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Questions and Answers
What does the 'Lexical Hypothesis' suggest about personality traits?
What does the 'Lexical Hypothesis' suggest about personality traits?
Which of the following is NOT listed as a potential personality trait in the early trait catalogues?
Which of the following is NOT listed as a potential personality trait in the early trait catalogues?
What challenge did Allport and Odbert face in their trait catalogues?
What challenge did Allport and Odbert face in their trait catalogues?
Which term best describes a trait that indicates a person is likely to successfully complete tasks?
Which term best describes a trait that indicates a person is likely to successfully complete tasks?
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Which of the following traits suggests an individual is prone to experiencing high levels of anxiety?
Which of the following traits suggests an individual is prone to experiencing high levels of anxiety?
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What aspect of personality do researchers aim to describe when looking at basic trait domains?
What aspect of personality do researchers aim to describe when looking at basic trait domains?
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In terms of personality traits, what does 'achievement striving' indicate?
In terms of personality traits, what does 'achievement striving' indicate?
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Which trait is characterized by an individual being serious and disciplined in approach?
Which trait is characterized by an individual being serious and disciplined in approach?
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What was the primary purpose of factor analysis as developed by Spearman and Thurstone?
What was the primary purpose of factor analysis as developed by Spearman and Thurstone?
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Which of the following traits is NOT included in Cattell's 16 Personality Factors?
Which of the following traits is NOT included in Cattell's 16 Personality Factors?
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What statistical method did Cattell utilize to finalize his list of personality descriptors?
What statistical method did Cattell utilize to finalize his list of personality descriptors?
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How many original descriptors did Cattell sort through before creating his final list?
How many original descriptors did Cattell sort through before creating his final list?
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Which of the following pairs correctly describes a dimension of Cattell’s 16 trait factors?
Which of the following pairs correctly describes a dimension of Cattell’s 16 trait factors?
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Which of the following best describes 'characteristic adaptations' as opposed to 'traits'?
Which of the following best describes 'characteristic adaptations' as opposed to 'traits'?
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What is considered an example of a 'goal' in the context of characteristic adaptations?
What is considered an example of a 'goal' in the context of characteristic adaptations?
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Which option represents an 'interpretation' as defined in characteristic adaptations?
Which option represents an 'interpretation' as defined in characteristic adaptations?
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In the context of characteristic adaptations, which option best describes a 'strategy'?
In the context of characteristic adaptations, which option best describes a 'strategy'?
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How does the statement 'Either I can run it, or it will run me' reflect a characteristic adaptation?
How does the statement 'Either I can run it, or it will run me' reflect a characteristic adaptation?
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What is a key difference between 'characteristic adaptations' and day-to-day attributes like work style?
What is a key difference between 'characteristic adaptations' and day-to-day attributes like work style?
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Which of the following would NOT fit within the scope of characteristic adaptations?
Which of the following would NOT fit within the scope of characteristic adaptations?
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What role do 'schemas' play in the context of characteristic adaptations?
What role do 'schemas' play in the context of characteristic adaptations?
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Which level of personality description provides the highest resolution regarding an individual's sense of self?
Which level of personality description provides the highest resolution regarding an individual's sense of self?
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What is a limitation of the life narratives level in personality description?
What is a limitation of the life narratives level in personality description?
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Which level of personality description is characterized by broad, coherent patterns of behavior and experience?
Which level of personality description is characterized by broad, coherent patterns of behavior and experience?
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Which level is primarily concerned with an individual's goals and interpretations within specific contexts?
Which level is primarily concerned with an individual's goals and interpretations within specific contexts?
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What is the primary strength of dispositional traits in personality description?
What is the primary strength of dispositional traits in personality description?
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Which aspect does neuroticism primarily influence?
Which aspect does neuroticism primarily influence?
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How does agreeableness diverge from its opposite traits?
How does agreeableness diverge from its opposite traits?
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What is primarily emphasized in conscientiousness?
What is primarily emphasized in conscientiousness?
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Characteristic adaptations are primarily shaped by which of the following factors?
Characteristic adaptations are primarily shaped by which of the following factors?
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In the context of personality, what do dispositional traits provide?
In the context of personality, what do dispositional traits provide?
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Which statement aligns with McAdams' view on personality traits?
Which statement aligns with McAdams' view on personality traits?
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Personal concerns in characteristic adaptations refer to what?
Personal concerns in characteristic adaptations refer to what?
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What role does openness/intellect play in the Big Five traits?
What role does openness/intellect play in the Big Five traits?
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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.
