Cattell's 16 Trait Factors Overview
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Cattell's 16 Trait Factors Overview

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Questions and Answers

What does the 'Lexical Hypothesis' suggest about personality traits?

  • Personality traits can be accurately measured using numerical scales.
  • Human behavior is primarily shaped by environmental factors.
  • Crucial features of personality are reflected in language over time. (correct)
  • Personality traits are primarily biological.

    • Which of the following is NOT listed as a potential personality trait in the early trait catalogues?

  • Aggressive
  • Sociable
  • Reckless
  • Introspective (correct)

    • What challenge did Allport and Odbert face in their trait catalogues?

  • They lacked empirical data to support their findings.
  • They couldn't categorize traits effectively due to overlap.
  • The overwhelming volume of available traits made it unusable. (correct)
  • There was a focus on negative personality traits only.

    • Which term best describes a trait that indicates a person is likely to successfully complete tasks?

    <p>Dutiful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following traits suggests an individual is prone to experiencing high levels of anxiety?

    <p>Vulnerable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of personality do researchers aim to describe when looking at basic trait domains?

    <p>Trait structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of personality traits, what does 'achievement striving' indicate?

    <p>A high level of motivation and ambition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which trait is characterized by an individual being serious and disciplined in approach?

    <p>Hard-working</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary purpose of factor analysis as developed by Spearman and Thurstone?

    <p>To reduce many correlated variables to fewer composite factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following traits is NOT included in Cattell's 16 Personality Factors?

    <p>Creativity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What statistical method did Cattell utilize to finalize his list of personality descriptors?

    <p>Factor analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many original descriptors did Cattell sort through before creating his final list?

    <p>18,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following pairs correctly describes a dimension of Cattell’s 16 trait factors?

    <p>Warmth: kind, social vs impersonal, detached</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes 'characteristic adaptations' as opposed to 'traits'?

    <p>Character traits do not involve goals or strategies, while adaptations do.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is considered an example of a 'goal' in the context of characteristic adaptations?

    <p>Desiring to become a psychologist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which option represents an 'interpretation' as defined in characteristic adaptations?

    <p>Assessing job satisfaction in a current role</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of characteristic adaptations, which option best describes a 'strategy'?

    <p>Minimizing socializing through established routines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the statement 'Either I can run it, or it will run me' reflect a characteristic adaptation?

    <p>It emphasizes the importance of clarity in goals and priorities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key difference between 'characteristic adaptations' and day-to-day attributes like work style?

    <p>Characteristic adaptations stem from unique life circumstances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following would NOT fit within the scope of characteristic adaptations?

    <p>Believing that hard work is overrated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do 'schemas' play in the context of characteristic adaptations?

    <p>They form underlying frameworks influencing how one interprets experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level of personality description provides the highest resolution regarding an individual's sense of self?

    <p>Life narratives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limitation of the life narratives level in personality description?

    <p>It has no predictive value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level of personality description is characterized by broad, coherent patterns of behavior and experience?

    <p>Dispositional traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level is primarily concerned with an individual's goals and interpretations within specific contexts?

    <p>Characteristic adaptations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary strength of dispositional traits in personality description?

    <p>It offers high predictive value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect does neuroticism primarily influence?

    <p>Negative bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does agreeableness diverge from its opposite traits?

    <p>By emphasizing cooperation and helpfulness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is primarily emphasized in conscientiousness?

    <p>Industriousness and organization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Characteristic adaptations are primarily shaped by which of the following factors?

    <p>Specific life circumstances and contexts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of personality, what do dispositional traits provide?

    <p>Broad descriptions of stable patterns in various contexts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement aligns with McAdams' view on personality traits?

    <p>Traits only offer a superficial sketch of an individual's personality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Personal concerns in characteristic adaptations refer to what?

    <p>Motivational and developmental adaptations related to context</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does openness/intellect play in the Big Five traits?

