Questions and Answers
What are the trait theories of personality based on?
Identifying, measuring and describing traits in individuals to predict behavior.
What are the main assumptions of the trait theories of personality?
Who was the first theorist to describe a trait theory of personality?
Allport
What are cardinal traits?
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What are central traits?
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What are secondary traits?
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What dimensions did Eysenck identify in his PEN model?
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How can people be classified according to Eysenck's four dimensions?
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What does the psychoticism dimension encompass?
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What is the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) used for?
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What five dimensions does the Five-Factor Model propose?
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What are the 'big 5' factors in personality?
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Study Notes
Trait Theories of Personality
- Trait theories aim to identify, measure, and describe personality traits to predict behavior.
- Individual personality consists of various traits, with each person having different levels of these traits.
Main Assumptions
- Personality traits are stable over time and across situations.
- Individuals possess traits in varying degrees; some have stronger traits than others.
- Certain traits are interrelated and likely to occur together.
Allport's Theory
- Allport identified 4,500 words to describe personality traits after analyzing the English language.
- Organized traits into three categories:
- Cardinal traits: Dominant traits that define overall behavior, though rare.
- Central traits: General tendencies present in varying degrees, e.g., kindness or honesty.
- Secondary traits: Situational traits that appear inconsistently across different contexts.
Eysenck's PEN Model
- Developed using factor analysis to highlight two main personality dimensions:
- Extraversion-Introversion: Spectrum from sociable and outgoing (extraversion) to reserved and solitary (introversion).
- Neuroticism-Emotional Stability: Ranges from emotional instability (anxiety, moodiness) to emotional stability (calm, even-tempered).
Eysenck's Four Dimensions
- Personality types can be classified into four combinations based on the dimensions:
- Introverted-Neurotic
- Extraverted-Neurotic
- Introverted-Stable
- Extraverted-Stable
Psychoticism
- Encompasses traits like aggression, egocentrism, and lack of empathy.
- Psychoticism exists on a continuum and is present in varying degrees in all individuals.
Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)
- Developed to measure personality dimensions in individuals aged 18 and older.
- Evaluates three dimensions and assesses nine underlying traits, providing scores that indicate levels of each personality dimension.
Costa & McRae's Five-Factor Model
- Suggests personality is composed of five main dimensions:
- Openness: Appreciation for new experiences and creativity.
- Neuroticism: Tendency towards anxiety and emotional instability.
- Extraversion: Sociability and outgoing nature.
- Agreeableness: Kindness and trust in others.
- Conscientiousness: Organization and dependability.
- Known as the "Big Five," represented by the acronym OCEAN.
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Description
Explore the foundational concepts of trait theories in personality psychology through these flashcards. Learn about the key assumptions and the significance of measuring and predicting behavior based on individual traits.
