Personality Trait Theory Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does the trait theory of personality primarily focus on?

Behavioral analysis and unconscious motives

Understanding emotional intelligence

Describing and measuring individual traits (correct)

Studying the impact of environment on personality

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of traits according to the trait theory?

Individual differences among people

Consistency across different situations

Transiency in behavior patterns (correct)

Stability over long periods

Who first developed the trait theory of personality?

Chris Drew

Saul Kassin

Gordon Allport (correct)

Alvin Gragasin Viñegas

What process did Allport and Odbert use to identify traits?

Compiling a list from an unabridged English dictionary Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a temperament identified in the 1956 New York Longitudinal Study?

Cautious Signup and view all the answers

How many initial words did Allport and Odbert compile to describe personality traits?

18,000 Signup and view all the answers

What does Saul Kassin define as a trait?

A relatively stable predisposition to behave in a certain way Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of personality does the trait approach NOT emphasize?

Assigning values to behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Hans Eysenck's three-dimensional model of personality?

Extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism Signup and view all the answers

What trait best describes someone who tends to perceive ordinary situations as threatening?

Neuroticism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits is associated with higher levels of aggressiveness and hostility according to Eysenck's model?

Psychoticism Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic differentiates an introvert from an extrovert?

Cautious behavior in social settings Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered to be biologically rooted according to Eysenck?

Individual differences Signup and view all the answers

What do people who score high on openness to experience typically enjoy?

Intellectual curiosity and creativity Signup and view all the answers

What emotional state is often associated with individuals who exhibit neuroticism?

Strong negative emotions like anger Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is linked to a predisposition for introversion/extraversion according to studies by Kagan?

Genetic factors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary assertion of Herzberg's two-factor theory?

Satisfaction and dissatisfaction are rooted in different circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

Which theorists are responsible for the Hull-Spence Drive Reduction Theory?

Clark Hull and Kenneth Spence Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes intrinsic motivation?

Performing activities for personal satisfaction or benefit. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes extrinsic motivation?

It can involve both rewards and punishments. Signup and view all the answers

How does Herzberg's research apply to job satisfaction and dissatisfaction?

Job satisfaction factors do not contribute to dissatisfaction. Signup and view all the answers

In what context has the Hull-Spence Drive Theory primarily been utilized?

Weight reduction and substance addiction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents an example of extrinsic motivation?

Studying hard to receive a scholarship Signup and view all the answers

What method do counselors use to help people align their goals toward intrinsic motivation?

Motivational interviewing techniques Signup and view all the answers

Which trait is NOT typically displayed by someone scoring high on ‘openness’?

Preference for familiarity Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic describes someone at the cautious end of the personality spectrum?

Stick to routines Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits is associated with a conscientious person?

Dependable Signup and view all the answers

How might a highly conscientious person typically manage their tasks?

Keep their workspace clean Signup and view all the answers

What is a common behavior of someone who is considered neglectful?

Frequently losing personal belongings Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following phrases best describes a person who is conscientious?

Maintains thorough and detailed work Signup and view all the answers

What is the likely decision-making style of a cautious person?

Careful and deliberative Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is least likely to be a trait of someone scoring high on ‘openness’?

Adopting conventional views Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between Theory X and Theory Y?

Theory X focuses on control, whereas Theory Y emphasizes trust. Signup and view all the answers

What does Theory Z emphasize for enhancing employee motivation?

Guaranteed lifetime employment and healthcare. Signup and view all the answers

In the two memory systems theory, which method is associated with intuitive processing?

Unconscious processing. Signup and view all the answers

According to Vroom's expectancy theory, behavior is primarily determined by what?

Expectations of reward. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of the behavioral process described in Vroom's theory?

Effort and performance leading to the desired outcome. Signup and view all the answers

What crucial factor does the theory of planned behavior consider in predicting behaviors?

Attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic best describes the approach of Theory Y towards employee roles?

It fosters a sense of ownership and participation. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of workplace motivation, which theory suggests that most individuals prefer pleasure over pain?

