PSYA02H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Nomothetic, Extraversion And Introversion, Psychopathology

• School: UTSC
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYA02H3
• Professor: Kyle Danielson

Document Summary

Personality is relatively stable across time and situations. Does not mean that personalities do not change as we age. We can predict some of the ways people behave. When you behave as an old man vs child. How you behave in a classroom vs out with friends. The study of personality: the study of both individual differences (idiographic approach) and common trends in the population (nomothetic approach) What are the characteristics of an individual"s personality. Demand characteristics: when you have eyes on you, it changes your behaviour. Individuals who are prone to aggressiveness may try to mask it. Personality measurements instead usually take one of two forms. One of the simplest ways to assess personality is via personality inventories (personality tests or scales) We are aware of our behaviours and know ourselves best. We know our internal thoughts and psychological functioning. Subjective descriptions of one"s own behaviour, thoughts and feelings. Usually administered in an interview or written questionnaire.