In psychology, the study of personality focuses on:
a. change.
b. stability.
c. external factors.
d. learned factors.
I think it is b. I know personality is the pattern of enduring characteristics that produce consistency and individuality in a given person.
Right.
You're correct, the study of personality in psychology does focus on stability. Personality refers to the unique set of enduring patterns and traits that characterize an individual and contribute to their consistency and individuality over time and across different situations.
To arrive at the answer, it's helpful to understand the different options given and eliminate those that don't fit. Let's go through each option:
a. Change: While changes in personality can occur over time, the primary focus of personality psychology is on understanding the underlying stability of an individual's traits and patterns.
b. Stability: This option aligns with your understanding of personality as a consistent and enduring set of characteristics, making it an appropriate choice.
c. External factors: While external factors, such as environment, can influence personality development, the study of personality primarily concerns the individual's internal traits and patterns rather than solely focusing on external influences.
d. Learned factors: While personality can be influenced by learning experiences, this option is not the central focus of personality psychology, which primarily focuses on the enduring nature of an individual's characteristics rather than solely on learned behaviors.
Ultimately, your choice of stability (option b) is correct, as it accurately captures the key emphasis of personality psychology.