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Trait Theories

Trait Theories . Basic Assumptions and Central Points. behavior determined by stable generalized traits basic qualities that exist within a person and express themselves across situations goal of trait psychology: determine those trait dimensions

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Trait Theories

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  1. Trait Theories

  2. Basic Assumptions and Central Points • behavior determined by stable generalized traits • basic qualities that exist within a person and express themselves across situations • goal of trait psychology: determine those trait dimensions determine where people stand relative to others (indiv. diff.s)

  3. Types Vs. Traits • types: discrete categories • traits: dimensions

  4. Allport • uniqueness of the individual • Cardinal Traits • Central Traits • Secondary Dispositions • Idiographic Vs. Nomothetic

  5. Cattell • Surface Traits • Source Traits • Factor Analysis • 16 PF

  6. Eysenck 3 main factors (really 2) Introversion-Extroversion Neuroticism Psychoticism (antisocial)

  7. The Big 5 • Psycholexical approach • Costa & McCrae

  8. Big 5 • Openness • Conscientiousness • Extraversion-(Introversion) • Ageeableness • Neuroticism • OCEAN

  9. Common Features • traits account for consistency • most differentiate between superficial and underlying • traits are stable over time and situation • focus of research is to find basic dimensions and develop good measures of them

  10. Problems/Criticisms of Trait approach • Atheoretical ( underlying traits arrived at empirically not theoretically) • Tautology (circular reasoning) can describe not explain • Is that all there is??? • Exaggerate consistency and ignore situation

  11. Revision of Trait Theory • Types of Consistency (aggregated, if-then) • Person X Situation Interaction • Signatures (Mischel) “if-then”

  12. Assessment • Basic assumptions • can assess personality by asking • traits are quantifiable and scalable • behaviors are “signs”, but of underlying traits

  13. Common Measures • MMPI clinical profiles, objective standardized scoring 10 subcales • NEO-PI based on Big 5 global measure of normal personality

  14. Reliability • Validity

  15. Testing • problems/criticism re: use of personality testing • bias in testing (self-report bias, statistical bias, cultural bias) • ethics of testing (privacy, use of test results, etc.) • labeling • Social policy and decision making

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