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TRAIT PERSPECTIVE. Individual characteristics that define a person. Trait. Tendency toward certain behaviors or emotions, no matter the situation Believe that these traits are stable & predictable over time.
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TRAIT PERSPECTIVE Individual characteristics that define a person.
Trait • Tendency toward certain behaviors or emotions, no matter the situation • Believe 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 • Ancient Greeks classified four personality traits • Blood - Sanguine (cheerful) • Black Bile - Melancholic (depressed) • Yellow Bile - Choleric (irritable) • Phlegm - Phlegmatic (unemotional) • Felt these were caused by humor (body fluids)
Personality Types • Type A: Driven, competitive, rigid, hostile & intense • Type A personalities that are hostile, angry and negative more prone to stress-related illness like heart disease. • Type B: Calm, laid back & easy going • Critics argue can’t place all people into just two categories.
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: • Cardinal Trait – single defining characteristic that is dominant across all situations (few of us have this) • Central Traits – 5-10 traits that form the core of our personality • Secondary Traits – present but not as defining of a person
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 • Surface trait—characteristic that can be inferred from observable behavior (friendliness, tidiness) • Generally considered as too many traits
Cattell’s 16 Personality Factors Example Questions and Profiles The 16PF, developed by Raymond Cattell, is a self-report inventory that contains 185 items like those shown in part (a). 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
Hans Eysenck (1916-1997) • German psychologist who researched the genetically-influenced dimensions of personality • Had 3 different source traits • Psychoticism: Emotional Empathy or Caring • Low in this means warm & caring toward others. • High in this means antisocial, cold, hostile & unconcerned about others. • Extroversion: Introversion-extraversion • Degree to which a person directs their energies inward toward themselves (introvert) or outward onto others (extrovert). • Neuroticism: Emotional stability- Instability (Stable – Unstable) • A person’s predisposition to become unpredictable & emotionally upset (unstable) or stay composed, rational and emotionally even (stable). • Remember as P.E.N. • Generally considered as too few traits
Eysenck is similar to Hippocrates Melancholic Choleric Sanguine 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.
The Notorious BIG 5 Theory • Most popular trait theory • Essential building blocks of personality can be described in 5 basic personality dimensions. • Described somewhat differently among researchers but can be found cross culturally. • Research shows them to be stable over time & consistent over different situations. • Human behavior is the result of interaction between traits and situations.
O.C.E.A.N. • 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?
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 behaviors • Fails to address how issues such as motives, unconscious, or beliefs about self affect personality development
