Five-factor theory Flashcards
What are the five factors?
-openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism (OCEAN)
Describe the diagram for this theory.
-rectangle boxes are central to the theory, oval are peripheral
What are the three central components of the five factor theory? (3)
-basic tendencies
-characteristic adaptations
-self-concept
What are basic tendencies? What defines basic tendencies (2)
-5 traits, intelligence, talents, sexual orientation, psychological machinery (ex: native linguistic ability, like almost built in machinery for language)
-they are fixed and can’t be changed
What are characteristics adaptations? What defines these? (2)
-skills, attitudes, knowledge, behavioural style, self-concept
-they can be adapted or changed
How do basic tendencies relate to character adaptations?
-there is an arrow from basic tendencies to characteristics adaptations
Inside characteristic adaptations there is a smaller box. What is this smaller box?
-self-concept
What is self-concept
-a person’s knowledge and beliefs about themselves as well as their self-esteem
How does characteristic adaptations relate to self-concept?
-when you learn a new skill it will change your self-concept, so there is an arrow from characteristic adaptations to self-concept
How does basic tendencies relate to self-concept?
-arrow from basic tendencies to self-concept because they influence how we view ourselves
What are the peripheral components? (3)
-biological bases
-objective biography
-external influences
What are biological bases? How do they related to basic tendencies? (2)
-genes, hormones, brain structure
-there is an arrow from biological bases to basic tendencies (thats why basic tendencies are fixed)
What is objective biography? Discuss how this is related to other concepts. (2)
-The facts and events of a person’s life
-characteristic adaptations –> objective biography as these influence our history. objective biography –> self-concept as our history and memory of ourselves influences our self-concept
What are external influences?
-opportunities, demands and constraints
How are external influences and objective biography related?
-our history and background are based on the limitations and constraints in our life so there are two arrows going back and forth between these two
How do external influences interact with characteristic adaptations?
-there is an arrow from external influences to characteristic adaptations as the skills and knowledge we have is a function of our external environment
Describe the arrow that goes back to itself.
-characteristic adaptations has an arrow into itself because the more we learn, the more we can learn. For example, you get better at skiing and then you can do blue runs and eventually black runs
What would all the arrows be labelled as?
-dynamic processes
What do they mean by dynamic processes?
-they know they should define better what these arrows are doing but say experts should figure out what exactly is happening during each of these arrows, out of our scope
What are the four basic tendencies postulates? (4)
-individuality
-origin
-development
-structure
What is individuality? Example? (2)
-all adults can be characterized by their different standing on a series of personality traits that influence patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Example: one person’s high conscientiousness makes them tackle projects with careful planning and detail, while another’s high extraversion leads them to seek out others’ help and brainstorm collaboratively.
What is origin?
-traits come from biological bases not from the environment
What is development?
-Traits develop through childhood and reach mature form in adulthood; thereafter they are stable in cognitively intact individuals
What is structure?
-Traits are organized hierarchically from narrow and specific to broad and general dispositions
What is the structure of personality according to the Five factor theory?
-5 personality traits (basic tendencies)
What is the developmental aspect of five factor theories? (2)
-biological origin
-though there is some change over lifespan due to biography and external influences
What is the pathology in five factor theories?
-rigid characteristic tendencies
Evaluate the five factor personality theory. (6)
Generate research: very high
Allow falsifiability: high
Organize data: high
Guide practical action: low
Maintain internal consistency: high
Maintain parsimony: very high
