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AP Psychology

TRAIT PERSONALITY THEORIES

Individual characteristics that define a person.

TRAIT

Trait: Tendency toward certain behaviors or emotions, no matter the situationBelieve that these traits are stable & predictable over time.

Trait Perspective focus on individual differences rather than similarities like previous theories.

Trait theories seek to identify, describe and measure these individual differences.

ANCIENT GREEK TRAITS

Hippocrates—Ancient Greek physician suggested four “humors” or personality traits related to physiological changes in the body.

Blood - Sanguine (cheerful)Black Bile - Melancholic (depressed)YELLOW BILE - Choleric (irritable)Phlegm - Phlegmatic (unemotional)

Felt these were caused by humor (body fluids)

GORDON ALLPORT (1897-1967)

First to try to list & describe fundamental human traits

Studied the English dictionary and found more than 18,000 words describing specific personality traits. Eliminated synonyms to get the list to 171

Assumed traits are inherited and fixed in the nervous system.

ALLPORT ’S THEORY

Personality made up of:1. Cardinal Trait – single defining

characteristic that is dominant across all situations (few of us have this)

2. Source Traits (Central Traits) – 5-10 traits that form the core of our personality

3. Surface Traits (Secondary Traits) – present but not as defining of a person

A good way to distinguish between source and surface traits is through the following statement, “On the surface (traits that are easy observed by others) he seemed like a nice guy, but as I got to know him (the source of who he is) he turned out to be liar- (source traits take more time to identify and are an indication of who someone is)

SURFACE VS. SOURCE

RAYMOND CATTELL (1905-1998)

Used factor analysis to reduce the list of personality traits.Came up with 16 key personality dimensions (source traits) or factors to describe personality

Proposed Each factor was measured on a continuum

Generally considered as too many traits

The 16PF, developed by Raymond Cattell, is a self-report inventory that contains 185 items like those shown in part (a).

CATTELL ’S 16 PERSONALITY FACTORS

When scored, the 16PF generates a personality profile. In part (b), personality profiles of airline pilots and writers are compared.

Cattell (1973) found that pilots are more controlled, more relaxed, more self-assured, and less sensitive than writers

CATTELL ’S 16 PERSONALITY FACTORS

HANS EYSENCK (1916-1997)

German psychologist who researched the genetically-influenced dimensions of personality

Had 3 different source traits Psychoticism Extroversion Neuroticism

Remember as P.E.N. Generally considered as

too few traits

Psychoticism: Emotional Empathy or Caring

High no remorse, or feelings for another person;

Unconcerned about others

Low has feelings for other people

Warm and caring

HANS EYSENCK-3 SOURCE TRAITS

Extroversion: Introversion-extraversion

– Degree to which a person directs their energies inward toward themselves (introvert) or outward onto others (extrovert).

ExtraversionOutgoing, likes to go out, and being around other people

IntroversionSomeone who stays at home and likes quiet time


Neuroticism: Emotional stability- Instability (Stable – Unstable)

– A person’s predisposition to become unpredictable & emotionally upset (unstable) or stay composed, rational and emotionally even (stable).

NeuroticismA person who is moody

Emotional StableA person who is not overly emotional,


EYSENCKS’ PERSONALITY FACTORS






EYSENCK IS SIMILAR TO HIPPOCRATES

Choleric

Sanguine

Melancholic

Plegmatic

WILLIAM SHELDON & BODY TYPES

(1898-1977)Your body type determines

your personality

SHELDON ’S ENDOMORPH

•Love of food•Love of comfort•Sociable•Good-humored•Relaxed •Tolerant

SHELDON ’S ECTOMORPH

•Self-conscious•Private •Introverted •Intense •Artistic •Restrained

SHELDON ’S MESOMORPH

•Adventurous •Dominant•Courageous•Indifferent•Competitive •Risk-taker

IS SHELDON ’S THEORY ACCURATE?

No, It is based on Stereotypes.

Most popular trait theoryRobert McCrae and Paul Costa developed the Big Five Personality Source Traits, which are considered the building blocks of personalityEssential building blocks of personality can be described in 5 basic personality dimensions.

THE NOTORIOUS BIG 5 THEORY

THE NOTORIOUS BIG 5 THEORY

Human behavior is the result of interaction between traits and situations.

Described somewhat differently among researchers but can be found cross culturally.

Research shows them to be stable over time & consistent over different situations.

O.C.E.A.N. (OR C.A.N.O.E.)OPENNESS – How open you are to new

experiences & learning?CONSCIENTIOUSNESS – The degree to

which one is responsible, hard working, reliable (dependability)

EXTROVERSION – How outgoing, expressive, active & social are you?

AGREEABLENESS – How honest, considerate, likeable & tolerant are you?

NEUROTICISM – How anxious, self-conscious or impulsive are you?

THE “BIG FIVE” TRAITS





Trait Theories of Psychology

EVALUATING TRAIT PERSPECTIVE

EVALUATION OF TRAIT PERSPECTIVE

Psychologists generally accept that people can be described & compared in terms of basic personality traits.

Trait Personality Tests are used to match people together and with appropriate jobs.

BUT Trait Theory…Doesn’t really explain where personality

comes from, simply describe the behaviorsFails to address how issues such as

motives, unconscious, or beliefs about self affect personality development

NATURE VS. NURTURE

Behavioral genetics compare identical twins raised apart and together or compare identical twins & fraternal twins.

Findings:Extraversion & Neuroticism seem genetically

linked. Identicals are more alike in these areas even when raised apart. Also true to lesser extent in Openness to Experience & Conscientiousness

Environmental factors influence personality traits – identical twins more alike earlier in life rather than later.