Personality & Social Psychology (ANSWERED)

QUESTION

• Consider the difference between projective and objective tests for measuring personality traits, in particular the advantages and disadvantages of each. What is your opinion of these different approaches? Which do you think is preferable, and why?
• Personality traits are not always as stable across time or across situations as we assume. Give your own original example that illustrates this fact. (This can be a real example from your own life, or it can be something hypothetical that you make up.)
• Give your own original example (not one from the video) of how cognitive dissonance might trigger a change in attitudes.
• Consider the compliance tactics discussed in the video (foot in the door, reciprocity and so on). Given that these can be used to manipulate or even harm us, what tactics would you suggest for resisting them?

ANSWER

Personality and Social Psychology

Objective tests have either right or wrong answers, typically used in testing “low order” thinking skills. They are easy to administer and cost-effective at the same time. One criticism objective tests face is their lack of production and the difficult preparation required. On the other hand, projective tests rely on ambiguity presented to the subject to deduce an answer at the end of the session. Projective tests are usually not restricted as the subject may give many answers. However, the answers will depend on the expert’s analysis to provide an ultimate answer. Moreover, the results from these tests are not admissible in court as their validity is often questioned. Given how projective tests come off as unstandardized, they are overridden by objective tests. Therefore, objective tests are the most preferable, considering how the validity of projective tests’ answers relies on an expert.

Personality traits are not stable across situations because of people’s environments, experiences, and how they interact with change (Rauthmann and Sherman, 2016). For example, if you take your all-bubbly child to school, they will continue with their bubbly personality and want to associate with others. After a few days, your son ends up getting bullied. Their personality might change, and this child will want to be alone to avoid trouble or not disclose what they are going through. Eventually, you will notice they don’t want to talk; they want to be in their room alone. This child’s personality traits became unstable with the bullying.

Through the theory based on cognitive dissonance, people tend to have different thoughts from their behavior (Bem, 1967). For instance, a Youtuber, Nicholas Perry, commonly known as Nikocado Avocado is an overweight YouTuber who does Mukbangs (loosely defined as eating large quantities of food in front of the camera). Nicocado could be heard saying he would lose weight, but as he shared this, he was still eating a large bowl of noodles and chicken, besides other unhealthy foods. Cognitive dissonance triggers Nicocado’s attitude towards losing weight as he keeps eating and eating. His thoughts on losing weight clearly do not align with his eating behavior.

Given that some compliance tactics can manipulate or harm, it is necessary to look for tactics that can be used to resist such compliance tactics. For instance, you can reduce the effects of compliance tactics by interfering with any influences from other sources. Furthermore, having resistance strategies, i.e., people can reduce attitudinal or behavioral change and maintain their current attitude, can halt well-designed tactics (Fransen, Smit, and Verlegh, 2015).

References

Bem, D. J. (1967). Self-Perception: An Alternative Interpretation Of Cognitive Dissonance Phenomena. Psychological Review, 74(3), 183. Https://Psycnet.Apa.Org/Doi/10.1037/H0024835

Fransen, M. L., Smit, E. G., & Verlegh, P. W. (2015). Strategies And Motives For Resistance To Persuasion: An Integrative Framework. Frontiers In Psychology, 6, 1201. Https://Doi.Org/10.3389/Fpsyg.2015.01201

Rauthmann, J. F., & Sherman, R. A. (2016). Situation Change: Stability And Change Of Situation Variables Between And Within Persons. Frontiers In Psychology, 6, 1938. Https://Doi.Org/10.3389/Fpsyg.2015.01938

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