Question

Personality is thought to be ___________. a. short term and easily changed b. a pattern of short-term characteristics c. unstable and short term d. long term, stable and not easily changed

Short answer

The correct answer is (d) 'long term, stable and not easily changed'.

Step-by-step solution

Eliminate Incorrect Options

Personality is generally understood as a pattern of behaviors, emotions, and thoughts that characterize a person over a long period of time. Therefore, options a, b, and c can be dismissed as they suggest short-term and unstable nature of personality, which contradicts the common understanding.

Identify the Correct Answer

Now that options a, b, and c are dismissed, the only remaining option is d, which describes personality as 'long term, stable and not easily changed'. This aligns well with the standard psychological understanding of personality, and therefore, can be chosen as the correct answer.

Key concepts

Personality Traits

Personality traits are the enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make an individual unique. These traits are often consistent over time, meaning that they don't change drastically from one situation to another. This stability is one reason why personality traits are often used to predict behavior. For instance, someone who scores high in extroversion is likely to be sociable not just today, but also a year from now.
Some common personality traits include:

• Openness: Characterized by imagination and insight.
• Conscientiousness: Associated with being organized and dependable.
• Extraversion: Involves energy and sociability.
• Agreeableness: Relates to being compassionate and cooperative.
• Neuroticism: Involves emotional instability and moodiness.

Understanding these traits can help in predicting how a person might react in various scenarios and is crucial for personality psychology research.

Behavior Patterns

Behavior patterns refer to recurring ways in which a person behaves in various situations. These patterns often stem from a combination of experiences, personality traits, and learned responses. While some behavior patterns are constructive, such as those driving discipline and productivity, others can be maladaptive and lead to problems in interpersonal relationships.
For example:

• Consistent punctuality can denote high conscientiousness.
• A tendency to isolate oneself might suggest high levels of introversion or neuroticism.
• Regularly helping others could be a sign of high agreeableness.

By observing behavior patterns, psychologists can gain insights into the underlying personality traits and how these might interact with an individual's environment.

Psychological Stability

Psychological stability refers to the consistency and resilience of an individual's psychological processes over time. It is a crucial aspect that contributes to a person's general well-being and ability to handle stress effectively. Stable individuals often display consistent emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in day-to-day life.
Key elements of psychological stability include:

• Emotional regulation: The capacity to manage intense emotions without becoming overwhelmed.
• Thought consistency: Having a stable sense of self and fewer fluctuations in mood or perspective.
• Adaptability: The ability to adjust to life's challenges without significant disruption to psychological functioning.

Psychological stability supports personal development and fulfillment by providing a reliable foundation on which to build positive experiences and relationships, ultimately contributing to long-term personality stability.