L4 - The 5 factor model of Personality

Question 1

What is the lexical hypothesis and who proposed it?

Answer 1

Galton (1800s)

The idea that any trait that exists has a word to describe it and so, most important individual differences tend to be coded within language (‘trait descriptors’)

Words used more frequently are more important.

Therefore, personality words used more frequently are more important personality characteristics.

Question 2

What is factor analysis?

Answer 2

A statistical technique for data reduction

Question 3

How does factor analysis work?

Answer 3

Factor analysis looks at the relationship between many variables and attempts to find patterns of association in a set of variables.

Question 4

What is the acronym to remember the 5 factor model of personality?

Answer 4

O - openness
C - conscientiousness
E - extraversion
A - agreeableness
N - neuroticism

Question 5

What is extraversion a measure of?

Answer 5

A persons’ sociability

Question 6

What are those who score highly in extraversion considered to be + how are they labelled?

Answer 6

sociable, energetic, friendly, optimistic and assertive

labelled as extraverted

Question 7

What are those who score lower in extraversion considered to be + how are they labelled?

Answer 7

reserved, reflective, independent and consistent

labelled as introverted.

Question 8

What is neuroticism a measure of?

Answer 8

A persons’ emotional stability and adjustment

Question 9

What are those who score highly in neuroticism expected to experience?

Answer 9

mood swings and volatile emotions

Question 10

What are those who score lower in neuroticism considered to be?

Answer 10

calm, well-adjusted and emotionally stable (not prone to extreme emotions)

Question 11

What does conscientiousness describe?

Answer 11

Our level of self-discipline and control

Question 12

What are those who score highly in conscientiousness considered to be?

Answer 12

determined, organised, perseverant and plan for life events

Question 13

What are those who score lower in conscientiousness considered to be?

Answer 13

careless, unreliable, and easily distracted from their goals or tasks that they’re carrying out

Question 14

What does agreeableness measure?

Answer 14

The characteristic of an individual relation to social interaction

Question 15

What are those who score highly in agreeableness considered to be?

Answer 15

trusting, helpful, warm-hearted and empathetic

Question 16

What are those who score lower in conscientiousness considered to be?

Answer 16

suspicious, unfriendly, unhelpful, skeptical, argumentative and uncooperative

Question 17

What is openness a measure of?

Answer 17

the openness of an individuals relation to social interaction

Question 18

What are those who score highly in openness considered to be?

Answer 18

innovative and independent thinkers

Question 19

What are those who score lower in conscientiousness considered to be?

Answer 19

more conventional and prefer similarity over new experiences

Question 20

What have studies focusing on the 5 factor model indicated?

Answer 20

the model may have small to moderate associations between them and that personality traits can change over the life course (even though they’re relatively stable).

showed a significant genetic component to personality traits through twin studies

Question 21

What is the cultural significance of the 5 factor model?

Answer 21

the basic structure appears across various cultures but the way these traits manifest differ –> cross-cultural studies suggest that the model predicts adolescent emotional adjustment and well-being.

Question 22

(AO3) How is the description a strength of the 5 factor model?

Answer 22

organised personality traits into 5 broad dimensions, simplifies a myriad of human behaviours and attitudes

Question 23

(AO3) How is the explanation a strength of the 5 factor model?

Answer 23

does well at describing typical behaviours associated with each trait

Question 24

(AO3) Is the 5 factor model empirically valid?

Answer 24

Yes –> there’s empirical evidence to support this model

Question 25

(AO3) Is the 5 factor model a testable concept?

Answer 25

easily measurable sue to operationalised concepts e.g., validated scales  240-item model.

Question 26

(AO3) How is comprehensiveness a weakness of the 5 factor model?

Answer 26

misses some culturally specific or niche traits, but does capture a broad range of personality traits.

Question 27

(AO3) How is parsimony a strength of the 5 factor model?

Answer 27

parsimonious as it condenses a vast array of personalities into 5 broad categories.

Question 28

(AO3) Why does the 5 factor model have good heuristic value?

Answer 28

stimulated a significant amount of research in the area of personality psychology, not just to understand and expand upon it but also to critique and refine it.

Question 29

(AO3) What is the applied value of the 5 factor model?

Answer 29

key applications in job recruitment, therapeutic settings and relationships counselling, highlighting its practical utility.

Question 30

What was Kang et al.’s study on the 5 factor model?

Answer 30

Procedure - Analysed data from 12,007 ppts (under 16 yrs.) from the British Household Panel Study.

Findings
Neuroticism was positively related to anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Extraversion was negatively related to social dysfunction, anhedonia, anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively related to social dysfunction, anhedonia and loss of confidence

Openness was negatively related to anxiety and depressive symptoms

Question 31

What was Zhu et al.’s study on the 5 factor model?

Answer 31

Procedure - examined the personality traits in relation to emotion regulation strategies. They found that those who scored high on extraversion tended to use more adaptive emotion regulation strategies e.g., problem solving and mindfulness.

Findings

High neuroticism was related to more maladaptive strategies (e.g., avoidance, rumination, suppression and worry).

Extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness were associated with more adaptive emotion regulation strategies, but there was also evidence of relationships of extraversion and openness with more maladaptive strategies e.g., fantasy distraction.