Maharashtra Board Class 12 Psychology Chapter 3 Personality Solutions

12th Psychology Chapter 3 Exercise Personality Question Answer Maharashtra Board

Psychology Class 12 Chapter 3 Personality Question Answers Maharashtra Board

Personality Class 12 Psychology Chapter 3 Questions And Answers

1. Choose The Correct Option And Complete The Following Statements.

Question 1.A person who is shy and reserved is called an ....................
(a) introvert
(b) extrovert
(c) ambivert
Answer: (a) introvert
In simple words: An introvert is someone who is characterized by shyness, reservation, and a preference for solitary activities or smaller social groups. They tend to focus their energy inward.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding personality types is crucial; know the definitions of introversion, extroversion, and ambiversion for direct questions or application scenarios.

Question 2.The Ink-Blot test was developed by psychologist ....................
(a) Murray
(b) Rorschach
(c) Morgan
Answer: (b) Rorschach
In simple words: The Rorschach Inkblot Test, a projective psychological test, was created by Hermann Rorschach to assess personality and emotional functioning. It involves interpreting ambiguous inkblots.

🎯 Exam Tip: For psychological tests, remember the name of the test and its developer, as these are common factual recall questions.

Question 3..................... traits are the dominant characteristics of a person.
(a) Cardinal
(b) Secondary
(c) Central
Answer: (a) Cardinal
In simple words: Cardinal traits are the most dominant and pervasive personality characteristics that define a person's life and guide their actions. They are rare but powerful, shaping an individual's entire identity.

🎯 Exam Tip: Distinguishing between Cardinal, Central, and Secondary traits is vital for questions on Allport's trait theory. Cardinal traits are all-encompassing.

2. Match The Pair

Question 1.

🎯 Exam Tip: When matching, clearly understand the purpose and examples of each personality assessment technique. MMPI is a self-report inventory, Interview is a behavioral analysis technique, and TAT is a projective test.

3. State Whether The Following Statements Are True Or False.

Question 1.Personality is merely related to external appearance.
Answer: False
In simple words: Personality is a complex internal construct encompassing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, not just a person's outer look. External appearance is only a small part of how personality is perceived, but not its entirety.

🎯 Exam Tip: Avoid common misconceptions; personality is multifaceted and goes beyond superficial traits. Focus on its psychological depth.

Question 2.People with high neuroticism are emotionally reactive.
Answer: True
In simple words: Individuals high in neuroticism often experience negative emotions intensely and are prone to anxiety, moodiness, and irritability. This heightened emotional sensitivity makes them more reactive to stressors and everyday situations.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that neuroticism, as one of the Big Five personality traits, specifically refers to emotional instability and negative affectivity. This is a core definition.

Question 3.Children from families having a warm emotional atmosphere are well adjusted.
Answer: True
In simple words: A warm, supportive family environment fosters emotional security, positive coping skills, and healthy social development in children. Such an atmosphere provides the foundation for good emotional adjustment and resilience.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recognize the significant role of family environment in child development and personality formation; positive environments typically lead to better adjustment outcomes.

4. Explain The Concepts In 25-30 Words Each.

Question 1.Personality
Answer:The word personality is derived from the Latin word 'persona' which was used to refer to masks worn by actors during a stage performance, Thus, the meaning of personality was interpreted as 'projected behaviour' of an individual.
According to Gordon Allport, "Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determines his unique adjustments to the environment." According to Norman Munn, "Personality is a unique combination of individual's physical structure, needs, interests, abilities and aptitudes."
In simple words: Personality refers to the unique and enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that characterize an individual. It's a dynamic organization of psychophysical systems shaping how a person adapts to their environment.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining personality, include its dynamic, organizational, and adaptive aspects, and referencing key theorists like Allport adds value.

Question 2.Trait
Answer:A trait is a relatively enduring and consistent way of thinking, feeling and acting. It is some distinctive characteristic of the person that leads him/her to behave in more or less consistent ways across situations and over a period of time. Allport categorised traits as:
(i) Cardinal Traits (single, dominant trait)
(ii) Central Traits (core or basic traits)
(iii) Secondary Traits
In simple words: A trait is a consistent and stable characteristic that influences how an individual thinks, feels, and acts across different situations over time. Traits provide a basis for understanding behavioral patterns.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight the consistency and endurance of traits as key features, and briefly mentioning Allport's categories demonstrates a comprehensive understanding.

