PSYCH238 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Reinforcement, Negative Affectivity, Observational Learning

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH238
• Professor: Doug Brown

Document Summary

Personality is the relatively stable set of psychological characteristics that influences the way an individual interacts with their environment and how they feel, think and behave. The dispositional approach states that individuals possess stable traits or characteristics that influence their attitudes and behaviours. The situational approach states characteristics of the organizational setting influence people"s attitudes and behaviours. The interactionist approach states individuals attitudes and behaviours are a function of both dispositions and the situation. Trait activation theory states traits lead to certain behaviours only when the situation makes the need for the trait salient. Extraversion is the extent to which a person is outgoing versus shy. These people tend to be outgoing, sociable, energetic, joyful and assertive. Emotional stability/neuroticism is the degree to which a person has appropriate emotional control. They tend to be self- confident and have high self-esteem. Those on the other end tend towards self-doubt and depression.