    <p>Influencing creativity and curiosity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Lexical Hypothesis

    • The most crucial features of personality are coded in language
    • Collected about 18,000 terms describing people
    • Example terms: Sociable, aggressive, patient, orderly
    • May be useful for rating personality
    • Difficult to use, too broad and unwieldy

    The Structure of Traits

    • Factor analysis: A statistical method to reduce correlated variables into fewer factors
    • Spearman and Thurstone developed it to structure mental abilities.
    • Cattell (1943) reduced Allport and Odbert's list with factor analysis
    • Created a 16-factor solution

    Cattell’s 16 Trait Factors

    • Warmth (kind, sociable vs impersonal, detached)
    • Reasoning (abstract thinker vs concrete thinker)
    • Emotional Stability (calm, non-reactive vs moody, reactive)
    • Dominance (forceful, bossy vs deferential, submissive)
    • Liveliness (animated, energetic vs restrained, cautious)
    • Rule-Consciousness (confirming vs rebellious)
    • Social Boldness (venturesome, uninhibited vs shy, timid)
    • Sensitivity (refined, aesthetic vs objective, down-to-earth)
    • Vigilance (skeptical, critical vs trusting, gullible)
    • Abstractedness (creative, imaginative vs grounded, practical)
    • Privateness (discrete, political vs forthright, unpretentious)
    • Apprehension (guilty, worried vs self-assured, confident)
    • Openness to change (liberal, flexible vs conservative)
    • Self-Reliance (individualistic vs dependent, collectivistic)
    • Perfectionism (self-disciplined, compulsive vs lax, flexible)
    • Tension (tense, driven vs relaxed, easygoing)

    The Big Five Traits:

    • Openness to Experience: Imaginative, curious, artistic, and insightful
    • Conscientiousness: Organized, efficient, reliable, and disciplined
    • Extraversion: Outgoing, assertive, warm, and seeks stimulation
    • Agreeableness: Cooperative, trusting, helpful, and empathetic
    • Neuroticism: Anxious, moody, self-conscious, and prone to negative emotions

    Measuring Traits

    • Traits are measured through self-report questionnaires, peer ratings, and informant reports

    What else is personality?

    • Traits provide an initial impression of a person, but lack context
    • Much of human personality is highly contextualized

    Level 2: Characteristic Adaptations

    • Highly contextualized, relates to an individual's life circumstances
    • Example: Goals, social roles, life stages tasks

    Examples Of Characteristic Adaptations

    • Goals (e.g. to be a psychologist)
    • Habits (eating and exercise)
    • Beliefs (e.g., religious)
    • Values (e.g., equality)
    • Virtues (e.g., bravery, loyalty)
    • Self-images ( Musician, Australian)
    • Developmental tasks (Forming friendships)

    Characteristic Adaptations: Another View

    • Stable goals, interpretations, and strategies related to life circumstances
    • Goals: Desired Future States
      • Example: Vocational interests, life ambitions
    • Interpretations: Appraised current states
      • Example: Job satisfaction, identity
    • Strategies: Plans to move between states
      • Example: Study routines, degree choice

    Characteristic Adaptations Compared to Traits

    • Being adventurous: A trait
    • Wanting to be a competition mountain climber: A goal
    • Being honest: A trait
    • Honesty as a greatest virtue: An interpretation
    • Being shy: A trait
    • Routines to minimize socializing: A strategy

    Three Levels of personality:

    • Level 1: Dispositional Traits
      • Broad and stable patterns of affect, behavior, and cognition
    • Level 2: Characteristic Adaptations
      • Goals, interpretations, and strategies in a specific context
    • Level 3: Life Narratives - Personal stories that give life meaning and purpose
    • Highest resolution description of an individual
    • Idiographic, no predictive value

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    Description

    Explore the foundational aspects of personality theory through Cattell's 16 Trait Factors. This quiz covers the lexical hypothesis, the structure of traits, and the details of each of the 16 traits identified by Cattell. Use this information to deepen your understanding of personality assessment.

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