Chapter 10 Personality: Module 32 Flashcards
Trait theory
A model of personality that seeks to identify the basic traits necessary to describe personality.
Traits
Consistent personality characteristics and behaviors displayed in different situations.
Gordon Allport
Suggests there are three fundamental categories of traits: cardinal, central, and secondary.
Cardinal trait
Single characteristic that directs most of a person’s activities.
Central traits
An individual’s major characteristics, they usually number from five to ten in any one person.
Secondary traits
Characteristics that affect behavior in fewer situations and are less influential than central or cardinal traits.
Factor analysis
Statistical method of identifying associations among a large number of variables to reveal more general patterns.
Raymond Cattell
Suggested that 16 pairs of source traits represent the basic dimensions of personality. He developed the 16 personality factor questionnaire or 16PF, a measure that provides scores for each of the source traits.
Hans Eysenck
Found that personality could best be described in terms of just three major dimensions: extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism.
Extraversion
Sociable, lively, active, assertive, sensation-seeking. Relates to the degree of sociability.
Neuroticism
Anxious, depressed, guilt feelings, low self-esteem, and tense. Encompasses emotional stability.
Psychoticism
Aggressive, cold, egocentric, impersonal, and impulsive. Degree to which reality is distorted.
The big five personality factors
Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neurotiscism. Best descirption of personality traits we have today.
Social cognitive approaches to personality
Theories that emphasize the influence of a person’s cognitions- thoughts, feelings, expectations, and values -as well as observation of other’s behavior, in determining personality.
Self-efficacy
Belief in one’s personal capabilities. Self-efficacy underlies people’s faith in their ability to carry out a particular behavior or produce a desired outcome.
Walter Mischel
Argues that people’s thoughts and emotions about themselves and the world determine how they view, and then react, in particular situations.
Self-esteem
The component of personality that encompasses our positive and negative self-evaluations.
Relationship harmony
A sense of success in forming close bonds with other people.
Biological and evolutionary approaches to personality
Theories that suggest that important components of personality are inherited.
Temperament
The innate disposition that emerges early in life.
Humanistic approaches to personality
Theories that emphasize people’s innate goodness and desire to achieve higher levels of functioning.
Self-actualization
A state of self-fulfillment in which people realize their highest potential, each in a unique way.
Unconditional positive regard
An attitude of acceptance and respect on the part of an observer, no matter what a person says or does.
