Trait Theories

By Christopher Matej

Interest/Importance
Why we feel certain emotions Why certain people act the way they do. Explain who we are Understand ourselves Understand certain disorders related to personality

Chapter 11
Personality Theory and Assessment Trait theories: Attempts to explain personality and differences between people in terms of personal characteristics

What I already know

Every person inherits a unique set of traits and are shaped by experience Understanding personality leads to predicting behaviour

Gordon Allport (1897-1967)

Asserted that personality traits are physically located somewhere in the brain (Allport & Odbert, 1936). Everyone inherits a unique set of raw materials forgiven traits which are then shaped by our experiences. Ex: If we are self-confident, we approach tasks differently than if we feel inferior.

Three Types of Individual Traits

Cardinal trait: It is a part of someones personality that is so strong that the person becomes known for that trait. Ex: John is arrogant. Central traits: They are all the qualities we possess as a human being. Secondary traits: Does not define our personality like cardinal trait and central traits. Ex: favourite music and food preferences. (Wood, Wood, Wood & Desmarais, 2008)

Identifying Central Traits

Decisive Disorganized Jealous Rigid Religious Competitive Compulsive Sloppy Calm Funny Shy Controlled Outgoing Arrogant Open-minded Quiet Laid-back Good-natured Intelligent Fearfull Responsible Inhibited Loyal Friendly Generous Rebellious Nervous

Serious Industrious
Reckless Happy

Humble Deceptive
Sad Selfish

Lazy Cooperative
Honest Organized

Raymond Cattell (1905-1998)

Considered traits providing key to understanding and predicting a persons behaviour. Surface traits: Observable qualities of personality.(Ex: Your best friend is honest and generous) Source traits: Most basic personality structure and cause behaviour. (Wood, Wood, Wood & Desmarais, 2008)

Hans Eysenck (1916-1997)

Personality determined by genes while environment are slight at best. Two dimensions Extraversion: sociable, outgoing and active. vs Introverts: withdrawn, quiet and introspective Neuroticism vs emotional stability: calm, even-tempered, easy going vs stressed, anxious and excitable. (Wood, Wood, Wood & Desmarais, 2008)

The Five-Factor Theory of Personality

Extraversion: sociable, outgoing, talkative, assertive VS Withdrawn, quiet, passive Neuroticism: Emotional instability; negative emotions, moody, irritable VS Easy-tempered, relaxed, calm Conscientiousness: Individuals who are organized, dependable, reliable, hard-working VS undependable, disorganized, impulsive (Wood, Wood, Wood & Desmarais, 2008)

 Agreeableness: Collection of traits from compassion to antagonism.(Ex: pleasant person, sympathetic, cooperative VS Unfriendly, unpleasant, agressive) Openness to experience: People who are imaginative, curious, cultured VS Concreteminded and practical and interests are narrow (King, Walker, & Broyle, 1996) (Wood, Wood, Wood & Desmarais, 2008)

Measuring Individual and Cultural Differences in Implicit Trait Theories

Shows the difference between culture on someones personality Two theories: The trait perspective and the cultural psychology perspective. Survey research in colleges where they asked questions about students behaviours (Wood, Wood, Wood & Desmarais, 2008)

Surprises
Many dimensions and categories for explaining a personality Each have a cardinal trait which is quality that is the strongest of our personality. Genes influence personality

Nature\Nurture
Nature Inheritance of traits After are traits are shaped by experience which can then be more as nurture