Trait Theory Overview and History
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Questions and Answers

What do personality traits define according to the definition provided?

  • Fixed characteristics that do not change over time
  • Observable behaviors that can be measured only in specific contexts
  • Consistent patterns in the way individuals behave, feel, and think (correct)
  • Inconsistent patterns that vary widely among individuals

Which of the following approaches examines individual uniqueness in personality traits?

  • Idiographic approach (correct)
  • Continuous traits approach
  • Nomothetic approach
  • Factor analysis approach

How does the trait approach assert that individuals can possess traits?

  • They can possess varying degrees of a trait but cannot lack it altogether (correct)
  • They have fixed amounts of each trait regardless of context
  • They either have a trait or do not have it at all
  • They lack any traits as personality is random

Which historical figure is associated with the concept of '4 Humors' in personality traits?

<p>Hippocrates (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aim of trait theory?

<p>To describe, predict, and explain personality traits (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best reflects the continuous nature of traits within trait theory?

<p>Individuals vary in the amounts of traits they possess (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theorist is known for the 'Lexical Hypothesis' related to personality traits?

<p>Galton (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the statement from Kluckhohn & Murray (1961) imply about personality traits?

<p>Individuals can be similar, different, or unique in various traits (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason the trait approach is criticized as reductionist?

<p>It assumes traits completely determine behavior. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theorist is recognized as the father of modern personality theory?

<p>Gordon Allport (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the trait approach, what can traits NOT be used to ascertain?

<p>Explain every single human action. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement aligns with Allport's view on human motivation?

<p>Recognizing manifest motives is crucial for understanding behavior. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Allport's approach from traditional psychoanalytic perspectives?

<p>He emphasizes positive and healthy human traits. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the key theorists associated with trait theory?

<p>Carl Rogers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the trait approach primarily aim to characterize?

<p>Average behavior across different situations and times. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of human character does the trait approach generally avoid addressing?

<p>Every single aspect of human nature. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Eysenck's PEN Theory?

<p>The categorization of personality into three main traits (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits is NOT included in Eysenck’s Great Three?

<p>Agreeableness (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Eysenck contribute to the assessment of personality traits?

<p>By utilizing factor analysis as a method (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Eysenck's view on the relationship between environmental factors and genetics can be summarized as:

<p>Both genes and environment significantly influence personality (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the trait Extraversion according to Eysenck?

<p>Being talkative (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Eysenck's work was noted for which of the following aspects?

<p>Difficult but influential theories (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes Psychoticism as defined by Eysenck?

<p>Aggressiveness and lack of impulse control (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which area did Eysenck NOT significantly contribute?

<p>Cognitive therapy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes cardinal traits from central traits in Allport's theory?

<p>Cardinal traits are rare and develop later in life, while central traits are more common. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes secondary traits according to Allport?

<p>They are less general and consistent, often varying significantly across different situations. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a major limitation of Allport's approach to personality traits?

<p>He did not explore the psychological processes underlying traits. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Allport recognize about the behavior of individuals in different contexts?

<p>Behavior can vary greatly depending on the situation and context. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits is an example of a cardinal trait in Allport's classification?

<p>Narcissism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pair of researchers developed the Big 5 personality traits model?

<p>McCrae and Costa (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the lexical hypothesis propose regarding personality traits?

<p>The most important characteristics have been encoded in natural language. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the Big 5 personality traits identified by Tupes and Christal?

<p>Openness to experience (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant contribution did Eysenck make in the field of personality assessment?

<p>Identifying neuroticism and extraversion as major personality factors. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes Robert McCrae and Paul Costa's professional background?

<p>Both are based at the National Institutes of Health in Baltimore. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which trait from the Big Five is characterized primarily by a tendency to enjoy new intellectual experiences?

<p>Openness to experience (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which Big Five trait relates primarily to affect, focusing on the experience of unpleasant emotions?

<p>Neuroticism (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic behavior associated with Conscientiousness in the Big Five personality traits?

