Dispositional - Ch 12-14

Question 1

Describe the 4 theorists you will be talking about in the dispositional theories. (4)

Answer 1

-Allport
-Cattell
-Eysenck
-McCrae and Costa

Question 2

How many central dispositions did Allport say a person could have?

Answer 2

-max 10

Question 3

What is a disposition?

Answer 3

-durable dispositions to behave in a particular way in a variety of situations

Question 4

How many traits, states and characteristics did Allport come up with? How many personal dispositions? (2)

Answer 4

-18,000
-400+ personal dispositions

Question 5

What did Cattel disagree with Allport about?

Answer 5

-Cattel said Allport had too many personal dispositions and it wasn’t good for a scientific theory and generalizability

Question 6

What two things did Cattell introduce?? (2)

Answer 6

-factor analysis
-16PF

Question 7

What three steps occurred during Cattell’s inductive research? (3)

Answer 7

-collected data
-categorize traits
-reduce redundancy by factor analysis

Question 8

How did Cattell collect data with these case studies of people? (3)

Answer 8

Three types:
L-data: interviewing people and people who know these people on their life data
Q-data: self-reportsfrom questionnaire
T-data: objective tests, experiments

Question 9

What did Cattell do during the reducing redundancy phase of his research that was different than Allport?

Answer 9

-reduced traits and found 23 normal factors and 12 pathological factors (later reduced 23 to 16)

Question 10

What are factors for Cattell?

Answer 10

-same thing as dispositions or traits

Question 11

What two things should we know about Eysenck? (2)

Answer 11

-factor-theory
-biologically based

Question 12

What did Eysenck do to the 16 factors of Cattells?

Answer 12

-reduced them to 3

Question 13

What did Eysenck say about biological equality?

Answer 13

-that biological equality does not exist, we are unique and are born with different endowments

Question 14

What is Eysenck’s factor criteria for what will qualify as a factor? (4)

Answer 14

-psychometrically demonstrated (have to be able to measure it)
-heritability (inherited/genetic, cannot be learned)
-theoretically sound (fit within a theoretical framework)
-social relevance (it needs to make a difference or relevant in society)

Question 15

What are the three types/superfactors Eysenck comes up with?

Answer 15

-extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism

Question 16

Who used factor analysis?

Answer 16

-Eysenck and Cattell

Question 17

What is Eysenck’s four level hierarchy? Like what are the levels (4)

Answer 17

Top:
-type (superfactors)
-traits (example: persistence, social shyness)
-habits (example: keeps at school work, persists at hobby)
-specific behaviour (example: has a schedule, follows a schedule)

Question 18

Let’s use an example for Eysenck’s four levels using extraversion as the type.

Answer 18

Type: extraversion
Trait: sociable
Habits: says yes to going to party
Specific behaviours: talks to strangers, smile at people

Question 19

What is extraversion in Eysenck’s super factor? Define it (2)

Answer 19

-sociable, assertive, active, excitement seeking, impulsive
-the degree to which one is outgoing and enjoys social interaction

Question 20

What are some traits under neuroticism and what is it defined as? (2)

Answer 20

-anxious, depressed, etc
-relates to instability…

Question 21

What is the definition for psychoticism and what traits are under it? (2)

Answer 21

-the degree to which someone is vulnerable to psychosis, loss of contact with reality and self-control
-aggressive, cold, egocentric, impersonal, impulsive

Question 22

Describe the continuum for the three superfactors under Eysenck. (3)

Answer 22

-extraversion - introversion
-neuroticism - emotional stability
-psychoticism - superego (self control not really what Freud means)

Question 23

What did Eysenck believe about these three superfactors?

Answer 23

-they were biologically based and genetic

Question 24

Describe so far the progression of trait theory (3)

Answer 24

Allport: compiles list of traits
Cattell: reduced the traits to 16PF
Eysenck: group them into three superfactors