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Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Trait Approaches to Personality
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Lecture contents
• From cardinal to basic traits
• Issue 1: What and where are traits?
• Issue 2: What use are traits?
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Traits: The gist
Personal (‘internal’) rather than situational (‘external’)
Stable rather than transitory (across time)
Consistent rather than inconsistent (across ‘similar’ situations)
General rather than specific (across ‘different’ situations)
Universal dimensions: Individual differences (across people)
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Manifest, latent, or manifest because latent?
• Potential vs. actual
• Internal vs. interactive
• Explanation vs. description
• Behaviours vs. motives, affects, cognitions
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
An early definition
“generalized and personalized determining tendencies - consistent and stable modes of an individual’s adjustment to his environment”
Allport & Odbert (1936, p. 26)
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Behavioural traits and individual differences from
• Situational preferences
• Cognitive styles
• Expressive styles
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Traits and individual differences attenuated by
• Strong situational constraints
• Trait combinations
• Trait conflicts Other traits Motives Temporary moods Roles
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Allport’s non-common traits
Cardinal traitsCardinal traits Single defining traits that characterise some, but not all, Single defining traits that characterise some, but not all,
individuals.individuals.
Central traitsCentral traits Typically 5-10 traits: “those usually mentioned in careful letters of Typically 5-10 traits: “those usually mentioned in careful letters of
recommendation … or in brief verbal descriptions of a person” recommendation … or in brief verbal descriptions of a person” (Allport, 1937). (Allport, 1937).
Secondary traitsSecondary traits Like central traits but more specific to particular stimuli or Like central traits but more specific to particular stimuli or
particular responses.particular responses.
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Cattell’s 16 PF (5th Edition)
A. Warmth Reserved Warm B. Reasoning Low High C. Emotional stability Reactive Calm E. Dominance Deferential Assertive F. Liveliness Quiet Energetic G. Rule consciousness Expedient Dutiful H. Social boldness Shy Socially bold I. Sensitivity Logical Sensitive L. Vigilance Trusting Vigilant M. Abstractness Practical Contemplative N. Privateness Forthright Private O. Apprehension Self-assured ApprehensiveQ1. Openness to change Traditional Free thinkingQ2. Self-reliance Affiliative IndependentQ3. Perfectionism Unexacting PerfectionistQ4. Tension Relaxed Tense
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Have I read you right?
You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses you are generally able to compensate for them. You have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. Disciplined and self-controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure on the inside. At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You also pride yourself as an independent thinker; and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. But you have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extroverted, affable, and sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be rather unrealistic.
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
The 16PF5 (Global Factors)
Tough-Mindedness/Receptivity
Low Self-Control/High Self-Control
Introversion/Extraversion
Independence/Accommodation
Low Anxiety/High Anxiety
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Hans J. Eysenck’s ‘Big Two’
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Eysenck’s Extraversion
Extraversion
Sociable Lively Active Assertive
Carefree Dominant Surgent Venturesome
Sensation-seeking
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Eysenck’s Neutroticism
Neuroticism
Anxious Depressed Tense Irrational
Shy Moody Emotional Low self-esteem
Guilt-feelings
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
For fun only
Answer the following questions using a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)
1. Do you stop to think things over before doing anything?
2. Would being in debt worry you?
3. Do you lock up your house carefully at night?
4. Would it upset you a lot to see a child or animal suffer?
5. Do you believe insurance plans are a good idea?
Add the scores together.
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Eysenck’s PEN model
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Eysenck’s Psychoticism
Psychoticism
Aggressive Cold Egocentric Impersonal
Impulsive Unempathic Creative Anti-social
Tough-minded
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
(P)EN Evaluation
• E & N result from almost all factor analyses• Measures (e.g., EPQ-R) are generally accepted as
psychometrically impressive • Each factor score correlates with different biological stuff• Genetic contributions to E and N scores• Systemmatic mean differences across highs and lows,
e.g., Introverts vs. Extraverts
• I want to know more about: predictive/criterion validity comprehensiveness Utility generally
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Fundamental Lexical Hypothesis
The ‘Big Five’
“the most important individual differences in human transactions will come to be encoded as single terms in some or all of the world’s languages”
(Goldberg, 1990, p. 1216)
• Single-trait words reveal factors I-V in US, UK, Japan, China, etc
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
The Five-Factor Model (FFM)
Costa & McCrae (1992)
Openness (Curious and unconventional)
Conscientiousness (Ordered and persistent)
Extraversion (Exuberant and sociable)
Agreeableness (Caring and considerate)
Neuroticism (Emotional and anxious)
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
FFM: Openness to experience
Openness
Fantasy Aesthetics Feelings Ideas
Actions Values
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
FFM: Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness
Dutifulness Competence Order Deliberation
Self Discipline
Achievement Striving
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
FFM: Extraversion
Extraversion
Gregariousness Activity level Assertiveness Warmth
Excitement Seeking
Positive Emotions
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
FFM: Agreeableness
Agreeableness
Trust Altruism Modesty Compliance
Straight-forwardness
Tender-mindedness
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
FFM: Neuroticism
Neuroticism
Anxiety Depression Vulnerability Impulsiveness
Self-consciousness
AngryHostility
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
‘Consensus’ on 5 ‘basic’ traits
16PF5 Big 5 FFM
Tough-Mindedness/Receptivity Intellect Openness
Low Self-Control/High Self-Control ConscientiousnessConscientiousness
Introversion/Extraversion Surgency Extraversion
Independence/Accommodation Agreeableness Agreeableness
Low Anxiety/High Anxiety Emotional Stability Neuroticism
Remember the two crucial skills of factor analysis: Factor labeling Input variable selection
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
FFM Evidence
• Cross cultural replication using translation Using lexical method
• Self-other correlations
• Biological Genetic inheritance Evolutionarily consistent Cross species Neurological
• Diagnosis
• Prediction
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
What is being claimed?
The claim that the FFM is comprehensive does not mean that it exhaustively measures individual differences in personality, any more than a comprehensive examination asks every single question a student should be able to answer on a topic. What the model hypothesizes is that almost every personality trait is substantially related to one or more of the five factors, and that any remaining traits…form a miscellaneous category rather than covarying to define a sixth or subsequent factor.
Costa & McCrae (1995, p. 218, f. 1)
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits
Evaluation
Description more than explanation.
Conceptual fuzziness.
Little prediction or control.
Person-situation controversy continues.
However, the Five Factor approach does seem well grounded and the best trait taxonomy currently available.
Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits