Understand individuals by breaking down behavior patterns into observable traits instead of observable behaviors Personalities are determined by a combination of traits BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ID: 432096
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TRAIT THEORY OF PERSONALITY
Understand individuals by breaking down behavior patterns into observable traits, (instead of observable behaviors).
Personalities are determined by a combination of traits.
BASIC ASSUMPTIONS:
1. Personality Traits are relatively stable, and therefore predictable.
2. Personality Traits are consistent in diverse situations.
3. Each person has a different set or degree of particular traits.Slide2
Gordon ALLPORT (1897-1967)
INFERRING TRAITS FROM BEHAVIORWhat people do is a great clue as to personality traits. If a person enjoys, biking, running and hiking, we can infer they are athletic (a trait), if they enjoy mountain climbing and
moto-x, we might infer they are adventurous.-We can infer traits by observing people in natural or experimental settings.Slide3
Allport’s 3 categories of traits
Cardinal Traits
-Dominates personality across time and situations.-Most important component of personality ie. Ambition or self-sacrifice.
-Very few people develop a cardinal trait – usually late in life.
Central Traits
-Five to Ten traits that are stable across time and situation.
-Building blocks of personality
ie
. Friendliness, meanness, happiness.
-General adjectives that would be used to describe someone
-Basis for most personality theories
Secondary Traits
-Characteristics that are only evident in certain situations.
-Less obvious and consistent ie. Liking icecream, disliking Rap music-Of less importance to personality theorists.Slide4
Raymond Cattell (1905-1998)
Cattell
condensed thousands of traits to 16 primary traits. The 16 PF (personality factors) test is still in use today.Divided personality traits into 2 categories:
SURFACE TRAITS: Behavior we see people engaging in on a regular basis. Easily observed.
SOURCE TRAITS: produce the behaviors we can see. Underlie surface behavior. Slide5
Argued that only 2 factors were necessary to explain personality differences. Proposed a 2 factor model to encompass Cattell’s 16 factors.
FACTOR 1: Extraversion-IntroversionFACTOR 2:
Neuroticism – Emotional StabilityHANS EYSeNCK (1916-1997)Slide6
Costa & McRae’s : ‘Five Factor Theory’
More recent research suggests that 5 personality factors seem to be inherited or at least appear early on in most people.
Important to ignore + or – connotations with terminology.
Everyone possesses all 5 of these traits to a greater or lesser degree. (Continuum rather than have or not have).Slide7
Extraversion Introversion
-Engaged with external world
-Enjoy being around others
-Energetic & enthusiastic
-Attention seekers
-Often positive
Quiet & low-key
Disengaged from external world – don’t seek out social involvement
Prefer solitude
Require less stimulation than extraverts
Shyness sometimes mistaken for unfriendliness Slide8
Agreeableness Disagreeableness
Value getting along with othersConsiderate, friendly, generous, helpfulWilling to compromiseOptimistic view – believe that people are basically honest, decent & trustworthy
Place self interest above getting along with others.Unconcerned with others’ well-being, unlikely to extend themselves for others.Skeptical of others’ motives – suspicious, unfriendly, uncooperative
While agreeableness is obviously advantageous for attaining & maintaining popularity, it is not useful in situations requiring tough or absolute decisions.
Disagreeable people can make excellent scientists, critics or soldiers.Slide9
Conscientiousness Impulsivity
Contemplation & careful planning.Persistent, reliablePrudence (wise & cautious) – Conscientious people are typically considered intelligent by others.
Avoid troubleOften successfulCan be perceived as stuffy or boringPerfectionists & workaholics
Snap decisions, acting on impulse
Fun, zany, exciting
Unreliable, lacking ambition
Distractibility = smaller, scattered and/or inconsistent accomplishments
Responding to impulse – short term pleasure, but long term consequences
Ie
. Drug use - long term effects on healthSlide10
Neurotic STABLE
Tendency to experience negative feelings eg. Anxiety, anger, depressionEmotionally reactive
More intense responses, more likely to interpret situations as threatening or minor frustrations as hopeless difficultIrritabilityProblems in emotional regulation result in ability to think clearly, make decisions or cope.
Less easily upset & emotionally reactive
Calm & emotionally stable
Free from persistent negative feelings
(* Does not necessarily mean an abundance of positive feelings – that falls under extraversion).Slide11
OPENnESS(to EXPERIENCE) CLOSE-MINDEDNESS
- Imaginative, creative
Intellectual curiosity, appreciative of art, sensitive to beautyAbility to think in symbols or abstract termsMore aware of feelingsIndividualistic & Non-conformist
Intellectuals often score high on openness – but not directly related to intellect.
Down-to-earth, conventional
Narrow, common interests
Prefer straightforward and obvious.
Embrace familiarity – resistant to change
* Although openness is often presented as more mature –closed thinking can be more useful. Research shows closed thinkers thrive in areas such as police work, sales & service occupationsSlide12
http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/
http://personality-testing.info/tests/BIG5.php
http://psychcentral.com/personality-test/start.php
THE BIG 5 PERSONALITY TEST