you value yourself; self-efficacy is your belief in your ability to complete a task.
Compare Optimism and Pessimism.
Optimism is looking at the positive side; pessimism is focusing on the negative aspects.
Compare the focus of Behavioral theories and Social-Cognitive theories.
Behavioral theories focus on the role of the environment and conditioning, while social-cognitive theories emphasize the interplay of thoughts, environment, and behavior.
How do behavioral theories differ from social-cognitive theories in their view of cognition?
Behavioral theories give less importance to cognition, while social-cognitive theories consider it a key factor.
Compare the roles of reinforcement and cognition in shaping behavior.
Reinforcement shapes behavior through rewards and punishments, while cognition involves mental processes.
Compare the individual's role in shaping their personality in behavioral vs. social-cognitive theories.
Behavioral: passive recipient of environmental influences. Social-cognitive: active agent who influences and is influenced by the environment.
Compare the concepts of self-esteem and self-efficacy in terms of their impact on motivation.
Self-esteem affects overall self-worth, while self-efficacy affects motivation to complete specific tasks.
Compare the effects of internal and external locus of control on coping with stress.
Internal: active problem-solving. External: reliance on external factors and less active coping.
Compare the roles of positive and negative reinforcement in shaping behavior.
Positive reinforcement adds a desirable stimulus, while negative reinforcement removes an undesirable stimulus.
Define Personal Construct Theory.
We develop unique systems of constructs to understand the world; personal filters for interpreting experiences.
What is Reciprocal Determinism?
The dynamic interplay between thoughts, environment, and behavior.
Define Internal Locus of Control.
The belief that you control your own fate.
What is External Locus of Control?
The belief that fate or external forces control your life.
Define Learned Helplessness.
Resigning to a state of helplessness and hopelessness after repeatedly facing aversive events with no control.
What is Optimism?
Looking at the positive side of things, linked to a sense of personal control.
Define Pessimism.
Focusing on the negative aspects, often linked to a lack of perceived control.
What is Self-Esteem?
How much you value yourself; high self-esteem equals confidence, low self-esteem equals insecurity.
Define Self-Efficacy.
Your belief in your ability to complete a task; high self-efficacy leads to greater persistence and success.
What is Self-Serving Bias?
The tendency to perceive oneself favorably, attributing successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.
Define Positive Psychology.
Focuses on positive well-being, health, and education, aiming to help individuals thrive.