Personality Practice Exam

1. Personality is defined as:

a) A set of behavioral traits
b) A collection of experiences and emotions
c) A set of psychological traits and mechanisms
d) A social and cultural phenomenon

2. Which domain of knowledge focuses on traits and taxonomies?

a) Biological
b) Dispositional
c) Intrapsychic
d) Cognitive-Experiential

3. What is the main purpose of personality assessment?

a) To diagnose psychological disorders
b) To measure individual differences
c) To evaluate cognitive functions
d) To predict future behaviors

4. Which research design is most suitable for studying personality

development over time?
a) Cross-sectional
b) Experimental
c) Longitudinal
d) Case study

5. The Five-Factor Model includes all the following traits except:

a) Openness
b) Conscientiousness
c) Neuroticism
d) Intelligence

6. Who is primarily associated with the development of the Big Five

personality traits?
a) Sigmund Freud
b) Carl Jung
c) Gordon Allport
d) Costa and McCrae

Personality Practice Exam 1

7. Reliability in personality measurement refers to:
a) The accuracy of the measurement
b) The consistency of the measurement
c) The validity of the measurement
d) The applicability of the measurement

8. Which type of reliability is concerned with the stability of test scores over
time?
a) Internal consistency
b) Test-retest reliability
c) Inter-rater reliability
d) Construct reliability

9. Personality stability refers to:

a) The change of personality traits over time
b) The consistency of individual differences in traits over time
c) The adaptation of personality traits to different situations
d) The fluctuation of personality traits over short periods

10. Which concept describes the extent to which individuals maintain their
relative position within a group over time?
a) Mean level stability
b) Rank order stability
c) Individual change
d) Cross-sectional stability

11. Heritability refers to:

a) The genetic transmission of personality traits
b) The influence of the environment on personality
c) The proportion of variance in a trait attributed to genetic factors
d) The stability of personality traits over generations

12. Which study design is commonly used to estimate the heritability of

personality traits?
a) Twin studies
b) Cross-sectional studies
c) Longitudinal studies
d) Experimental studies

13. Which of the following is not a physiological measure often used in

personality research?
a) EEG

Personality Practice Exam 2

b) MRI
c) Self-report questionnaire
d) Hormone assays

14. The neurotransmitter serotonin is most closely associated with:

a) Aggression
b) Mood regulation
c) Cognitive function
d) Sensory processing

15. Which principle is central to the evolutionary perspective on personality?

a) Natural selection
b) Psychoanalytic conflict
c) Social learning
d) Cognitive processing

16. According to evolutionary psychology, personality traits have developed

primarily to:
a) Enhance individual well-being
b) Increase reproductive success
c) Facilitate social interactions
d) Adapt to environmental changes

17. Which structure of the mind did Freud believe operates on the pleasure
principle?
a) Id
b) Ego
c) Superego
d) Conscious mind

18. According to Freud, which stage of development is characterized by the

Oedipus complex?
a) Oral stage
b) Anal stage
c) Phallic stage
d) Latency stage

19. Which theory emphasizes the role of unconscious needs in shaping

personality?
a) Trait theory
b) Humanistic theory

Personality Practice Exam 3

c) Psychoanalytic theory
d) Motive theory

20. According to Murray, a key component of personality is:

a) Self-actualization
b) The need for achievement
c) The unconscious mind
d) Behavioral conditioning

21. Which cognitive construct involves how people explain the causes of
events?
a) Locus of control
b) Self-efficacy
c) Attribution style
d) Cognitive dissonance

22. The term 'schema' refers to:

a) A mental framework for organizing information
b) An emotional response to stimuli
c) A personality trait
d) A behavioral response pattern

23. Which model proposes that intelligence is composed of general ability (g)
and specific abilities (s)?
a) Multiple intelligences theory
b) Triarchic theory
c) Two-factor theory
d) Hierarchical model

24. Emotional intelligence involves the ability to:

a) Solve abstract problems
b) Understand and manage emotions
c) Perform well on standardized tests
d) Exhibit creative thinking

25. Which theory posits that emotions are a result of physiological arousal
and cognitive interpretation?
a) James-Lange theory
b) Cannon-Bard theory
c) Schachter-Singer theory
d) Evolutionary theory

Personality Practice Exam 4

26. The concept of 'affect intensity' refers to:
a) The frequency of emotional experiences
b) The strength of emotional responses
c) The duration of emotional states
d) The variability of emotional reactions

27. Self-concept refers to:

a) The way individuals feel about themselves
b) The cognitive representation of the self
c) The external presentation of the self
d) The social role of the individual

28. Which term describes the ideal self that individuals strive to become?
a) Real self
b) Ought self
c) Possible self
d) Ideal self

29. The process by which individuals influence how they are perceived by
others is known as:
a) Social facilitation
b) Impression management
c) Social comparison
d) Self-actualization

30. Which concept involves the idea that people select environments that fit
their personalities?
a) Evocation
b) Selection
c) Manipulation
d) Adaptation

