Tellegen's Model of Personality Traits

Tellegen's Model (1985)

• Identifies three higher-order factors: Positive Emotionality (PEM), Negative Emotionality (NEM), and Constraint.
• Positive Emotionality (PEM): Involves experiencing positive emotions (optimism, happiness). It has cognitive and behavioral components.
  • Markers: Well-being (cheerful, optimistic), Social Potency (influence others, leadership), Achievement (ambitious, hard-working), Social Closeness (sociable, warm).
• Negative Emotionality (NEM): Tendency toward negative emotions (stress, anxiety, anger).
  • Markers: Stress Reaction (anxious, irritable, guilt-prone), Aggression (aggressive, enjoys violence), Alienation (feels betrayed, believes others will harm them).
• Constraint: Represents self-control and adherence to social norms. It's about stability and cautious behavior.
  • Markers: Control (cautious, careful, planful), Harmavoidance (avoids risks, prefers safety), Traditionalism (high moral standards, conventional ways).

Cognitive and Emotional Consequences of PEM and NEM

• Perception: PEM individuals perceive stimuli positively, while NEM individuals see them as threatening.
• Interpretation: PEM interprets situations optimistically, while NEM interprets them negatively.
• Reaction: PEM reacts with enthusiasm, NEM reacts with anxiety/stress.
• Memory: PEM remembers pleasant stimuli easily, NEM remembers negative ones.
• Memory Recall: PEM recalls positive memories readily, NEM recalls negative ones.
• Self-Image: PEM has positive self-image, NEM has negative self-image.
• Self-Schemas: PEM's schemas focus on success and optimism, NEM's focus on fear and anxiety.
• Self-Narrative: PEM's narratives focus on overcoming challenges, NEM's highlight struggles.

Low PEM and High NEM

• Predisposition to depression
• Tendency toward low mood and high anxiety.

Watson and Clark's Temperament Model (1993)

• Integrates mood, emotion, and temperament, building on Eysenck's model (E, N, P).
• Highlights genetic component of personality traits.
• Links major personality traits (especially neuroticism and extraversion) to affective experiences.
• Emphasizes that traits are causal in behavior, not just descriptive.

The Big Three Temperament Model

• Neuroticism/Negative Emotionality (NEM): How much a person perceives the world as threatening or distressing.
• Extraversion/Positive Emotionality (PEM): Extraverts are energetic and enjoy social interaction.
• Disinhibition vs. Constraint:
  • Disinhibited individuals are impulsive and seek immediate gratification.
  • Constrained individuals plan carefully and avoid risks.

Convergence of Big Three and Big Five

• Big Five traits are a more detailed expansion of the Big Three.
  • Neuroticism (Big Five) closely aligns with Neuroticism (NEM).
  • Extraversion (Big Five) aligns with Extraversion (PEM).
  • Disinhibition/Constraint aligns with low Conscientiousness and Agreeableness in the Big Five, suggesting impulsivity and lack of cooperation.

MPQ Factor CON - Tellegen (1985)

• Control: Cautious, careful, level-headed, planful.
• Harmavoidance (Fear): Avoidance of risks, preference for safety. Associated with anxiety. Leads to less risky behavior.
• Traditionalism: High moral/religious values. Values convention and opposes unrestricted freedom. Prefers structure and order.