Ch. 13 Five-Factor Trait Theory Flashcards
factor + trait theories
utilize factor analytic methods to determine how many traits or dispositions
- disagreement on how many personality traits (Cattell vs. McCrae/Costa)
Cattell’s trait theory
used inductive method to gather data for personality + cognitive
- used 3 different media of observation
- divided traits into common + unique traits as well as classified by temperament, motivation + ability
approach -> 35 primary or first-order traits
(broken into stratums)
media of observation
(Cattell) ways of collecting personality data
types of media of observation (3):
(Cattell)
L data (Life Record) Q data (Self Report) T data (objective test)
correlation coefficient
(Cattell) determine how closely related
- may be +/- or high/low
a mathematical index used to measure the direction y magnitude of the relationship btwn 2 variables
(ie) height + weight have (+) correlation
factor analysis
(Cattell) a mathematical procedure for reducing a large number of variables to a few
- used to ID personality traits and factors
(ie) grouping or clusters
factor loading
(Cattell) how closely related [correlation] each factor are to group
unipolar traits
(Cattell) traits w/ only 1 pole
- scaled from 0 to x
- varies but no opposites
(ie) height
bipolar traits
(Cattell) traits w/ 2 poles
- scaled from minus point to a positive point
- 0 = midpoint
- varies
(ie) extroversion vs. introversion
Five-Factor Model (FFM)
(Costa/McCrae)
orthogonal rotation
- results in fewer traits that are not necessarily correlated
Cattell theory of personality
oblique rotation results in more traits that are correlated
Big-Five theory
(Costa/McCrae) taxonomy (classification) of basic personality traits revealed by factor analysis
- can predict + explain behavior
- originally a FFM
- originally 3 factor model
- analyzed every major personality inventory to create Big-Five
NEO
(Costa/McCrae) original model that became Big-Five
neuroticism
openness
extroversion
reasoning for universality of Big-Five (Costa/McCrae)
(1) cross-cultural - regardless of culture, present worldwide
(2) demonstrate stability over time + permanence w/ age
Five-Factor described
(Costa/McCrae) believed traits were bipolar + follow a bell-shaped distribution
extraversion neurocitism openness agreeableness conscientiousness
extraversion
affectionate joiner VS reserved/loner
neuroticism
anxious, emotional, moody, temperamental VS calm + even-tempered
openness
imaginative, creative VS down to earth, concrete, uncreative
agreeableness
soft-hearted, trusting VS ruthless, suspicious
conscientiousness
conscientious, hardworking VS negligent, lazy
**not the same as reserved/extroversion
McCrae + Costa
collaborated juntos to create Five-Factor Theory
- claimed this to be a FACT
- thought early theories of personality over-relied on clinical experiences + speculation (ie. Freud = philosophy + case studies)
core components of personality
(Costa/McCrae)
basic tendencies
characteristic adaptations
self-concept
basic tendency
(Costa/McCrae) the universal raw material of personality
- core component of personality
- caused by biology
- relatively stable
- 5 dimensions
(ie) neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness
characteristic adaptations
(Costa/McCrae) core component of personality
- differ btwn cultures
- subject to change depending on environment
- more flexibility
(ie) language
(ie) skills, goals
(ie) habits, motives
self-concept
(Costa/McCrae) knowledge, views + evaluations of self
- core component of personality
- originally characteristic adaptation
peripheral components of personality
(Costa/McCrae)
biological bases
objective biography
external influences
biological bases
(Costa/McCrae) genes, hormones y structures that affect basic components
- peripheral component of personality
- single causal influence on personality traits or basic tendencies
objective biography
(Costa/McCrae) all experiences over a person’s lifetime
- peripheral component of personality
- not subjective interpretation
(ie) everything a person does, think,s or feels
external influences
(Costa/McCrae) social situations that influence us
- peripheral component of personality
- knowledge, views y evaluations of the self
postulates for basic tendencies
(Costa/McCrae) individuality origin development structure
individuality
(Costa/McCrae) we are all unique y have varying levels + combos of the Big-Five traits
- postulate for basic tendencies
- where we fall on scale is unique
origin
(Costa/McCrae) basic traits, not personality overall,, are due to solely biology
- postulate for basic tendency
development
(Costa/McCrae) assume traits change through childhood but slows as we grow older (adolescence)
- postulate for basic tendency
structure
(Costa/McCrae) hierarchical structure
- postulate for basic tendency
postulates for characteristic adaptations
(Costa/McCrae)
adaptation
maladjustment
plasticity
adaptation
(Costa/McCrae) we adapt our environment based on our basic traits
- postulate for characteristic adaptation
- acquire patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are consistent w/ their personality traits and earlier adaptations
(ie) extraverted person joins dance club
(ie) an assertive person becomes a lawyer or business executive
maladjustment
(Costa/McCrae) occurs when our responses are not consistent w/ our goals or cultural values
- postulate for characteristic adaptation
(ie) extreme introversion may lead to pathological social shyness + prevent people from going out of the house or holding a stable job
plasticity
(Costa/McCrae) characteristic adaptations can change over time due to biological development or change in environment
- postulate of characteristic adaptation
(ie) Phineas Gage
(ie) stroke changes a person’s personality a bit
critique
very high parsimony + generating research
high organizing knowledge
moderate falsifiablity
moderate to low guide for practitioners + internal consistency
concept of humanity
biology > social influence
conscious > unconscious
uniqueness > similarity
L data
(Cattell) life record derived from observations made by other people
Q data
(Cattell) self-reports obtained from questionnaires y otro techniques designed to allow people to make subjective descriptions of themselves
T data
objective tests which measure performance such as intelligence, speed of responding y otro such activities designed to challenge people’s maximum performance
