Trait Theories (Jan. 16) - PDF

**[Trait theories: Jan.16]** Readings: Mccrae five traits & - What are traits? - What taxonomies of traits hav been proposed? - Are there age-related factors in the five traits? **Traits:** Trait theories maintain that personality is best described as constellation of traits. (Anxious, k...

**[Trait theories: Jan.16]** Readings: Mccrae five traits & - What are traits? - What taxonomies of traits hav been proposed? - Are there age-related factors in the five traits? **Traits:** Trait theories maintain that personality is best described as constellation of traits. (Anxious, kind, outgoing..) Descriptive summaries of behaviour. **Taxonomies of traits:** Taxonomy= classification of systems Ex: chemistry and periodic table of elements Ex: biology and classification of animal kingdom Trait theorists have proposed a number of **taxonomies** of traits. A **nomothetic** view of personality rather than a ideographic view of personality. **Traits** are **universal** and have same meaning for all. **Nomothetic view** = traits are universal. All can be scored on all traits. 1. Eysenck's taxonomy: a trait psychologist to explain origin of it at a biological level. a. Body humors theory (Hippocrates, Galen): adopted this view to generate taxonomy. b. Proposes three trait dimensions: extroversion, neuroticism & psychoticism (added many years later) call PAN model +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | | Low neuroticism | High neuroticism | +=======================+=======================+=======================+ | Low extraversion | - Passive | - Quiet | | | | | | | - Careful | - Pessimistic | | | | | | | - Peaceful | - Unsociable | | | | | | | - Controlled | - Moody | | | | | | | - Reliable | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | High extraversion | - Sociable | - Active | | | | | | | - Outgoing | - Optimistic | | | | | | | - Talkative | - Excitable | | | | | | | - Responsive | - Aggressive e | | | | | | | - Easygoing | - Changeable | | | | | | | - Lively | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ A = phlegmatic B= melancholic C= sanguine D= choleric Low extraversion is the inverse of high introversion. Low neuroticism is the inverse of high emotional stability. **Psychoticism:** His work in psychiatric hospitals let him to think of an individual taxonomy. He does not have large amounts of information or findings. Argue: show lack of interest and empathy in other individuals. Traits: hostility, low levels of consciousness and agreeableness \*\* high in artists 2. Wiggins's taxonomy: Taxonomy based on pre-existing theories. Humans are social beings. Emphasized on interpersonal traits and qualities. Proposed two dimensions: - Dominance - Love - Assured dominant -- unassured submissive - Warm agreeable -- cold hearted 3. Five factor taxonomy (big five) -- the dominant taxonomy today Core 5 dimensional personality traits. - Most widely accepted **universally**. - Evolved over decades of research. - Uses **lexical hypothesis** uses natural language to differ personalities - Appropriate unit of measurement for identifying differences - Used **factor analysis**: a statistical method that identifies intercorrelated data and simplifies. - Ex: structured self-report items: - Imaginative - Original - Inventive - Hardworking - Productive - Determined - Factor analysis: imaginative, original and inventive are highly correlated with Openness - Factor analysis: hardworking, productive and determined correlated with Conscientiousness **Discovery of factor analysis in traits:** Factor analysis has discovered five dimensions of highly inter correlated traits. Abbreviated as OCEAN: - Openness to experience - Conscientiousness: reflected in 6 facets -- achievement striving, self discipline.... - Extraversion - Agreeableness - Neuroticism **Concepts:** - Excludes important personality dimensions - Ex: positive/negative evaluation, spirituality, humility, and interpersonal relatedness - Sixth dimension could be spirituality - Incudes more personality dimensions than needed (Digman 1997) - Factor A: socialization - Factor B: personal growth - These could be underlying dimensions - Not provide any insights into the underlying dynamics of personality