Trait Theory Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are traits?

Physical attributes

Feelings and emotions

Memories and experiences

Characteristics, behaviors, and conscious motives (correct)

What is a Trait Theorist?

A person who describes personality traits in order to predict behavior.

What is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory?

The most widely researched and used personality test.

What is an empirically derived test?

A test developed by selecting items that discriminate between groups after testing a pool of items. Signup and view all the answers

What does Conscientiousness refer to?

Organized to disorganized Signup and view all the answers

What does Agreeableness describe?

Soft-hearted to ruthless Signup and view all the answers

What is Neuroticism?

Related to emotional stability vs instability Signup and view all the answers

What does Openness to experience refer to?

Practical to imaginative Signup and view all the answers

What is Extroversion associated with?

Being outgoing and sociable Signup and view all the answers

Who is Raymond Cattell?

A psychologist who reduced the main personality traits from Allport's list down to 171. Signup and view all the answers

What did Gordan Allport categorize?

Traits into three levels. Signup and view all the answers

What are Cardinal Traits?

Traits that dominate an individual's whole life Signup and view all the answers

What are Central Traits?

General characteristics forming the foundation of personality Signup and view all the answers

What do Secondary Traits relate to?

Situational preferences and attitudes Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the Three Dimensions of Personality?

Hans Eysenck Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between Introversion and Extraversion?

Introversion focuses on inner experiences, while Extraversion focuses on the outside environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does Neuroticism refer to?

An individual's tendency to become upset or emotional. Signup and view all the answers

What is Psychoticism in Eysenck's trait theory?

A personality dimension related to reality perception, often associated with antisocial behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Trait Theory Overview

Traits encompass characteristics, behaviors, and conscious motives that define an individual's personality.
Trait theorists aim to describe and identify personality traits for predicting behavior.

Key Personality Tests

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: The most researched and utilized personality test; originally created to identify emotional disorders; now serves multiple screening purposes.
Empirically derived test: Created by evaluating a diverse set of items and selecting those that effectively differentiate between various groups.

Dimensions of Personality

Conscientiousness: Ranges from organized to disorganized, careful to careless, and disciplined to impulsive.
Agreeableness: Measures traits from soft-hearted to ruthless, trusting to suspicious, and helpful to uncooperative.
Neuroticism (Emotional Stability vs Instability): Defines emotional responses from calm to anxious, secure to insecure, and self-satisfied to self-pitying.
Openness: Spectrum from imaginative to practical, preference for variety versus routine, and independent versus conforming.
Extraversion: Describes sociability qualities from outgoing to reserved, fun-loving to sober, and affectionate to distant.

Major Contributors to Trait Theory

Raymond Cattell: Streamlined over 4,000 personality traits identified by Allport to 171 by blending common characteristics and discarding rare ones.
Gordon Allport: Founded the framework of trait theory by categorizing traits into three distinct levels—cardinal, central, and secondary traits.

Types of Traits

Cardinal Traits: These traits overpower an individual's personality, often becoming defining characteristics.
Central Traits: Serve as fundamental characteristics that form the core of an individual's personality.
Secondary Traits: Traits that are related to preferences or attitudes; they are context-dependent and may emerge only in specific situations.

Eysenck's Trait Dimensions

Introversion/Extraversion: Introversion reflects a focus on inner experiences, whereas extraversion is centered on external interactions and environmental stimuli.
Neuroticism/Emotional Stability: Neuroticism signifies a propensity for emotional upheaval, contrasted by emotional stability, which indicates constancy and resilience.
Psychoticism: Introduced by Hans Eysenck, this dimension assesses tendencies toward antisocial behavior and emotional detachment, often observed in individuals with mental illness.

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Description

Test your knowledge on Trait Theory with these flashcards. Understand key concepts and terminology including personality traits, Trait Theorists, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Perfect for students and enthusiasts of psychology.