Question 3.Sentence Completion Test
Answer:Sentence Completion Test (SCT) is a type of projective technique used to assess personality. The individual is given a series of incomplete sentences and is asked to complete them in his/her own words, for e.g., My mother, My greatest fear is It is assumed that the endings provided by the person will reflect their motivation, urges, internal conflicts etc.
In simple words: The Sentence Completion Test is a projective personality assessment where individuals finish incomplete sentences. Their responses are believed to reveal underlying motivations, conflicts, and personality traits.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize that SCT is a projective test and its purpose is to uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings through ambiguous stimuli.

Question 4.Structured interview
Answer:Interview is a process in which the interviewer collects information about the personality of an interviewee by asking him/her specific questions. The main types of interview depending on the purpose of assessment are - structured and unstructured interview.
In structured interview, the number, type and sequence of questions to be asked are pre-determined. The answers expected from the interviewee are also specific. This type of interview is used where exact quantification is required, for e.g., industrial psychologists use structured interviews to select employees for a job.
In simple words: A structured interview involves a predetermined set of questions asked in a fixed order to all interviewees. This standardized approach allows for objective comparison and quantification of responses, often used in research or job selection.

🎯 Exam Tip: For structured interviews, stress the pre-determined questions, fixed sequence, and specific answers for quantification and comparison.

Question 5.Unstructured interview
Answer:Interview is a process in which the interviewer collects information about the personality of an interviewee by asking him/her specific questions. The main types of interview depending on the purpose of assessment are - structured and unstructured interview.
In unstructured interview, the type and sequence of questions to be asked by the interviewee are not pre-determined. Detailed answers can be given and scoring is often subjective. It is employed by clinical psychologists, counsellors, etc.
In simple words: An unstructured interview is flexible, with no fixed set or order of questions, allowing for spontaneous conversation. It yields rich, qualitative data but can be subjective in scoring, and is often used in counseling or clinical settings.

🎯 Exam Tip: Contrast unstructured interviews with structured ones by focusing on their flexibility, subjective scoring, and qualitative data collection, often used in exploratory or therapeutic contexts.

5. Write Short Notes On The Following In 50-60 Words Each.

Question 1.Gordon Allport's trait theory of personality.
Answer:The word personality is derived from the Latin word 'persona'. According to Gordon Allport, "Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determines his unique adjustments to the environment."
A trait is a relatively enduring and consistent way of thinking, feeling and acting. It is some distinctive characteristic of the person that leads him/her to behave in more or less consistent ways across situations and over a period of time. Allport categorised traits as Cardinal traits, Central traits and Secondary traits.
(i) Cardinal Traits - It is a single trait that dominates the individual's personality. Every action of the person can be traced to the influence of this trait, for e.g., in case of Gandhiji honesty is the cardinal trait, in case of Napoleon, the cardinal trait was ambition.
(ii) Central Traits - These traits are 'core' traits or 'basic' characteristics that form the building blocks of personality. There are about 5-10 traits such as sensitivity, sociability, diligence, etc., that can best describe an individual's personality.
(iii) Secondary Traits - These traits play a minor role in personality as they appear only in specific situations or under specific circumstances. They are sometimes related to preferences or attitudes.
In simple words: Gordon Allport's trait theory defines personality through consistent behavioral characteristics called traits. He categorized them into Cardinal (dominant, defining traits), Central (core traits describing an individual), and Secondary (less consistent, situational traits), providing a hierarchical view of personality structure.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly define and differentiate between Cardinal, Central, and Secondary traits using concrete examples to illustrate their significance and application in understanding an individual's personality.

Question 2.Effect of mass media on personality development.
Answer:The word personality is derived from the Latin word 'persona' which was used to refer to masks worn by actors during a stage performance, Thus, the meaning of personality was interpreted as 'projected behaviour' of an individual.
According to Gordon Allport, "Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determines his unique adjustments to the environment."
The psycho-social factors that have an effect on personality include heredity, family, peer group, culture and mass media. Mass media includes print media e.g., newspapers; audio-visual media e.g., T.V. and new media e.g., internet. Media is a source of information, education, entertainment and even socialization. It has a considerable effect on our value system, behaviour patterns and personality. However, excessive dependence on media may lead to egocentrism, poor academic performance, difficult in concentration, sleep disturbance, etc.
In simple words: Mass media significantly influences personality by shaping values, beliefs, and behaviors through information, education, and entertainment. While it aids socialization, excessive exposure can foster egocentrism, affect academic performance, and cause concentration and sleep issues, impacting overall personality development.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on both the positive (socialization, information) and negative (egocentrism, academic decline) impacts of mass media to show a balanced understanding of its influence on personality.