31. Gender differences in personality traits are most evident in which

domain?
a) Cognitive abilities
b) Emotional expression
c) Social behavior
d) Physical abilities

32. The concept of 'gender identity' refers to:

a) Biological sex differences
b) An individual's self-concept as male or female

Personality Practice Exam 5

c) Societal roles based on sex
d) Behavioral differences between genders

33. Which term describes the process by which individuals learn the values
and norms of their culture?
a) Socialization
b) Assimilation
c) Acculturation
d) Enculturation

34. Cultural differences in personality traits are often studied using which
model?
a) The Five-Factor Model
b) The Psychodynamic Model
c) The Behavioral Model
d) The Humanistic Model

35. The transactional model of stress emphasizes:

a) The physiological response to stress
b) The environmental causes of stress
c) The interaction between the individual and the environment
d) The cognitive appraisal of stress

36. Which coping strategy involves efforts to manage or alter the problem
causing stress?
a) Emotion-focused coping
b) Problem-focused coping
c) Avoidance coping
d) Social support

37. Which personality disorder is characterized by a pattern of disregard for

and violation of the rights of others?
a) Borderline Personality Disorder
b) Narcissistic Personality Disorder
c) Antisocial Personality Disorder
d) Histrionic Personality Disorder

38. The DSM-5 uses which approach to classify personality disorders?

a) Dimensional
b) Categorical
c) Behavioral
d) Cognitive

Personality Practice Exam 6

39. A key goal of personality psychology is to:
a) Diagnose mental illnesses
b) Understand individual differences
c) Develop standardized tests
d) Promote social conformity

40. Which domain of knowledge emphasizes the role of unconscious

processes in personality?
a) Biological
b) Intrapsychic
c) Dispositional
d) Cognitive-Experiential

41. Which theory proposes that personality traits are a result of evolutionary
pressures?
a) Social learning theory
b) Evolutionary psychology
c) Cognitive dissonance theory
d) Psychoanalytic theory

42. What is a primary method used to study the biological basis of

personality?
a) Behavioral observation
b) Genetic analysis
c) Self-report surveys
d) Case studies

43. Which psychological perspective focuses on the influence of early

childhood experiences on personality?
a) Humanistic
b) Cognitive
c) Behavioral
d) Psychoanalytic

44. According to the Five-Factor Model, which trait is associated with being
organized and responsible?
a) Extraversion
b) Neuroticism
c) Conscientiousness

45. The concept of 'self-efficacy' is most closely associated with which

psychologist?

Personality Practice Exam 7

a) Sigmund Freud
b) Carl Rogers
c) Albert Bandura
d) Abraham Maslow

46. Which type of research method involves an in-depth study of one

individual or group?
a) Experimental
b) Cross-sectional
c) Longitudinal
d) Case study

47. Which term refers to the consistency of a research study or measuring

test?
a) Validity
b) Reliability
c) Accuracy
d) Precision

48. In trait theory, what does 'Openness to Experience' describe?

a) A tendency to be organized and disciplined
b) A preference for routine and familiarity
c) A willingness to try new things and be creative
d) A tendency to be sociable and outgoing

49. Which psychological approach emphasizes the potential for personal

growth and self-fulfillment?
a) Behavioral
b) Humanistic
c) Psychoanalytic
d) Cognitive

50. The term 'locus of control' refers to:

a) The degree to which people believe they have control over outcomes in
their lives
b) The ability to influence others
c) The level of self-awareness
d) The extent of one's social network

51. Which research design allows for the examination of cause-and-effect

relationships?
a) Correlational

Personality Practice Exam 8

b) Experimental
c) Longitudinal
d) Cross-sectional

52. What is a common criticism of trait theories of personality?

a) They ignore biological influences
b) They lack empirical support
c) They underestimate situational factors
d) They focus too much on unconscious motives

53. The term 'introversion' is best described as:

a) A lack of social skills
b) A preference for solitary activities and introspection
c) A tendency to be anxious in social situations
d) An inability to express emotions

54. According to the psychodynamic perspective, which part of the mind is

responsible for rational thinking?
a) Id
b) Ego
c) Superego
d) Unconscious

55. Which personality trait is most closely associated with empathy and
altruism?
a) Extraversion
b) Neuroticism
c) Agreeableness
d) Openness

56. The concept of 'unconditional positive regard' is central to which

psychological approach?
a) Behavioral
b) Humanistic
c) Cognitive
d) Psychoanalytic

57. Which factor is not included in Eysenck's model of personality?

a) Psychoticism
b) Neuroticism
c) Extraversion
d) Openness

Personality Practice Exam 9

58. Which personality assessment technique involves interpreting
ambiguous stimuli?
a) Self-report questionnaire
b) Projective test
c) Behavioral observation
d) Psychophysiological measure

59. Which concept refers to the stability of personality traits over the
lifespan?
a) Personality coherence
b) Personality adaptation
c) Personality stability
d) Personality fluctuation

60. Who proposed the hierarchy of needs theory?

a) Carl Rogers
b) Sigmund Freud
c) Abraham Maslow
d) B.F. Skinner

Personality Practice Exam 10