Vroom's expectancy theory Signup and view all the answers

What is located at the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Biological needs Signup and view all the answers

According to McClelland's achievement motivation theory, what are the three primary needs that motivate human action?

Achievement, affiliation, power Signup and view all the answers

What does the optimal functioning hypothesis primarily attempt to determine?

The exact amount of anxiety necessary for peak performance Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant implication of the processing efficiency theory?

Anxiety consumes cognitive resources and impairs performance Signup and view all the answers

How did McClelland perceive the relationship between power needs and leadership?

Leaders typically have a higher need for power than for affiliation Signup and view all the answers

Which need is not part of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Financial security Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of 'zone of optimal functioning' related to?

The level of stress required for any action Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the essence of processing efficiency theory?

Anxiety utilizes cognitive resources, hindering task performance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Personal Development

Personal development is the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character. It includes a wide range of traits and behaviors that define how a person thinks, feels, and interacts with others.
Personality is believed to be partly nature (genetic factors) and partly nurture (formed through environmental exposure and socialization).
Personality is generally considered to be mostly stable over time, although it can change in bursts, such as during puberty, a mid-life crisis, or following a major life-shifting event.
Personality is defined as "the enduring configuration of characteristics and behavior that comprises an individual's unique adjustment to life, including major traits, interests, drives, values, self-concept, abilities, and emotional patterns." (APA dictionary of psychology)
Various ways to classify personality include the Big 5 Personality Traits: extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism.
Extraversion is characterized by outgoingness, generating energy from social interaction, and a need for regular socialization with large groups.
Introversion is characterized by a need to be alone to reflect, think, and regenerate. Introverts prefer solitary activities or interactions with a small close-knit group rather than large gatherings.
Aspects of agreeableness include kindness, warmth, cooperation, and a strong sense of consideration and concern for others.
Disagreeableness is characterized by a lack of concern for others, skepticism about others' intentions, and a willingness to make self-serving decisions.
Openness is characterized by curiosity, creativity, appreciation for art and beauty, and inclusiveness.
Cautiousness is characterized by being conventional, sticking to routines, and preferring familiarity over unpredictability.
Conscientiousness is a personality trait concerned with regulating, controlling, and directing impulses.
Conscientiousness is characterized by being organized, responsible, dependable, and diligent. Conscientious people are often punctual, thorough, and detail-oriented.
Neglectful behavior is characterized by being unorganized, erratic, irresponsible, and neglectful of duties.
Neuroticism is characterized by emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness, irritability, and sadness.
Resilience is characterized by emotional stability, consistent mood, effective stress management, and infrequent experience of anxiety or depression.
75 personality traits were listed, including adventurous, affectionate, ambitious, analytical, and others.

Temperament

Temperament in psychology refers to a set of innate or inborn traits that organize a child's approach to the world.
These traits are generally regarded as biologically based.
Temperaments help shape how individuals react to their environment and regulate their emotions and behaviors.
Examples of temperaments include easy/flexible and cautious personalities.

Psychosocial Factors

Psychosocial factors refer to the dynamic interplay between psychological processes and social contexts.
Factors include beliefs, emotions, relationships, and societal structures that impact an individual's mental and social health.
Examples of psychosocial factors include social support (reliable people) and work environment (physical conditions, job roles, and relationships with colleagues and superiors).

Personality in Childhood

In early childhood, personality builds on the foundation of temperament.
The 1956 New York Longitudinal Study found three temperaments in children: easy, cautious, and difficult.

Trait Theory of Personality

This approach focuses on measuring traits.
Traits are habitual patterns of behavior, which make us who we are.
Traits are generally believed to be consistent over various situations.
Traits are generally stable over long periods.
Personality traits can vary between individuals.
Allport and Odbert researched 18,000 words that could be used to describe people.
Cattell reduced the list to 16 distinct units, called source traits.
The Big Five is a simplified trait theory.

Approaches to Trait Theory: Origins and Development

Various psychologists have developed trait theories, including Allport & Odbert, Cattell, and Eysenck. The five factor model is one prominent theory.

