Week 4: Trait Theories

Pregunta	Respuesta
trait	-A trait is any readily-identifiable, stable quality that characterises an individual from other individuals
traits serve 3 main functions	-To summarise -predict -and explain a person’s conduct
predominant assumptions of trait approaches : 1	permanence over time: Our personality traits remains relatively stable over time.
2:	Permanence across situations Our personality traits remain relatively stable over situations.
3:	Behaviour altering: Personality influences behaviour
allports trait theory	Image: Picture5 (binary/octet-stream)
Gordon Allport: Lexical Hypothesis	Cardinal Traits: life-revolving, dominant trait. (high breadth, low situational variance) Central Traits: qualities which characterise daily interactions. Secondary Traits: traits exhibited under certain situations. (low breadth, high variance)
allports values scale	Allport & Odbert (1936) searched the dictionary and identified 18,000 words, of which 4,500 were separate personality traits. e.g. show-off show-boat sociable outgoing
Evaluating Allport: 1	-Major contribution: first to discuss the limitations of trait approaches. i.e. personality has a limited impact on behaviour in certain situations, so cannot be used to always predict behaviour.
2	-No standardised measure developed - the 4500 words described could never be used to describe personality adequately.
cattells theory: factor analysis	-Utilised a ‘new’ (at the time) approach known as factor analysis to come up with his theory -Factor Analysis: statistical technique for the reduction of data. -Factor analysis attempts to look for simple patterns within all of allports 4500 traits, e.g. how many of the 4500 are actually looking at the same trait.
continued	-Cattell realised that a number of the personality traits described by Allport were the same, meaning that the 45500 words found could be reduced using factor analysis -Came up with 16 personality factors
testing	-Cattell made a distinction between source and surface traits. -Surface traits are very obvious and can be easily identified by other people - whereas source traits are less visible to other people and appear to underlie several different aspects of behavior. -Cattell regarded source traits are more important in describing personality than surface traits.
evaluation 1:	Developed a comprehensive, empirically-based trait theory of personality. Therefore acknowledged the complexity of the personality construct.
2	Cattell used maths to show that personality could influence behaviour. E.g. those factors highest up the list most important determinants of behaviour.
3	his 16fp test has been widely used
eysenck giant 3 model	-Also known as the ‘PEN’ model – one of the most influential theories of personality ever -Developed using a combination of factor analytic and empirical approaches. -Is a hierarchical model, with three levels.
3 supertraits	-Neuroticism (Unstable, anxious, easily upset) -psychoticism (Impersonal, unsocialised, cruel) -extraversion (Outgoing, sociable, energetic)
extraversion	-Extraversion characterises people based on their orientation toward external sources of stimulation from the environment versus an orientation inward at the opposite extreme
psycoticism	-includes a disposition toward psychosis and a degree of sociopathy
Neuroticism	-Neuroticism is basically a measure of emotional stability-instability.
distribution	-Extraversion and neuroticism – these are normally distributed (most people fit in the middle). -psychoticism has a positive skew
evaluation	-Research shows differences between extraverts and introverts. -Neuroticism related to behaviour and mental health. -There is also some biological evidence for neuroticism and extraversion. -Evidence for psychoticism is less clear
the five factor model costa and mcrae	Image: Picture6 (binary/octet-stream)
continued	-Becoming increasingly accepted that five traits best describe personality structure. -However, debate as to what the five ‘supertraits’ are.
Lexical Approach & Support for the FFM	-1st came Allport’s 4500 trait names, &from this, Cattell produced his 16PF. -Fiske (1949) re-analysed the same data, -and reported five factors.
History of the FFM	-Tupes and Crystal (1961) were researchers on a USA airforce base -Had officer cadets complete personality questionnaire based on 16PF. -However, found 5 rather than 16 factors which were stable over 8 different samples. -Warren Norman – a friend of T&C – gave his students personality questionnaires, and also found 5 factors.
Goldberg’s Big Five Model	-Used lexical and factor analysis to develop the Big Five Model (BFM) -Lexical analysis: asked people (and others) to describe themselves. -Factor analysis: self- and peer-reports. Came up with a descriptive (phenotypic) and hierarchical model.
Goldberg’s Five Dimensions:	-Extraversion/introversion -Friendliness/hostility -Conscientiousness -Neuroticism/emotional stability -Intellect
The Five Factor Model(Costa & McRae)	The five factors are: -Openness; -conscientiousness; -extraversion; -agreeableness; -neuroticism. -Each factor lies on a continuum along which individuals are placed.
info	-There are six facets to each of the five factors. Therefore gives a causal, rather than descriptive, explanation. -Similar to the description put forward by Eysenck.
Evaluating the ‘Big 5'	-Generally accepted to be 5 factors, but what these factors actually are is disagreed. -Indeed, researchers have called for the approach to be falsified. -How should the factors be described (i.e. titled)? E.g. agreeableness  conformity, likeability. -Some uncertainty what each of the factors actually do/look it. -Is data-driven (exploratory factor analysis), meaning it is not based in theory.

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