chapter 6 Flashcards
many trait appraoch
this looks at the relationship between a particular behaviour and as many traits as possible (who does that behaviour)
essential trait approach
- this is using a few central traits to identify all the others (finding which are the most important)
- usually uses the big five personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness)
- if not the big five it can also use a theoretical approach (murray-20 needs), or a factor analytic approach (cattell: 16 essential traits)
typological approach to personality
- tries to show the way that people differ in kind and not just degree (don’t think that you should compare people quantitatively on the same trait dimensions)
- says that there are 3 diff. types of personality: well adjusted, maladjusted overcontrolled, maladjusted undercontrolled
- although its good for thinking about traits in a person and how they work together, it is bad for predicting anything using trait measures
the single trait approach
this zeroes in on one particular trait and all the behaviours that it can affect
-this is good for studying self monitoring, narcissism, ect
4 research methods for measuring traits
- single trait approach
- many trait approach
- essential trait approach
- typological approach
single trait approach and self monitoring
the degree to which inner and outer selves and behaviours are the same or different across situations
- not necessarily better to be high or low
- correlates with several behaviours
single trait approach and narcissism
- charming , makes a good first impression
- manipulative, overbearing, vain and so on
- many negative behaviours and attributes
- why do they act like this
many trait approach and the caifornia Q-set
it has 100 personality descriptions which people sort by their choice
-it helps compare the characteristics within an individual person
the 5 factor model
-5 broad factors developed through lexical and statistical approaches
-lexical hypothesis: look for traits that have the most words and are the most universal
-factor analysis: other personalityy tests tend to fit the Big Five groups
neoroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness
implications of the big 5
these 5 traits are unrelated
- they are more complex than they seem: the labels are oversimplified, they are not entirely independent
big 5: neuroticism
these are people that are prone to psychological distress seen by checking levels of: -anxiety -hostility -depression -self consciousness -impulsiveness -vulnerability (more susceptible to stress)
big 5: extraversion
the quantity and intensity of energy directed outwards into the social world
this is seen in levels of:
-warmth
-gregariousness (how much they like being with other people)
-assertiveness
-activity (how fast they like to live life)
-excitement (do they like to be excited)
-positive emotions
big five: openness to experience
the active seeking and appreciation of experiences for their own sake
- this is seen in levels of:
- fantasy (your imagination)
- aesthetics (like art and beauty)
- feelings (openness to it)
- actions (openness to them)
- ideas (how many)
- values (the flexibility they have)
the big 5: agreeableness
the kinds of interactions an individual prefers from compassion to tough mindedness.
this is seen in levels of:
-trust
-straightforwardness
-altruism (how much you care about others)
-compliance (response to interpersonal conflict)
-modesty
-tender-mindedness
big 5: conscientiousness
the organization, persistence, control, and motivation in goal directed behaviour.
this is measured in levels of:
-competence
-order (personal organization)
-dutifulness (emphasis on own morals)
-achievement striving (need for personal achievement)
-self discipline
-deliberation (thinks things through first)
