Big 5/Trait Approaches Flashcards
What is the main contribution of Hippocrates and what is it’s application in psychology?
Doctrine of humours; makes a reasonable summary of basic reaction patterns
What are the 3 different approaches to assessing traits?
Single trait approach, many-trait approach, essential trait approach
What is a single-trait approach?
Analyzing personality from a focus of a single trait, such as authoritarianism or conscientiousness
What is sometimes questionable when using a single-trait approach to describe personality?
Validity, traits could be subjective
What is a many-trait approach?
Analyzing personality more broadly with a focus on multiple traits
What is factor analysis?
Factor analysis is using correlations to condense highly correlated items into fewer but broader constructs
Why is factor analysis useful in a many-trait approach?
It allows a wide range of factors to be considered using a manageable number of constructs, allowing us to see interrelationships more easily
What is Raymond Cattell’s contribution to personality psychology?
Created a 16 trait personality model using factor analysis and measured people using his model
What is a significant challenge with factor analysis?
The subjectivity of latent variables; we measure observable variables and extract meaning, but we attribute that meaning to a construct that is ultimately determined subjectively.
What is a latent variable?
A variable that cannot be measured and is instead inferred via measurement of observable variables (ex. personality traits)
What is the California Q-set?
100 cards with phrases that are rated as either “characteristic” or “uncharacteristic” to varying degrees
What are some individual characteristics that have been predicted by the California Q-set in the past?
Drug abuse, political orientation
What is an essential trait approach? Provide an example.
Analyzing personality with a focus on a fixed number of traits that are deemed essential (for example, the Big 5 model)
Why is the Big 5 model considered valid and sufficient in describing personality?
High degree of correlation with other personality measures, cross-cultural validity, and the 5 domains are orthogonal (i.e they are statistically independent)
How are the results of the California Q-set reported?
Via a normal curve with the 5 most characteristic and uncharacteristic phrases at each end of the curve
What are the Big 5 personality traits?
Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness
What are the 3 fundamental characteristics of personality traits in general?
1) Consistent across different situations
2) Stable over time
3) Different between individuals
In certain situations, why would implicit measures of personality be considered more valid than self-report measures?
In situations like a job interview, candidates are likely to engage in impression management and submit desirable responses rather than truthful ones
What personality traits are positively correlated with a morning orientation?
Conscientiousness (also agreeableness)
What personality trait is associated with an evening orientation?
Neuroticism
Name 2 biological markers of personality that were discussed in class.
Symmetry, Circadian preference
What is the lexical hypothesis of personality?
Important personality characteristics should be reflected in our language
What are facets and how to they contribute to describing someone’s personality?
More detailed components of personality trait domains that increase validity and can help explain situations where someone behaves unexpectedly relative to their trait (ex. high level extravert likes parties but doesn’t like public speaking: high warmth, low assertiveness)
