Questions and Answers
What is the typology system?
What are the three physical types identified in early personality type classifications?
Endomorphic, mesomorphic, and ectomorphic
What do trait psychologists maintain about individuals?
They can place individuals along a personality continuum.
What is a trait?
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What are the two assumptions of the trait approach?
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Who are more likely to use the trait approach?
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Who is Gordon Allport?
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What is the nomothetic approach in psychology?
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What are Common Traits according to Allport?
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What does the idiographic approach focus on?
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What are Central Traits in trait theory?
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What are Cardinal Traits according to Allport?
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What are Secondary Traits?
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What was Allport's method of analyzing 'Letters from Jenny'?
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What concept was Allport interested in related to personality?
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Who is Henry Murray?
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What is the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?
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What did Murray identify as the basic elements of personality?
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What are viscerogenic needs according to Murray?
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What are psychogenic needs?
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What does 'press' refer to in Murray's theory?
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Who is Raymond Cattell?
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Study Notes
Trait Approach to Personality
- Typology System: Classification based on the number and variety of personality types.
- Early Personality Types: Identified based on physical attributes: endomorphic (obese), mesomorphic (muscular), ectomorphic (fragile).
- Trait Definition: A dimension of personality categorizing individuals by the degree of characteristic manifestation.
- Trait Approach: Traits represented along a continuum, with personalities being relatively stable over time and across situations.
- Normal Distribution: Measurement of traits shows a bell curve, indicating most individuals score near the average.
Gordon Allport's Contributions
- Gordon Allport (1897-1967): Developed trait theory, catalogued 11,000 traits, and identified three trait levels: cardinal, central, and secondary.
- Nomothetic Approach: Assumes all people can be described along a single dimension of a trait, comparing scores among participants.
- Common Traits: Traits shared among most members of a culture, emphasizing cultural influences on personality.
- Idiographic Approach: Focuses on unique configurations of traits and life experiences in individuals.
- Central Traits: Core traits that form the foundation of personality.
- Cardinal Traits: Dominant traits influencing most behaviors and activities.
- Secondary Traits: Preferences and attitudes that are less influential than central and cardinal traits.
Allport's Research Methodologies
- Letters from Jenny: Analysis of over 300 letters identified eight central traits from a 12-year correspondence.
- Concept of "Self": Explored how children develop their sense of self over time.
Henry Murray's Contributions
- Henry Murray: Blended psychoanalytic and trait approaches to personality.
- Personology: His method identifies needs as fundamental elements of personality.
- Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Projective test revealing inner feelings and interests through stories about ambiguous scenes.
- Viscerogenic Needs: Less focus on basic physiological needs like food and water.
- Psychogenic Needs: Concentrated on unconscious needs that influence behavior under certain conditions, including autonomy, achievement, dominance, and order.
- Press Concept: Recognizes that the activation of needs depends on situational context.
Raymond Cattell's Work
- Raymond Cattell (1905-1998): Noted for research in intelligence and personality, distinguishing between fluid and crystallized intelligence.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts from Chapter 7 on the trait approach in personality psychology. It includes definitions and classifications of personality types and traits. Test your knowledge of typologies and the early efforts to categorize distinct personality types.