Allport & Odbert

They categorized traits into three levels: cardinal, central, and secondary, based on their dominance in shaping behavior.
Cardinal traits dominate behavior, central traits are less influential, and secondary traits are context-specific.

Raymond Cattell

Cattell reduced Allport & Odbert's list to create a more manageable 16 source traits.
He used factor analysis for this.
Cattell created the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF).

The Five-Factor Model and Eysenck

Later researchers simplified Cattell's work into the Five-Factor Model, summarizing personality into five broad categories (the Big Five).
Eysenck suggested a three-dimensional model focusing on extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism.

10 Trait Theory Examples

Specific examples of personality traits based on the trait theory.
Including extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness, honesty-humility, perfectionism, and rigidity.

Trait Theory Strengths & Weaknesses

The trait approach helps us understand individuals' personalities and can be useful in various contexts.
However, sometimes it is hard to explain changes and situational factors related to personality changes across the lifespan.

Situational Factors

Situational factors are external circumstances.
Example factors include weather (extreme heat/cold), societal norms, and time pressure.
Dispositional factors are internal traits, beliefs, or temperament.
These influence how one reacts in various situations.
Situational factors and dispositional factors together help an individual's behavior, thoughts and emotions

Human Behavior

Human behavior refers to actions, reactions, and interactions influenced by internal and external factors (genetics, culture, upbringing, environment).

Freud's Theory of Personality

This theory posits that human behavior is a result of interactions among three components of the mind: id, ego, and superego.

Covert Behaviors

These are actions that cannot be directly observed, such as thinking and feelings.

Overt Behaviors

These are actions that can be directly observed, such as physical movements or speaking.

Freud's Three Components of Personality

Id operates on the pleasure principle, needing immediate gratification.
Ego operates on the reality principle, balancing the id's desires with the demands of reality.
Superego enforces moral standards and acts as a conscience.

Freud's Pleasure Principle

The pursuit of immediate gratification, the avoidance of discomfort, and fulfillment of biological and psychological needs

Instant Gratification

The temptation and resulting tendency to forego a future benefit in order to obtain a less rewarding but more immediate effect.
Examples include impulse shopping, eating fast food, and procrastination.

ID (Freud)

The Id is one of the three major components of personality, according to Freudian theory.
Drives to seek pleasure and avoid pain through behaviors (instant gratification).
Unconscious. Impacts behaviors outside of conscious awareness

Ego (Freud)

Operates on the reality principle, balancing the id's desires with reality and societal contexts.
Mediates between the id and superego via finding solutions to satisfy needs based on circumstances
Conscious, preconscious, and unconscious

Freud's Reality Principle

Balancing innate desires/immediate gratification with demands of the external world.
It is based on decision-making and delayed gratification given the constraints of a situation

Delayed Gratification

The capacity to postpone gratification of needs for more rewarding future benefits.

Superego (Freud)

Represents moral standards and principles derived from societal and parental influence.
The superego's conscience leads to feelings of guilt or shame when behaving in a way deemed wrong.
Develops around the age of 5.

Freud's Theory of Personality Application

Used in the treatment of psychological disorders (primarily, depression and anxiety disorders) via psychoanalysis.
Psychoanalysis aims to bring awareness to dysfunctional thoughts and feelings, leading to change.

Criticisms of Freud's Theory of Personality

Lack of empirical evidence.
Overly simplistic.
Underestimates the impact of environmental factors on development.
Lack of real-life complexity in the theoretical framework

Pseudoscience

Claims, theories, or practices that appear scientific but lack empirical evidence.
Includes examples such as astrology and homeopathy.

Broad range of social circumstances that influence individual behavior, social interactions, and well-being.
These factors include socioeconomic status, education, environmental conditions, culture (norms and customs), health, and ethnicity.

