Question 1

One of the great achievements of personality assessment of the past century is that many different types of valid personality tests have been developed to assess behaviour (Friedman & Schustack, 2014).

a) Identify and elaborate on five different kinds of personality tests.

b) What are the key criticisms for the above five different kinds of personality tests identified?

c) Which type of personality tests would each of the following assessors use, and why?
i) A psychoanalyst
ii) A behaviourist
iii) A trait psychologist

d) Do you think that there is only one best method of a personality assessment? Defend your answer, and support it with an example.

Question 2

A variety of theories have been developed by psychologists to describe our complex personalities from different perspectives. Each major personality theory explains how personality develops, and the crucial factors that shape its development from different angles.

a) Freud’s personality theory proposes that the mind attempts to make life less threatening, through the use of defence mechanisms. Select and define three defence mechanisms proposed by Freud. For each of the selected defence
mechanisms, provide an example to illustrate when the defence mechanism may be used.

b) Compare and contrast the behaviourist theory with the humanist theory, on the theoretical assumptions and the processes of personality change.

c) Evaluate the usefulness of the above two major personality theories for the helping profession and for your own personal development.

Question 3

Culture, religion, language, race, gender and socio-economic status have a dramatic impact on behaviour and personality development. Cultural issues have to be carefully considered, even in the construction and use of psychological assessment.

a) How can language affect the social interactive behaviour and personality of individuals in a pluralistic society like Singapore? Support your answer with an example from your school, community or work experience.

b) Suppose you are a Rogerian counsellor, and you are counselling a client who is of a different race and socio-economic class from you. Your client’s presenting problems are low-self esteem and anxiety. Write a short counselling dialogue,

illustrating what the client might say to you and how you would respond sensitively to aid in the personality change of the client, taking into consideration of the cultural aspects of personality.

c) Which personality theory in your opinion, best accounts for cultural influences on personality, and why?