Lecture 2 - Personality measurement and measures

Question 1

Dimensional approach (to psychological characteristics)

Answer 1

It places psychological characteristics on a continuum.

Question 2

Typological/categorical approach (to psychological characteristics)

Answer 2

It puts psychological characteristics into categories, and thus determines the presence or absence of a certain psychological characteristic.

Question 3

Lexical approach

Answer 3

It views all important traits as captured by the natural language. It uses synonym frequency and cross-cultural universality to identify important traits.

Question 4

Synonym frequency

Answer 4

It says that the more trait adjectives an attribute has, the more important it is.

Question 5

Cross-cultural universality

Answer 5

It says that the more languages a trait adjective exists in, the more important it is.

Question 6

Statistical approach

Answer 6

It adopts statistical procedures, such as factor analysis, and attempts to identify clusters of traits that covary.

Question 7

Factor analysis

Answer 7

A technique that is used to reduce a large number of variables into fewer numbers of factors.

Question 8

Extraversion

Answer 8

One enjoys interacting with others and is particularly sensitive to rewards. One is sociable, talkative, and not bashful.

Question 9

Agreeableness

Answer 9

One engages in altruistic behaviour and cooperation. One is emphatic, kind, and not cold.

Question 10

Conscientiousness

Answer 10

One effortfully tries to control impulses and distractions, follow rules, and pursues long-term goals. One is hard-working, self-disciplined, and not messy.

Question 11

Neuroticism / low emotional stability

Answer 11

One handles threat and punishment especially poorly. One is vulnerable, irritable, and not relaxed.

Question 12

Openness

Answer 12

One is cognitively engaged and open to novel experiences and ideas. One is imaginative, artistic, and not conventional.

Question 13

Extraversion (aspects)

Answer 13

E.e (Enthusiasm) - sociable, playful, and fun-loving, and E.a (Assertiveness) - dominant, outspoken, and active.

Question 14

Agreeableness (aspects)

Answer 14

A.p (Politeness) - warm, empathic, and kind, and A.c (Compassion) - considerate, unaggressive, and compliant.

Question 15

Contentiousness (aspects)

Answer 15

C.o (Orderliness) - hard-working, and self-disciplined, and C.i (Industriousness) - neat, careful, punctual, and thrifty.

Question 16

Neuroticism/low emotional stability (aspects)

Answer 16

N.v (Volatility) - temperamental, irritable, and easily upset, and N.w (Withdrawal) - anxious, depressed, and vulnerable.

Question 17

Openness to Experience (aspects)

Answer 17

O.o (Openness) - artistic, creative, and perceptive, and O.i (Intellect) - smart, intellectual, and philosophical.

Question 18

HEXACO model

Answer 18

The HEXACO model of personality structure is a six-dimensional model of human personality that was created by Ashton and Lee and explained in their book, The H Factor of Personality, based on findings from a series of lexical studies involving several European and Asian languages.