Evaluate the aspects of various learning approaches to personality by explaining their criticisms and impact on the study of personality.

What will be an ideal response?


Students' answers may vary.

The answer should include the following elements:

Because they ignore the internal processes that are uniquely human, traditional learning theorists such as Skinner have been accused of oversimplifying personality to such an extent that the concept becomes meaningless. Their critics think that reducing behavior to a series of stimuli and responses and excluding thoughts and feelings from the realm of personality leaves behaviorists practicing an unrealistic and inadequate form of science. Nonetheless, learning approaches have had a major impact on the study of personality. For one thing, they have helped make personality psychology an objective, scientific venture by focusing on observable behavior and the effects of their environments. In addition, they have produced important, successful means of treating a variety of psychological disorders. The degree of success of these treatments is a testimony to the merits of learning theory approaches to personality.

Psychology

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Some male participants in one study were told that they scored high in femininity on a personality test. The investigator then asked the participants to tell stories about pictures in TAT cards. The investigator was studying

A. masculinity and femininity. B. coping strategies. C. aggression. D. defense mechanisms.

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How many conditions (cells) are there in a 3 x 5 design?

What will be an ideal response?

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Explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest, providing a framework for understanding the relationships among an organized set of facts or principles are known as ___________

a. hypothesis c. theory b. perspective d. approach

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Indicate whether the statement is true or false

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