6. Answer The Following Questions With Given Points In 100-150 Words Each.

Question 1.Explain the Big Five Factors model of Personality.
Points:
(i) Openness to experience
(ii) Conscientiousness
(iii) Extroversion
(iv) Agreeableness
(v) Neuroticism
Answer:The word personality is derived from the Latin word 'persona' which was used to refer to masks worn by actors during a stage performance, Thus, the meaning of personality was interpreted as 'projected behaviour' of an individual.
According to Gordon Allport, "Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determines his unique adjustments to the environment." According to Norman Munn, "Personality is a unique combination of individual's physical structure, needs, interests, abilities and aptitudes"
The Five Factor Model of or Big Five Personality theory, based on the trait perspective proposed by Robert McCrae and Paul Costa. The five broad trait factors are-
1. Openness to Experience - People who are open to experience are intellectually curious imaginative, appreciative of art, sensitive to beauty. They sometimes tend to think and act in nonconforming, adventurous ways. Individuals who score low on openness to experience tend to be conventional, resistant to change and prefer familiarity and routine. They may lack creativity and aesthetic sense.
2. Conscientiousness - It concerns the way in which people control, regulate and direct their impulses. People high in conscientiousness are hardworking, disciplined, responsible, dependable, etc, while those low on conscientiousness tend to be careless, unorganised, spontaneous, undisciplined, etc.
3. Extroversion - Extroversion is marked by pronounced engagement with the external world. People high on this trait are assertive, talkative, sociable, enthusiastic, etc. Individuals showing low extroversion tend to be shy, reserved, lack the activity levels of extroverts. They are low-key and disengaged from the social world.
4. Agreeableness - It refers to the ability of a person to get along with others and show a concern for social harmony. People high on this trait tend to be friendly, cooperative, generous and believe that people are basically decent and trustworthy. Persons low on agreeableness tend to be uncooperative, suspicious, even hostile and jealous.
5. Neuroticism - It refers to a tendency to experience negative emotions such as anger, anxiety or depression more intensely and for longer periods than normally experienced by others. Those who score high on neuroticism tend to be irritable, fearful, emotionally unstable and interpret ordinary situations as threatening and hopeless. People who score low in neuroticism are less emotionally reactive and hence tend to be calmer, emotionally stable and experience more of positive feelings.
In simple words: The Big Five Factors model, or OCEAN model, describes personality through five broad traits: Openness (curiosity, imagination), Conscientiousness (organization, discipline), Extroversion (sociability, assertiveness), Agreeableness (cooperation, empathy), and Neuroticism (emotional stability vs. instability). These universal dimensions provide a comprehensive framework for understanding individual differences in personality.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining the Big Five, name each trait and briefly describe the characteristics of both high and low scorers for a complete answer. Use the OCEAN acronym to remember them.