The Humanistic approach to Personality

Focuses on the individual's unique potential for personal growth, self-actualization, and fulfillment.
Emphasizes subjective experiences, self-perception, and pursuing one's own goals.
The theory views humans as innately driven towards self-improvement.
Humanistic psychology began as a protest against behaviorism and psychoanalysis, arguing that they oversimplified humans by reducing individuals to simpler factors.
It rejects traditional science and focuses instead on the innermost feelings believed to influence behaviors.
It emphasizes the client's experience in clinical therapy and seeks to aid in personal growth and maturity.
Rogers felt that experience is the highest authority, over and above the Bible, research, or Freud.
Key figures: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow

Personal Growth

Expanding knowledge, skills and abilities, enhancing emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
It involves challenging yourself, embracing new experiences, continually learning from setbacks and successes, cultivating positive habits, and setting and striving to achieve personal goals.

Humanistic Theory of Personality Examples

Including various real-life scenarios illustrative of the theory such as career choice, tipping behavior, education related interactions, and self-esteem related issues.
Including how the humanistic approach highlights the importance of one's subjective reality, fostering self-actualization, and a supportive environment.
Examples of how to positively address personal growth and potential within the humanistic approach

Q-technique

A method to objectively assess the effectiveness of therapy in measuring one's self-perceptions and their desired selves

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A hierarchical model of human needs, starting with basic needs (physiological, safety) and progressing towards higher-level needs (social, esteem, and self-actualization).
Self actualization is at the peak of this hierarchy and refers to the process of becoming the best version of oneself.

McClelland's Achievement Motivation Theory / Three Needs Theory

Focuses on achievement, power, and affiliation as the primary driving motivators for human action and that they are not innate traits but rather learned from social and cultural surroundings.

Optimal Functioning Hypothesis

It explores the ideal level of stress that can be beneficial for optimal functioning.
It is a psychological model.
The output of an individual experiencing minimal ideal stress level is the best level of functioning.
The optimal level of state anxiety related to a particular event is useful.

Processing Efficiency Theory

It highlights that worry and anxiety negatively affect cognitive resources (both storage and processing).

Reinforcement Theory

It suggests that the behavioral biases of individuals are reinforced by their actions/consequences (rewards/punishments).
The approach views actions as loop back into individual cognition and reinforces existing beliefs.

Cognition (Psychology)

The thought processes, attitudes, interpretations, and assessments of individuals as an information processing system used to make decisions.
Examples include things like perception, memory retrieval, decision-making, and judgment formation.

Self-Determination Theory

This theory explored how motivations are shaped by an individual's capacity for intrinsic motivation and desire for growth/fulfillment.
The theory places motivations on a spectrum ranging from non-regulation and external motivation to intrinsic motivation.
This theory considers motivations such as ego, self-satisfaction, and extrinsic rewards.

Thayer's Theory of Psychological Arousal

It deals with the wide spectrum of human moods categorized into energy and tension.

The Hawthorne Effect

A study on the commonplace phenomenon that individuals behave differently when they are conscious of being observed by others.
This phenomenon was observed from a study conducted from 1924 to 1927.
The results from the study sought to measure how the productivity of worker's changes with the work environment

Theory X and Theory Y

Theory X and Theory Y are two contrasting motivational theories about employees and their behavior.
Theory X postulates that employees are passively motivated, need extrinsic rewards, need supervision, rigorous control, and disciplinary measures.
Theory Y suggests that employees are inherently motivated, need autonomy, creativity-challenging projects, and trust from managers.

Autonomy

The capacity of a person to independently make decisions and act according to personal rules/principles/beliefs free from external control/influence.
Includes personal autonomy (individual choosing career paths) and national autonomy (certain country making policies).

Theory Z

A set of theories that builds on McGregor, Theory X & Theory Y, and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.
Firms should provide security net for employees (such as healthcare and guaranteed employment) to boost motivation and productivity.

Two Memory Systems Theory

The brain utilizes two ways of processing information, intuitive and unconscious ways, and controlled conscious and logical ways.
The two memory systems are related to each other; the second can be shaped by external factors/experiences but the first memory system is difficult to change.

Vroom's Expectancy Theory

Individual behavior will be shaped by expectations of the outcome of an action.
This theory postulates that humans will pursue opportunities for pleasure rather than for pain.

Theory of Planned Behavior

Behaviors can be predicted by focusing on personal attitudes, perceived social norms, and perceived behavioral control.

