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Chapter 9Chapter 9
Traits and Trait TaxonomiesTraits and Trait Taxonomies
Personality PsychologyPersonality Psychology
Dispositional PerspectiveDispositional Perspective
People display continuity or consistency across their own actions, thoughts, and feelings
People differ from one another in many profound ways
Major theory under this perspective
Type and Trait Theory
ClassificationClassification
Characteristic of most sciences in their attempt to find order
One of most basic approaches to understanding personality
Common sense approach
To discover order about personality
Type and Trait Theory DefinedType and Trait Theory Defined
A dispositional theory that explains personality as a set of stable characteristics within individuals
People exhibit these characteristics across various situations and across time
Specific DefinitionsSpecific Definitions
Types
Original definition: Discontinuous categories
Current definition: Large, continuous categories encompassing traits
Traits
Continuous categories
Key ComponentsKey Components
Types and traits both exist in a hierarchical order
Types and traits are governed by a variety of potential processes
Factor analysis often used to determine hierarchies
Traits can be distilled into a few general categories; “Big 5” Model one of most popular
Key PeopleKey People
Allport
Cattell
Eysenck
Trait theory…Trait theory…
… is a way to describe/predict but it is NOT a theory of development
How do you discover traits?How do you discover traits?Step 1: Choose your methodStep 1: Choose your method
Lexical Approach: Collecting words and synonyms of traits
Statistical (Empirical) Approach: Use factor analysis
Theoretical Approach: Borrowing theories, especially from ancient scholars, and determining traits from these theories
Step 2: Distill using Step 2: Distill using Factor AnalysisFactor Analysis
• Statistical procedure to identify items that group together and reflect a larger factor
• Problems
• Selection of traits
• Labeling of factors
• Number of factors
Gordon AllportGordon Allport
“Father” of trait theory
Founded upon personal experience
Took a lexical approach to developing trait theory
Allport’s view of trait theoryAllport’s view of trait theory
• There is value in surface characteristics – there is more to a person than what is at the “unconscious” level
• It is not necessary always to emphasize one’s past
• To discover what someone is like – Ask them about themselves! They are the best source of information
• Traits are both inherited and learned
Allport’s view of trait theoryAllport’s view of trait theory
Common Traits
Traits that are defined the same way for all people
Personal Traits
Unique manifestation of traits
Types of Personal TraitsTypes of Personal Traits Cardinal disposition
One single trait that defines everything everything for a person
Central disposition
5 –10 highly characteristic and frequently seen personal traits
Secondary disposition
Influential traits that are less consistent and generalized than cardinal or central traits
Raymond CattellRaymond Cattell
Empirical approach to trait theory
Factor analysis reduction of 4,500 trait words (left by Allport) to 16 most basic primary personality dimensions
Not as concerned with whether traits were inherited or learned
Cattell’s 16 personality dimensionsCattell’s 16 personality dimensions Reserved vs. Warm Concrete Abstract Reactive Emotionally stable Deferential Dominant Serious Lively Expedient Rule-conscientious Shy Bold Utilitarian Sensitive Trusting Vigilant Practical Imaginative Forthright Private Self-assured Apprehensive Traditional Open to change Group-oriented Self-reliant Tolerates disorder Perfectionistic Relaxed Tense
Source versus Surface traitsSource versus Surface traits
Source trait
Causal factor trait that determines how a person responds
Surface trait
Manifestation of a source trait
Three types of traitsThree types of traits
Ability traits
Temperament traits
Dynamic traits
Ability traitsAbility traits
Define various types of intelligence and determine how effectively a person works toward a desired goal
Fluid intelligence (innate ability to learn)
Crystallized intelligence (the effects of education; what has been learned)
Temperament traitsTemperament traits
Inherited source traits that determine the general style of interaction
Dynamic traitsDynamic traits
Motivational traits
Ergs (innate motivation traits)
Meta-ergs (learned, environmental origin)
Hans EysenckHans Eysenck
Theoretical approach to trait theory
Took theories of Hippocrates, Jung, et. al., and conceived of a basic 2x2 matrix of super traits
Believed traits were genetically-based” was very biologically oriented
Two dimensions (“Supertraits”)Two dimensions (“Supertraits”)
Introversion/extraversion: Tendencies toward sociability, craving for excitement, liveliness, dominance, activeness
Emotionality/stability: Ease and frequency with which a person becomes upset and distressed, with greater moodiness, anxiety, and depression reflecting greater emotional instability
Eysenck’s Two DimensionsEysenck’s Two Dimensions
Emotionally Stable Emotionally Unstable
|
Introvert | Phlegmatic (calm): Melancholic (depressed)
| passive, careful, controlled quiet, submissive, anxious,
| reserved
Extravert | Sanguine (optimistic) Choleric (irritable)
| sociable, outgoing, active, impulsive,
| lively, carefree excitable, aggressive
Trait issuesTrait issues How many categories?
Does the approach used to develop trait theory (empirical, theoretical, lexical) make a difference in outcome?
Did all trait theorists follow the same assumptions presented for dispositional theory? What is the paradigm?
Where did trait theory go after Where did trait theory go after Cattell and Eysenck?Cattell and Eysenck?
Following Cattell, trait data collected in new, more comprehensive, and multivariate ways Further factor analysis Cattell’s data replicated with new, diverse samples,
multiple cultures, different languages, children, and over time
“lay-person” trait terms included More observations and nonverbal assessments
Findings showed 5 factors!
The “Big 5”The “Big 5”
Extraversion (Power)
Aggreeableness (Love)
Conscientiousness (Work)
Emotionality (Affect)
Openness to Experience (Intellect)
The Fifth Factor?The Fifth Factor?
Given different names by different researchers
Cross-cultural differences
Reactions to “Big 5”Reactions to “Big 5”
Support Eysenck and his camp More robust and replicable than any other taxonomy Is a well-established basis on which to build Research for additional factors is not compelling and the
factors are not relevant to personality (attractiveness) Is a framework for phenotypic attributes of personality
based in human language
Opposition There may be more factors (sexiness, attractiveness,
faithfulness, spirituality) Does not capture underlying personality processes
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