Feist−Feist: Theories of
Personality, Seventh
EditionBack Matter Glossary © The McGraw−Hill^611
Companies, 2009moral hypochondriasis (Fromm) Preoccupation with
guilt about things one has done wrong.
moralistic principle (Freud) Reference to the
conscience, a subsystem of the supergo that tells people
what they should not do.
morphogenic science Allport’s concept of science,
which deals with various methods of gathering data on
patterns of behavior within a single individual.
moving against people One of Horney’s neurotic
trends in which neurotics protect themselves against the
hostility of others by adopting an aggressive strategy.
moving away from people One of Horney’s neurotic
trends in which neurotics protect themselves against
feelings of isolation by adopting a detached attitude.
moving backward (Adler) Safeguarding inflated
feelings of superiority by reverting to a more secure
period of life.
moving toward people One of Horney’s neurotic
trends in which neurotics develop a need for others as a
protection against feelings of helplessness.
myth (May) Belief system that provides explanations
for personal and social problems.
N
narcissism Love of self or the attainment of erotic
pleasure from viewing one’s own body.
necrophilia Love of death.
need potential (Rotter) A reference to the possible
occurrence of a set of functionally related behaviors
directed toward the satisfaction of the same goal or a
similar set of goals.
need value (Rotter) The degree to which a person
prefers one set of reinforcements to another.
negative reinforcer Any aversive stimulus that, when
removed from a situation, increases the probability that
the immediately preceding behavior will occur.
negative transference Strong, hostile, and undeserved
feelings that the patient develops toward the analyst
during the course of treatment.
neurosis Somewhat dated term signifying mild
personality disorders as opposed to the more severe
psychotic reactions. Neuroses are generally characterized
by one or more of the following: anxiety, hysteria,
phobias, obsessive-compulsive reactions, depression,
chronic fatigue, and hypochondriacal reactions.
neurotic anxiety (Freud) An apprehension about an
unknown danger facing the ego but originating from id
impulses.
neurotic anxiety (May) A reaction that is
disproportionate to the threat and that leads to repression
and defensive behaviors.
neurotic claims (Horney) Unrealistic demands and
expectations of neurotics to be entitled to special
privilege.
neurotic needs (Horney) Original 10 defenses against
basic anxiety.
neurotic needs (Maslow) Nonproductive needs that
are opposed to the basic needs and that block
psychological health whether or not they are satisfied.
neurotic pride (Horney) A false pride based on one’s
idealized image of self.
neurotic search for glory Horney’s concept for the
comprehensive drive toward actualizing the ideal self.
neurotic trends Horney’s term for the three basic
attitudes toward self and others—moving toward people,
moving against people, and moving away from people; a
revision of her original list of 10 neurotic needs.
neuroticism (N) (Eysenck) One of three types or
superfactors identified by Eysenck. Neuroticism is a
bipolar factor consisting of neuroticism at one pole and
stability at the other. High scores on N may indicate
anxiety, hysteria, obsessive-compulsive disorders, or
criminality. Low scores indicate emotional stability.
nomothetic An approach to the study of personality
that is based on general laws or principles.
nonbeing The awareness of the possibility of one’s not
being, through death or loss of awareness.
normal anxiety (May) The experience of threat that
accompanies growth or change in one’s values.
normal autism (Mahler) The stage in an infant’s
development when all his or her needs are satisfied
automatically, that is, without the infant having to deal
with the external world.
normal symbiosis (Mahler) The second developmental
stage marked by a dual unity of infant and mother.
nothingness (Seenonbeing)O
object Psychoanalytic term referring to the person or
part of a person that can satisfy an instinct or drive.
object relations theory A reference to the work of
Melanie Klein and others who have extended Freudian
psychoanalysis with their emphasis on early relations to
parents (objects) that influence later interpersonal
relationships.
objective biography (McCrae and Costa) All
experiences of a person across the lifespan.
oblique method A method of rotating the axes in
factor analysis that assumes some intercorrelation
among primary factors.
obsession A persistent or recurrent idea, usually
involving an urge toward some action.Glossary G-9