Categories of Traits Flashcards
Traits : Again definitions or introduction
According to Cattell, behaviour is determined by the interaction of traits and situational variables, but his major organising concept of personality resides in
his descriptions of the various kinds of traits he has identified.
Traits are relatively permanent and pervasive tendencies to respond with consistency from one
situation to another and from one time to another.
Traits are hypothetical mental structures inferred from behaviour which predispose the person to behave uniformly across various circumstances and across time.
Traits reflect the person’s stable and predictable characteristics and are by far the most important of Cattell’s concepts.
Trait classifications
Cattell (1965,1978) relies heavily on factor analysis to investigate the structural elements of personality.
He concludes that traits can be classified in several ways (Cattell also uses the term factors) such as
(i) surface traits
(ii) source traits
(iii) constitutional traits
(iv) Environmental mold traits
(v) ability trait
(vi) temperament
(vii) dynamic traits
(viii) common traits
(ix) Unique traits.
Let us take up these traits and see how they function.
Surface vs Source Traits
surface traits
Surface Traits versus Source Traits.
A surface trait is a set of behavioural characteristics that all seem to ‘hang’ together.
For instance, the observed characteristics of inability to concentrate, indecisiveness, restlessness etc.,
may cluster together to form the surface trait of neuroticism.
Here, the trait of neuroticism is observed by a cluster of overt elements that seem to go together. It does not derive from any single factor or element.
Surface traits do not have a unitary basis and are not consistent overtime and hence, they are not given much value for behavioural accountability.
On the other hand, source traits are the basic, underlying structures which constitute the building blocks of personality.
They represent the unitary dimension or factors that ultimately determine the consistencies in each person’s observed behaviour.
Source traits exist at a “deeper” level of the personality and are th causes of behaviour in diverse domains over an extended period of time.
Surface vs Source Traits:
Source
On the other hand, source traits are the basic, underlying structures which constitute the building blocks of personality.
They represent the unitary dimension or factors that ultimately determine the consistencies in each person’s observed behaviour.
Source traits exist at a “deeper” level of the personality and are th causes of behaviour in diverse domains over an extended period of time.
16PF
After extensive factor analytic research, Cattell[1979] concluded that there are approximately 16 source traits that constitute the underlying structure of
personality.
These were put forward by him as (i) warmth (ii) Reasoning (iii) Emotional stability (iv) Dominance (v) Liveliness (vi) Rule Consciousness (vii)social boldness (viii) Sensitivity (ix) vigilance (x) Abstractness (xi) Privateness (xii) Apprehension (xiii) Openness to change (xiv) Self reliance (xv) Perfectionism (xvi) Tension.
Primary and secondary(global ) traits
16 PF (Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire), designed by Cattell consists of the above 16 personality trait factors. It is a self report scale that has proved to be quite useful and popular in both applied and research settings.
Cattell considered personality traits to have multi level hierarchical structure. In his research Cattell tried to find out the primary traits of personality and found that these primary traits came together in meaningful groupings and formed broader
global traits. These global traints were termed by him as secondary traits.
Introversion/Extroversion global trait
For example the first global trait he found was the introversion extraversion. It resulted from the natural affinity of five primary traits that defined different
reasons for an individual to move toward people and away from prople.
Cattell stated that that there was a natural tendency for these traits to go together in the real world, and these represented important social behavioural domain.
The primary traits that constituted the extraversion introversion dimension were :
Warmth (Factor A)
Introversion/Extroversion global trait
the tendency to move toward others seeking closeness and connection because of genuine feelings of caring, sympathy, and concern
(versus the tendency to be reserved and detached, and thus be independent and unemotional).
Liveliness (Factor F):
Introversion/Extroversion global trait
the tendency to be high-energy, fun-loving, and
carefree, and to spontaneously move towards others in an animated, stimulating manner.
Low-scorers tend to be more serious and self-restrained, and to be cautious, unrushed, and judicious.
Social Boldness (Factor H): Introversion/Extroversion global trait
the tendency to seek social interaction in a confident, fearless manner, enjoying challenges, risks, and being the center of attention.
Low-scorers tend to be shy and timid, and to be more modest and risk-avoidant.
Forthrightness (Factor N):
Introversion/Extroversion global trait
the tendency to want to be known by others—
to be open, forthright, and genuine in social situations, and thus to be self revealing and unguarded.
Low-scorers tend to be more private and unselfrevealing, and to be harder to get to know.
Affiliative (Factor Q2):
Introversion/Extroversion global trait
the tendency to seek companionship and enjoy
belonging to and functioning in a group (inclusive, cooperative, good follower, willing to compromise).
Low-scorers tend to be more individualistic and self-reliant and to value their autonomy.
Receptivity or Openness (versus Tough-Mindedness).
In a similar manner, Cattell and his colleagues found that four other primary traits consistently merged to define another global factor called as Receptivity or
Openness (versus Tough-Mindedness).
This factor was made up of four primary traits that describe different kinds of openness to the world and these were identified as
(Sensitivity – Factor I)
Receptivity or Openness (versus Tough-Mindedness).
Openness to sensitive feelings, emotions, intuition, and aesthetic dimensions
(Abstractedness – Factor M)
Receptivity or Openness (versus Tough-Mindedness).
Openness to abstract, theoretical ideas, conceptual thinking, and imagination