<p>Acting dutifully and showing self-discipline (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Extraversion primarily manifest according to the Big Five traits?

<p>As a blend of behavior and affect (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the trait of Agreeableness in the context of the Big Five?

<p>Reflects cognition, affect, and behaviors (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of trait theory evaluations, particularly in relation to self-report methods?

<p>They do not consider cultural variations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following personality questionnaires is associated with the Big Five traits?

<p>NEO-PI (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of human behavior do the Big Five personality traits specifically NOT explain?

<p>Every individual action and choice (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Personality Traits

Consistent patterns in how individuals behave, feel, and think.

Consistency of Traits

Personality traits are consistent across time and situations.

Trait Approach (Nomothetic)

A way to study personality by looking at common traits across people.

Trait Approach (Idiographic)

A method to study the unique personality of individual people.

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Continuous Traits

Traits exist on a spectrum, with varying degrees of the trait in people.

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Aims of Trait Theory

Description, prediction, and explanation of personality differences.

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Key Definition of Trait

Consistent patterns of behavior, feelings, and thoughts.

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Trait Theory

Personality is based on traits that exist on ranges and combine to shape how an individual behaves.

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Trait Approach to Personality

Focuses on identifying, describing, and measuring enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (traits).

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Traits (Personality)

Enduring tendencies to behave in a certain way across various situations and over time.

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Gordon Allport

Considered a pioneer in modern personality theory; emphasized the importance of understanding the healthy aspects of personality.

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Limitations of Traits

Traits do not explain all aspects of behavior, rather provide a basic framework for understanding and predicting common patterns.

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16PF

A model that identified 16 primary personality factors.

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Big 5 Model

A prominent model of personality trait developed by Costa and McCrae that categorizes personality into five main dimensions(openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism).

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Key Theorists in Trait Theory

Individuals like Allport, Cattell, Eysenck, and Costa & McCrae who contributed significantly to the development of trait approach.

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Traits vs. Behavior

Traits describe consistent patterns of behavior, but do not determine every single action.

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Lexical Hypothesis

The idea that personality traits are reflected in the words used to describe people.

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Cardinal Traits

Dominant personality traits that influence nearly every aspect of a person's life.

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Central Traits

Common personality traits that form the foundation of a person's character.

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Secondary Traits

Less consistent personality traits that are more situation-specific.

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Idiographic Approach

Focusing on individual differences and unique traits, rather than common traits.

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Psychometric Traditions

Utilizing questionnaires and standardized tests to measure and analyze personality traits.

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The Big 5

A comprehensive model of personality, consisting of five main traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

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Tupes and Christal (1961)

The researchers who initially identified the five key traits that became the foundation of the Big 5 Model.

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Norman (1963) and Borgatta (1964)

These researchers, along with Tupes and Christal, provided independent evidence supporting the five key traits that form the Big 5 Model.

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Eysenck's PEN Theory

Eysenck's theory proposes three main personality traits - Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism (PEN) - to explain individual differences.

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Factor Analysis

A statistical method used to identify underlying factors that explain correlations among variables (like personality traits).

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Extraversion

A personality trait characterized by sociability, assertiveness, and energy. Extraverts are outgoing and seek stimulation from others.

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Neuroticism

A personality trait characterized by negative emotions, such as anxiety, worry, and mood swings. Neurotic individuals tend to experience emotional instability.

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Psychoticism

A personality trait characterized by impulsivity, aggression, and a lack of empathy. Individuals high in psychoticism are more likely to engage in risky and antisocial behaviors.

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Twin Studies

Research method that examines the similarities and differences between identical and fraternal twins to understand the influence of genes and environment on personality.

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Biological Basis of Personality

Eysenck believed that both genetic inheritance and environmental factors shape personality.

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Prolific Researcher

Eysenck published numerous books and articles, contributing significantly to the field of psychology.

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Big Five Traits

A widely accepted personality model identifying five major traits: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

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Openness to Experience

This trait describes how much a person enjoys new experiences, ideas, and intellectual challenges.

