Lecture Oct 25 Flashcards
trait approach identifies personality characteristics…
that can be represented along a CONTINUUM
trait
categorizes people according to the DEGREE to which they manifest a particular characteristic
assumption of trait approach
personality characteristics are relatively STABLE over TIME and across SITUATIONS
Gordon Allport acknowledged…
the limitations of the trait concept
behaviour’s influenced by VARIETY of ENVIRONMENTAL factors
Gordon Allport did what to personality?
brought it into the mainstream
shed light on significance of traits through a theory of personality development
Gordon Allport’s research strategies
- nomothetic approach
- idiographic approach
nomothetic approach
people can be described along a SINGLE DIMENSION
according to the LEVEL of the trait
concerns COMMON traits - applies to everyone
idiographic approach
identifies the COMBO of traits that BEST ACCOUNTS for personality of an individual
central traits, cardinal traits
central traits: idiographic approach
describe an individual’s personality
cardinal traits: idiographic approach
single dominating trait in personality
advantage of idiographic approach
person determines what traits to examine
Allport’s definition of personality
DYNAMIC organization within individual of those psychosocial systems
that determines CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOUR and THOUGHT
Allport’s definition of personality opposed…
viewpoints of psychoanalysis and behaviourism
Allport’s definition of personality was influenced by…
Gestalt psychology
- wholeness
- interrelatedness
- conscious experience
dynamic organization: Allport’s definition of personality
personality is constantly changing
never something that IS, rather it is ALWAYS BECOMING
experience changes people
psychosocial systems: Allport’s definition of personality
nothing is exclusively mental nor biological
body and mind are fused
Herarclitus quote that’s related to Allport’s definition of personality
“no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man”
5 things that constitute an adequate theory of personality - for trait theorists
- personality as contained WITHIN the person
- views persons as filled with VARIABLES that CONTRIBUTE to actions
- seeks MOTIVES for behaviour in the PRESENT, not the past
- employs UNITS OF MEASURE capable of living synthesis
- adequately ACCOUNTS for SELF-AWARENESS
trait theory - personality as contained within the person
INTERNAL MECHANISMS rather than external mechanisms
trait theory - views persons as filled with variables that contribute to actions
reaction against behaviourism
reaction against idea that humans are empty vessels
social reward description of humans is dehumanizing
trait theory - seeks motives for behaviour in the present, not the past
reaction against psychoanalysis
“people it seems are busy leading their lives into the future, whereas psychology, for the most part, is busy tracing them into the past”
normal adults are aware of their motives
healthy adult motives are independent of earlier experiences
trait theory - employs units of measure capable of living synthesis
people aren’t a collection of test scores
must measure the WHOLE, DYNAMIC PERSONALITY
nature of personality: heredity
- provides raw materials
- shaped, expanded, or limited by environmental conditions
- emphasis on uniqueness through genetic combinations
nature of personality: two personalities
- no continuum of personality between childhood and adulthood
- discrete or discontinuous nature of personality
- adult personality is not constrained by early experiences
to trait theorists, what are the distinguishing characteristics that guide behaviour?
personality traits
measured on a continuum
personality traits are subject to…
social, environmental and cultural influences
definition of trait
“a neuropsychic structure having the capacity to render many stimuli functionally equivalent and to initiate and guide equivalent forms of adaptive and expressive behaviour”
ie. responding to similar situations in similar ways
development of a trait example - gregariousness
- early affective attachment (conditioning)
- later social contacts also prove satisfying
- child ends up seeking people rather than avoiding people
- child develops trait of gregariousness
- child is eager for social intercourse (sociability trait)
- when isolated she misses people and becomes restless
in what way do traits organize experience?
