Lecture 3 -(second actual lecture) Getting comfortable with The Big 5 Traits September 10 Flashcards
Mnemonics for extraversion
Energy, Enthusiasm
Mnemonics for neuroticism
Negative Affect, Nervousness
Mnemonics for openness
Originality, Open-Mindedness
Mnemonics for agreeableness
Altruism, Affection (about being human)
Mnemonics for Concientiousness
Control, Constraint
what does McAdams say about agreeableness
“Agreeable people are more than nice. Agreeableness incorporates expressive qualities of love and empathy, friendliness, cooperation and care. Indeed, the term agreeable may be a bit too meek for the A domain in traits, a domain that includes such concepts as altruism, affection and many of the most admirably humane aspects of the human personality.”
is the big five relevant all over th world
yes, Emergence in many languages.
Emerges across cultures.
Mean levels differ across countries.
how does the big five change with regard to certain asian countries
becomes the HEXECO model
what is the HEXECO model
a 6th trait is introduced-- Humility/Honesty Humility/honesty Emotionality (neuroticism) Xtraversion Concientiousness Openness
HOWEVER some researchers think H is actually a dimension of agreeableness
where is extraversion notabley low
asian countries
how did we end up with 5 broad dimensions
through cultural evolution
is there evidence of the big five in other species
Gosling 1999
Dogs, cats, donkeys, pigs.
Reliable individual differences in E, N, and A;
Often also find O in terms of curiosity & playfulness
Concienciousness also appears in what anima and what does this suggest l
only appears in Chimpanzees, suggesting recent evolutionary history (Complex social-cognitive functions – norms, goals, impulse control
)
in chimps, what of the big 5 broke into 2 (making the big 5, the big 6)
Extraversion became extraversion AND another category came– dominance
Do the Big 5 actually predict consistencies in social emotional behavior?
traits can change due to situation and time– so it is in relation to other behaviours
what two systems are related to extraversion
behaviour activation system (BAS) and opiod system
the fact that extroversion is related to the BAS and the opioid system means what
that it is highly tied POSITIVE emotion
Miller 1991– Experienced clinician in medium-sized city with diverse clients collected Big 5 scores on all clients and tried to see if traits could predict process and outcome of therapy.
About 120 clients, 63% female. Diverse SES,
eclectic treatment approach.
what did the research show
only neuroticism stood out as a predictor
what is millers argument for the use of the big 5
“Trait theories such as the five-factor model can be useful to clinicians, as they provide a detailed, accurate portrait of the client’s needs, feelings, proximate motives, and interpersonal style”
explain how miller’s argument (the big 5 is useful in providing info about clients) is helpful in three ways
Can anticipate and understand the client’s private experience.
Can anticipate the problems presented in treatment.
Helps you formulate a practical treatment plan and anticipate opportunities and pitfalls of it.
what can neuroticism tell the clinician about how to approach therapy with the client
intensity & duration of client’s distress.
Motivate investment; Low N ≠ Defensiveness
what can extroversion tell the clinician about how to approach therapy with the client
energy and enthusiasm for therapy.
Structured/Unstructured
– talk more/structure if introvert
what can openness tell the clinician about how to approach therapy with the client
reactions to the therapists interventions.
Traditional/Novel
– determines what kind of techniques you can use
what can agreeableness tell the clinician about how to approach therapy with the client
subjective reaction to the person of the therapist.
Therapeutic Alliance
–maybe the most important thing! #1 thing is to form an alliance with therapist to get benefits
what can conscientiousness tell the clinician about how to approach therapy with the client
willingness to do the work of therapy
Homework assignments
– high consciousness more likely to do work
– show up if they don’t follow through it may not be psych. resistance just not very conscious
what are the Common Problems using the Big 5 traits
- Conflation between dimensions.
2. Concern about one’s standing on certain traits
explain Conflation between dimensions.
5 dimensions derived from factor analysis, human mind cannot help but to see things as good or bad
When taking the big 5 survey, no correlation between them! They are all independent so must be weary of that…
How do the big 5 traits relate to each other? Can you predict where someone will be on scale based off another
no
neuroticism sounds bad, is there anything good about it
if high in this, less likely to have accidents
if high in one (such as extroversion) does that mean you do not associate with the low end at all
no, there is evidence that you can still preform the opposite end traits (extroverts can still do introverted things)
is one end of a trait more desirable than the other
no, there is evolutionary adaptiveness of both ends of the dimensions! Group life requires people on both ends
