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Explore the concept of personality, from trait theory to genetic influences, and the confounding role of situations. Analyze if tests truly measure personalities or just predictability. Delve into the realness of personality and its impact on understanding human behavior.
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Personality What makes us unique individuals?
What is “Personality”? • Trait theory: • Personalities can be characterized by presence and magnitude of traits that are common across all people
Are personalities stable? • Tests have been devised to measure personality traits. • The tests show high stability over time. • Do the tests really measure anything? • Psychics • Barnum Effect
Genetic basis of traits • Personality traits might simply be softer expressions of psychological disorders. • Gloomy -- depression • Eccentric -- Schizophrenic • Happy -- manic
The confounding influence of situations • Do people act the way they do because of their personality, or the situation? • Low behavioral correlations across situations. • We generally see people in the same situations (students & teachers, athletes, etc.)
Is personality real? • Do people really have personalities? • Is personality just our attempt to understand people around us, to make them more predictable? Do we see “consistency” where none exists?