Question 2.Explain the factors influencing personality.
Points:
(i) Family
(ii) School
(iii) Peer group
(iv) Culture
Answer:The word personality is derived from the Latin word 'persona' which was used to refer to masks worn by actors during a stage performance, Thus, the meaning of personality was interpreted as 'projected behaviour' of an individual.
According to Gordon Allport, "Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determines his unique adjustments to the environment." According to Norman Munn, "Personality is a unique combination of individual's physical structure, needs, interests, abilities and aptitudes"
Personality is shaped by biological factors such as heredity and hormones secreted by endocrine glands as well as psychosocial factors such as family, school, peer group, culture, mass media, etc.
(i) Family - As the first agency of socialization, the family exerts a strong influence on personality. Aspects of family such as family structure, atmosphere, and relationships, family interactions and childrearing practices influence personality, for e.g., if parents show rejection or over protection, etc., towards the child it leads to low self-esteem and adverse effects on the personality. A family with a warm emotional atmosphere and where parents adopt democratic discipline and show love, respect and concern for the children will positively influence the child's personality, i.e., boost self-esteem.
(ii) School - Various aspects of school such as teaching-learning process, academic and co- curricular facilities, role of the teachers, school location, management and discipline, etc., influence the child's personality, for e.g., teachers who are well qualified, creative, build a rapport which the students, tend to motivate students and help them to develop a good personality.
(iii) Peer group - It refers to individuals of the same age group, e.g., classmates or sharing the same interests, e.g., members of a sports club. Influence of the peer group is most noticed in adolescence since it serves as a reference group. The influence of peer group on the person may be positive such as developing healthy gender attitudes, skills of communication, etc., or it may be negative e.g., developing aggressive tendencies, prejudices, etc.
(iv) Cultural factors - Culture refers to the customs, values and social behaviour of a particular society. Every culture has its own set of beliefs, norms, expectations, etc., which influence the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of its members.
In simple words: Personality development is influenced by a combination of biological and psychosocial factors. Family, through its structure and parenting styles, shapes early development; school influences through education and teacher-student interactions; peer groups provide social learning and identity formation; and culture embeds individuals with specific values, norms, and behavioral expectations.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide specific examples for each influencing factor (family, school, peer group, culture) to demonstrate a thorough understanding of how they individually contribute to personality development.

Question 3.Explain the various methods of personality measurement.
Points:
(i) Behavioural analysis
(ii) Self-report technique
(iii) Projective method
Answer:The word personality is derived from the Latin word 'persona' which was used to refer to masks worn by actors during a stage performance, Thus, the meaning of personality was interpreted as 'projected behaviour' of an individual.
According to Gordon Allport, "Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determines his unique adjustments to the environment."
According to Norman Munn, "Personality is a unique combination of individual's physical structure, needs, interests, abilities and aptitudes. Personality can be assessed using techniques such as Self Report measures (inventories), Behavioural Analysis Techniques and Projective techniques.
(i) Behavioural Analysis Techniques
Behavioural Analysis techniques such as Interview and Observation can provide information about an individual's personality in a variety of situations.
(a) Interview - It is a process in which the interviewer collects information about the personality of an interviewee by asking him/her specific questions. The main types of interview depending on the purpose of assessment are- Structured and unstructured interview.
* Structured interview - The number, type and sequence of questions to be asked in the interview are pre-determined. The answers expected are also specific. This type of interview is used where exact quantification is required, for e.g., industrial psychologists use structured interviews to select employees for a job.
* Unstructured interview - The type and sequence of questions to be asked by the interviewer are not pre-determined. Detailed answers can be given and scoring is often subjective. It is employed by clinical psychologists, counsellors, etc.
(ii) Self-Report Technique (Inventories)
The individual provides information about his/her personality by responding to statements/questions on the inventory, for e.g., Minnesota Multiphasic Personalit Inventory (MMPI), 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PFQ), etc. Responses are scored in quantitative terms and interpreted on the basis of norms that are developed for the test.
(iii) Projective Techniques
Projective techniques emerged from the psychoanalytic perspective. The individual responds freely to relatively unstructured or ambiguous stimuli/material. It is assumed that individuals project their own personality onto these stimuli, often revealing personal conflicts, coping styles, etc. Projective techniques cannot be scored in an objective manner. They use various materials like ink-blots, ambiguous pictures, incomplete sentences, word associations, etc. Main projective techniques include Rorschach's Ink-Blot Tests, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Sentence Completion Test, etc.
In simple words: Personality is measured using three main methods: behavioral analysis (observing actions, including interviews), self-report techniques (questionnaires like MMPI where individuals describe themselves), and projective methods (interpreting ambiguous stimuli like inkblots or pictures to reveal unconscious thoughts). Each method offers unique insights into personality.

🎯 Exam Tip: For each measurement method, describe its core principle, give specific examples (e.g., MMPI for self-report, TAT for projective), and mention its advantages or disadvantages (e.g., objectivity vs. subjectivity).

Class 12 Psychology Chapter 3 Personality Intext Questions And Answers

Activities (Textbook Page. No. 23)

Activity 1

Read the following examples and express your opinion about the concept of personality:
(i) Rohan is a good looking boy. He is a genius, but extremely arrogant. He always shouts at his friends. He always talks very rudely to his parents.
(ii) Ruchi is a girl with ordinary looks. She is poor in her studies but always gets along nicely with her friends. She always talks in a polite manner to everyone.
Answer:[Information based question - refer textbook page no. 23 (3.1)]
In simple words: These examples illustrate that personality is more than just external traits; it encompasses a complex interplay of inner qualities, behaviors, and social interactions, highlighting both positive and negative aspects of an individual's character.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing personality, look beyond superficial descriptions to identify deeper behavioral patterns, social interactions, and underlying attitudes.

