Personality Chapter 7: The Trait Approach

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Questions and Answers

What is the typology system?

An approach to understand cognitive behavior

A method to classify people based on their interests

A classification of people by the number and variety of personality types (correct)

A psychological therapy technique

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?

A dimension of personality that categorizes people based on characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two assumptions of the trait approach?

Personality characteristics are stable over time and across situations Signup and view all the answers

Who are more likely to use the trait approach?

Academic researchers Signup and view all the answers

Who is Gordon Allport?

A psychologist known for his trait theory of personality. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nomothetic approach in psychology?

An approach that assumes all people can be described along a single dimension. Signup and view all the answers

What are Common Traits according to Allport?

Characteristics shared by most members of a culture. Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiographic approach focus on?

Identifying the unique configuration of a person's characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What are Central Traits in trait theory?

Traits that form the basis of personality. Signup and view all the answers

What are Cardinal Traits according to Allport?

Traits that dominate a person's activities. Signup and view all the answers

What are Secondary Traits?

Preferences and attitudes. Signup and view all the answers

What was Allport's method of analyzing 'Letters from Jenny'?

He examined over 300 letters to identify central traits. Signup and view all the answers

What concept was Allport interested in related to personality?

The concept of 'self'. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Henry Murray?

A psychologist who blended psychoanalytic and trait concepts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?

A projective test where people create stories about ambiguous scenes. Signup and view all the answers

What did Murray identify as the basic elements of personality?

Needs. Signup and view all the answers

What are viscerogenic needs according to Murray?

Basic needs such as food and water. Signup and view all the answers

What are psychogenic needs?

Needs that are largely unconscious and influence behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'press' refer to in Murray's theory?

The situation that activates a need. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Raymond Cattell?

A psychologist known for his work in intelligence and personality. Signup and view all the answers

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.