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Conscientiousness

This trait measures how diligent, responsible, and self-disciplined a person is.

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Agreeableness

This trait measures how compassionate, cooperative, and trusting a person is towards others.

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NEO-FFI

A shorter version of the personality test designed to measure the Big Five traits, offering a faster assessment.

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Trait Theory Applications

Trait theory is used in various settings, including research, clinical environments, and personnel selection, to understand and predict behavior.

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Study Notes

Trait Theory Overview

  • Trait theory describes personality as consistent patterns in behaviour, feelings, and thoughts.
  • Consistency is key, meaning these traits are present across time and situations.
  • Traits are continuous, meaning people have varying degrees of each trait, rather than having or not having a trait.
  • Trait theory aims to describe, predict, and explain personality.
  • It uses a nomothetic approach, focusing on commonalities across individuals, and an idiographic approach focusing on individual differences.
  • Traits are building blocks of personality and are not the total determinants of all behaviours.
  • Traits describe average behaviours across time and specific situations.
  • They can be used to predict behaviour and important life outcomes.

History of Trait Theory

  • Early ideas about personality are linked to the four humours.

  • Galen and Hippocrates both developed systems for categorising personality based on these.

  • Later, Galton introduced the lexical hypothesis; the idea that the most important personality characteristics would be encoded in natural language.

  • Cattell (1905-1998) used factor analysis; a statistical technique to condense numerous traits into smaller, underlying clusters.

  • He identified 16 source traits grouped into ability, temperament, and dynamic traits.

  • These traits are useful in understanding people's different behaviours.

  • The 16 personality factors are identified with the 16PF.

  • Allport (1897-1967) believed traits were inherited and part of building blocks of personality.

  • Proposed three different categorisations for understanding people's behaviour. -Cardinal traits affect all aspects of a person's life, like drive. They are rare and develop later in life.

    • Central traits are more common and are foundations of personality, like honesty or assertiveness.
    • Secondary traits are less obvious and are related to attitudes and preferences, like anxiety in specific situations.

  • Eysenck (1916-1997) used factor analysis to come up with three main traits; Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism (PEN).

  • These are also categorised on a scale and use a comparison system that has a range of levels that can be placed on a scale to represent personality.

  • The Extraversion trait is related to Jung's concept of introversion and extraversion.

  • The Neuroticism scale assesses emotional stability, representing a continuum from tense/anxious to stable/calm.

  • The Psychoticism scale looks at a range from aggressive/tough-minded to empathetic/soft-hearted.

  • McCrae and Costa developed the Five Factor Model (FFM) or Big 5, which is a widely adopted trait theory approach in modern psychology.

  • This model is used for examining both cross-cultural and temporal stability in personality.

  • This model suggests that personalities are consistent; meaning that the traits are stable over time.

Applications of Trait Theory

  • Trait theory is widely applied in research, clinical settings, and personnel selection procedures.
  • Personality questionnaires are prominent tools in these settings.

Evaluation of Trait Theory

  • Cattell's 16PF is comprehensive but has too many traits.
  • Eysenck's PEN theory has fewer traits.
  • Some critics argue that Allport's approach is too descriptive, without sufficient in-depth study of psychological processes underlying the traits.
  • Allport and others have contributed immensely to numerous areas in Psychology, including the introduction of behaviour therapy.
  • The trait theories are generally successful at describing and explaining some broad patterns of human behaviour, though they have been deemed as not explaining the complexity of all human nature or specific behaviours
  • Traits theory relies on self-reporting, and the theories do not account for changes in personalities or inconsistencies across different settings, cultures, or time.
  • These theories also do not consider the influence of the social and situational factors on personality and behaviour.

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Trait Theory 1 PDF

Description

Explore the principles of Trait Theory which describes personality through consistent patterns in behavior, feelings, and thoughts. This quiz covers both the overview of Trait Theory and its historical origins, including contributions from early theorists. Test your knowledge on how traits serve as building blocks of personality and the methodologies used to classify them.

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