Subjective Norms

This theory deals with the extent to which an individual thinks others want them to act a certain way, as well as the extent to which the individual feels compelled to act in that way.
An example would be societal expectations (environmental practices) or views of influential others (Fitness Goals).

Perceived Behavioral Control

It assesses the ease or difficulty of performing a certain behavior.
The concept considers how much personal belief/control one has over their own behavior, as well as others' influences or judgments.
An example would be a person's belief/efficacy to follow a healthy eating lifestyle or participate in a certain sport

Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)

A theory that analyzes how one feels compelled to act in self-protective ways given the evaluation of perceived threats.
The component of threat appraisal evaluates the seriousness and likelihood of a threat and also includes how vulnerable one feels.
Coping appraisal evaluates how easily one can react to threat, including confidence in protective actions taken.

Vulnerability (Psychology)

A state of being susceptible to harm (emotional, physical, financial, social, etc.).
This includes inherent characteristics as well as contextual/situational factors.
Examples include unresolved trauma and insufficient sleep.

Goal Setting Theory

Specifically defined goals promote higher performance and goal completion rates, with appropriate feedback mechanisms.
This theory highlights that clear, challenging, and timely goals can lead towards goal attainment and enhanced performance.

Locus of Control Theory

It focuses on the extent of control that an individual believes they have over consequences of actions.
Individuals with internal locus perceive events in life as controlled by internal factors, while individuals with external locus attribute life events to external sources (such as others, socio-economic structures, predestination, or a divine will)
This aspect of control can be an important factor when motivating and shaping one's behaviors.

Motivation Theories

They try to explain what drives individuals to initiate, direct, sustain, and ultimately achieve goals.
They include Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Herzberg's two-factor theory, expectancy theory, self-determination theory, goal-setting theory, equity theory, Alderfer's ERG theory, Argyris' theory of adult personality, arousal-biased competition theory, behaviorism, and others.
Various of these are used to explain how people act, how they are motivated, and how external or internal factors contribute towards motivating behaviors

ABC Model of Attitude

This model assesses attitude through components of Affect, Behavior, and Cognition.
Affect involves emotions/feelings associated with behaviors, object, etc, and how this influences our actions as well as what we communicate
Behavior is related to how attitudes impact actions.
Cognition refers to our thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge about a behavior, object, etc,

Keller's ARCS Model of Motivation

The ARCS model helps enhance learner motivation through 4 key elements: attention (capturing interest), relevance (connecting with needs, experiences), confidence (fostering belief/efficacy), and satisfaction (making experience rewarding).
This model was proposed by John Keller in attempts to improve outcomes from learner motivation and helps in designing motivational strategies for instructional design.

Learned Helplessness

When repeated failure leads to a state of feeling powerless and a reduced will to control one's actions.
It emphasizes that repeatedly experiencing negative stimuli (external or internal events) reduces one's capability to control future actions.

Flow Theory

Flow is the state commonly described as being fully immersed in a task or activity.
A heightened and enjoyable state, that results in enhanced creativity, higher energy, greater output and satisfaction from the activity.
Often associated with feelings of "being in the zone"

Creativity

It involves coming up with new, innovative ideas and finding novel approaches which is useful and creates value
This leads to new/practical approaches for problems or ideas, based on generative/original ideas.
Two core elements of creativity include; consistent monitoring, and avoiding unnecessary interference/meddling with task processes.

Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory (Motivation-Hygiene Theory)

Emphasizes that satisfaction is distinctly different from dissatisfaction, instead of being opposite ends of a spectrum.
Job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction are influenced by different factors (Motivators and Hygienes).

Hull-Spence Drive Theory

This theory posits that behaviors are driven by psychological or physiological needs.
The goal is for individuals to reduce any drive.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is driven by internal rewards (satisfaction).
Extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards (money, praise, etc.,) or avoiding punishments.

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Description

Test your knowledge about the trait theory of personality, including key figures like Allport and Eysenck. This quiz covers essential concepts such as traits, temperaments, and the distinctions between personality types. Challenge yourself with questions that assess your understanding of the fundamental aspects of trait theory.