In Freud’s theory of psychological development, the developmental stage during which sexual desires are repressed into the unconscious until puberty.

In Freud’s theory of psychological development, a period during which the child focuses on obtaining sensual gratification through a particular part of the body.

A mental strategy that, in psychoanalytic theory, is devised by the ego to protect against anxiety.

People’s perceptions of psychological qualities they possess currently, in the present.

People’s capacity to influence their motivation, behavior, and life outcomes by setting goals and developing skills.

An assessment procedure in which people categorize words and phrases according to how well or poorly the descriptions fit them.

People’s perceptions of psychological qualities that they optimally would possess in the future.

A person’s overall sense of self-worth.

A structured procedure for learning about an individual’s distinctive psychological qualities.

Theories of personality inspired by Freud that attempted to overcome limitations in his work.

A method for assessing behavior in which researchers chart variations in behavior that occur when people encounter different situations.

Personality assessment tool in which items are ambiguous and psychologists are interested in the way test takers interpret the ambiguity, “projecting” elements of their own personality onto the test.

In Freud’s analysis of levels of consciousness, regions of mind containing ideas you are not aware of and generally cannot become aware of even if you wanted to.

A perspective on the task of identifying personality traits which presumes that all significant individual differences among people will be represented by naturally occurring words in everyday language.

Jung’s concept of a storehouse of mental images, symbols, and ideas that all humans inherit thanks to evolution.

In Freud’s theory of psychological development, the developmental stage (3½ to 6 years) during which the source of gratification is the genitals.

In personality psychology, a person’s typical style of behavior and emotion.

An assessment of psychological qualities (e.g., personality characteristics) in which test items directly inquire about the psychological quality of interest, and people’s responses are interpreted as a direct index of those qualities.

In Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, the personality structure that motivates people to satisfy basic bodily needs.

Thoughts people have about themselves as they interact with the world and reflect on their experiences.

Those elements of personality that remain consistent over significant periods of time.

People’s efforts to control their own behavior and emotions.

An approach to personality that focuses on people’s thoughts and feelings about themselves and the ways that interpersonal relationships shape these feelings.

In social-cognitive theory, psychological systems that generate moods and emotional states.

A comprehensive scientific model of human nature and individual differences.

In Freud’s theory of psychological development, the developmental stage (18 months to 3½ years) during which children experience gratification from the release of tension resulting from the control and elimination of feces.

Theoretical approaches that try to identify, describe, and measure people’s personality traits.

A statistical technique that identifies patterns in large sets of correlations.

Variations in the degree to which people are aware, and can become aware, of the contents of their minds.

In Freud’s theory, changes in mental energy that occur as energy flows from one personality structure to another, or is directed to desired objects.

A display of respect and acceptance toward others that is consistent and not dependent on their meeting behavioral requirements.

A projective test in which the test items are symmetrical blobs of ink that test takers are asked to interpret.

In Rogers’s theory of personality, a behavioral requirement imposed by others, such as parents, as a condition for being fully valued, loved, and respected.

In Freud’s theory of psychological development, a disruption in development occurring when an individual experiences either too little or too much gratification at a psychosexual stage.

Freud’s theory of personality, also called psychodynamic theory.

A defense mechanism in which an instinct toward sex or aggression is redirected to the service of a socially acceptable goal.

A theory proposing that death is so terrifying that thinking about it increases feelings of identification with institutions (e.g., religions, nations) that will survive one’s death.

An assessment of psychological qualities (e.g., personality characteristics) that does not rely on test takers’ direct reports of their qualities; instead, measures such as length of time taken to answer a question provide information about psychological qualities.

A method of both personality assessment and therapy devised by Freud in which psychologists encourage people to let their thoughts flow freely and say whatever comes to mind.

In Freud’s analysis of levels of consciousness, regions of mind containing ideas you can easily bring to awareness.

A theoretical approach to personality in which the core of personality consists of personal knowledge, beliefs, and skills acquired through social interaction.

A form of learning in which knowledge and skills are acquired by observing others; also known as observational learning.

Individuals’ distinctive patterns of change in psychological experience and behavior that occur from one moment to the next.

Judgments about one’s own capabilities for performance.

The relatively consistent, observable patterns of feeling, thinking, and behaving that distinguish people from one another, and the inner psychological systems that explain these patterns.

Abilities that develop through experience, including interpersonal skills.

In humanistic theories, such as that of Rogers, an organized set of self-perceptions of our personal qualities; people’s conceptions of who they are.

A motivation to realize one’s inner potential.

In Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, the personality structure that represents society’s moral and ethical rules.

In Freud’s theory of psychological development, the developmental stage (ages 0 to 18 months) during which children seek gratification through the mouth.

A set of personality traits that is found consistently when researchers analyze, via factor analysis, people’s descriptions of personality.

In Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, the mental system that balances the demands of the id with the opportunities and constraints of the real world.

In Freud’s theory of psychological development, the developmental stage that starts at puberty, signaling the reawakening of sexual desire.

In Freud’s analysis of levels of consciousness, the regions of mind containing the mental contents of which you are aware at any given moment.

A defense mechanism in which traumatic memories are kept in the unconscious, thereby blocked from awareness.