Activity 2 (Textbook Page. No. 24)

Look at the list given below and discuss which of these factors have a stronger influence in shaping personality :
(i) Nutritious diet
(ii) Junk food
(iii) Physique
(iv) Exercise
(v) Technology
(vi) Peer group
(vii) Parents
(viii) Neighbours
(ix) Relatives
(x) Childhood experiences.
Answer:All the given factors tend to shape our personality. However, parents, peer group, physique, childhood experiences tend to exert greater influence.
In simple words: While many factors contribute to personality, core influences like parents, peer groups, physical characteristics (physique), and childhood experiences generally have a more profound and lasting impact on shaping an individual's personality.

🎯 Exam Tip: Prioritize factors that have long-term developmental impacts (e.g., family, early experiences, social groups) when discussing personality formation.

Activity 3 (Textbook Page. No. 25)

Think how the peer group may influence you with respect to factors given below:
(i)Hairstyle
(ii) Dressing style
(iii) Eating habits
(iv) Study habits
(v) Communication skills
(vi) Attitudes
(vii) Decision making
(viii) Likes and dislikes, etc
Answer:The peer group refers to individuals who are of the same age or who tend to share similar interests. Peer group influences personality tremendously in late childhood and in adolescence. This may be in regard to physical appearance like hairstyle and dressing style. Peer group also influences how we interact with others i.e., interpersonal aspects like communication skills, decision-making, attitudes as well as personal preferences eating habits, study habits, like/dislikes, etc.
In simple words: Peer groups profoundly influence personality, especially during adolescence, by shaping various aspects such as physical appearance (hairstyle, dressing), social behaviors (communication, attitudes), and personal preferences (eating/study habits, likes/dislikes). This influence helps in identity formation and social adjustment.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the specific developmental stages (late childhood, adolescence) where peer influence is strongest and provide concrete examples across different life domains.

Activity 4 (Textbook Page. No. 27)

Make two separate lists of jobs requiring more need of talking and jobs requiring less need of talking. Try to find out which of your friends will be suitable for these two types of jobs.
Answer:Jobs requiring more need of talking.
1. Teacher
2. Salesperson
3. Human resource manager
4. Lawyer
5. Event planner
Jobs requiring less need of talking.
1. Writer
2. Computer programmer
3. Librarian
4. Accountant
5. Researchers.
In simple words: Jobs demanding more talking often involve extensive public interaction and persuasion, like teaching or sales. Conversely, roles requiring less talking typically involve analytical, focused, or solitary work such as programming or research, where communication is more task-oriented than conversational.

🎯 Exam Tip: When categorizing jobs, consider the primary communication demands: direct, persuasive interaction versus focused, independent work. This reflects different personality strengths, such as extroversion versus introversion.

Activity 5 (Textbook Page. No. 29)

Use observation method and try to get few ideas of the personalities of the following individuals:
1. Traffic controller
2. News reporter
3. Private detective
4. Interior designer
5. Nurse
6. Teacher
Answer:1. Traffic controller - He/she must have physical stamina, mental agility, negotiation skills, organizational skills.
2. News reporter - He/she must have curiosity, alertness, courage, language skills, empathy.
3. Private detective - He/she must be trustworthy, persistent, sociability, technological skills.
4. Interior designer - He/she must have creativity, interpersonal skills, aesthetic skills, communication skills.
5. Nurse - He/she must show empathy, stamina, communication skills, diligence, interpersonal skills.
6. Teacher - He/she must have good interpersonal and communication skills, be patient, creative.
In simple words: Observing various professions reveals distinct personality traits crucial for success; for instance, traffic controllers need mental agility, news reporters require curiosity and empathy, and nurses benefit from empathy and stamina. These roles highlight how specific skills align with different personality profiles.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing personality traits for different professions, link observable behaviors and required skills directly to underlying personality characteristics (e.g., a teacher's patience reflects agreeableness and conscientiousness).