people CONFRONT the world in terms of their traits
people can only RESPOND TO THE WORLD in terms of their traits
traits account for the CONSISTENCY of human behaviour
there are _______ of possible behaviour
ranges
activated at varying points within a range
according to the DEMANDS of the SITUATION
the proprium
all aspects of personality are INTEGRATED by an ORGANIZING AGENT
aspects: soul, self, mind, ego etc
for Allport, this organizing agent is the PROPRIUM
involved in the ought conscience
conscience 2 parts
- “must conscience”
- “ought conscience”
must conscience
fear of punishment and obedience
ought conscience
closely tied to proprium
certain goals ought to be ATTAINED
certain things ought to be OBTAINED, others ought to be AVOIDED
7 stages of the development of the proprium
- bodily self
- self-identity
- self-esteem
- extension of self
- self-image
- self as a rational coper
- propriate striving
then adulthood
proprium: bodily self
stage 1 of proprium development
stages 1-3 emerge during the FIRST 3 YEARRS
infants become AWARE of their OWN EXISTENCE
distinguish their BODIES from OBJECTS in the environment
proprium: self-identity
stage 2 of proprium development
children realize that their identity REMAINS INTACT despite the MANY CHANGES that are taking place
proprium: self-esteem
stage 3 of proprium development
children learn to TAKE PRIDE in their ACCOMPLISHMENTS
proprium: extension of self
stage 4 of proprium development
stages 4 and 5 emerge during the 4th through 6th year
children come to RECOGNIZE the OBJECTS/PEOPLE that are part of their own world
proprium: self-image
stage 5 of proprium development
children develop ACTUAL and IDEALIZED IMAGES of themselves and their behaviour
become aware of SATISFYING (or failing to satisfy) PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS
proprium: self as a rational coper
stage 6 of proprium development
develops during ages 6-12
children begin to APPLY REASON and LOGIC to the solution of everyday problems
proprium: propriate striving
stage 7 of proprium development
develops during ADOLESCENCE
young people begin to formulate LONG-RANGE GOALS and PLANS
proprium: adulthood
normal, mature adults are functionally AUTONOMOUS
independent of childhood motives
function RATIONALLY in the PRESENT and CONSCIOUSLY CREATE their own lifestyles
age and proprium development stages
STAGES 1-3:
0-3 years
STAGES 4 & 5:
4-6 years
STAGE 6:
6-12 years
STAGE 7:
adolescence
ADULTHOOD
traits are consistent…
consistent personality characteristics and behaviours
displayed in different situations
trait theorists do not assume…
that some people have a trait and others do not
rather, they propose that ALL PEOPLE possess CERTAIN TRAITS
but that the DEGREE to which a given trait applies to a specific person VARIES and can be QUANTIFIED
Gordon Allport suggested that there are 3…
basic categories of traits
- cardinal
- central
- secondary
cardinal trait
a single characteristic that directs MOST of a person’s activities
ie. a totally selfless woman might direct all her energy toward humanitarian activities
central traits
major characteristics of an individual
usually around 5-10 per person
ie. honesty and sociability could be the major characteristics of a certain person
secondary traits
characteristics that affect behaviour
but in fewer situations
less influential than central or cardinal traits
ie. a reluctance to eat meat
ie. a love of modern art
factor analysis
technique employed by Raymond Cattell
to determine the STRUCTURE of human personality
SOURCE TRAITS: basic traits that make up the human personality
factor analysis: source traits
basic traits that make up the human personality
factor analysis: limitation
procedure is confined by the TYPE of data chosen for analysis
Raymond Cattell on personality
“that which permits a prediction of what a person will do in a given situation”
Raymond Cattell’s factor analysis
a statistical method of identifying associations
among a large number of variables
to reveal more general patterns
using factor analysis, Raymond Cattell suggested…
that 16 pairs of source traits
represented the basic dimensions of personality
using the 16 source traits, Raymond Cattell developed…
the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF)
^measure that provides scores for each of the source traits
16 PF
16 personality factor questionnaire by Raymond Cattell
- reserved > outgoing
- concrete thinking > abstract thinking
- affected by feelings > emotionally stable
- submissive > dominant
- serious > happy go lucky
- expedient > conscientious
- shy > bold
- tough-minded > sensitive
- trusting > suspicious
- practical > imaginative
- forthright > shrewd
- self-assured > apprehensive
- conservative > experimenting
- group-dependent > self-sufficient
- undisciplined > self-controlled
- relaxed > tense
Hans Eysenck, like Raymond Cattell…
used factor analysis to identify patterns of traits
Hans Eysenck found that personality…
could best be described in terms of THREE major dimensions
- extraversion
- relates to degree of sociability - neuroticism
- encompasses emotional stability - psychotocism
- refers to degree to which reality is distorted
extraversion: Hans Eysenck’s major personality dimensions
relates to degree of SOCIABILITY
sociable, lively, active, assertive, sensation-seeking
neurotocism: Hans Eysenck’s major personality dimensions
relates to degree of EMOTIONAL STABILITY
anxious, depressed, guilt feelings, low self-esteem, tense
psychotosism: Hans Eysenck’s major personality dimensions
relates to degree of REALITY DISTORTION
aggressive, cold, egocentric, impersonal, impulsive
Eysenck, by evaluating people along these three dimensions, has been able to…
PREDICT behaviour accurately
in a variety of types of situations
Big Five and factor analysis
using modern factor analysis statistical techniques, a host of researchers have identified a similar set of five factors that underlie personality
- openness to experience
- conscientiousness
- extraversion
- agreeableness
- neuroticism (emotional stability)
3 points about Henry Murray
- personology
- viscerogenic needs
- focus on psychogenic needs
Henry Murray: personology
combo of PSYCHOANALYTIC and TRAIT concepts
NEEDS are a basic element of personality
Henry Murray: viscerogenic needs
food, water, etc.
Henry Murray: focused on psychogenic needs
- readiness to respond in a certain way under certain given conditions
- can be activated by CUES in the environment
Henry Murray’s 5 principles
- personality is rooted in the brain
- tension reduction
- individual’s personality continues to develop over time
- personality changes and progresses
- each person is unique, but there are similarities among all people
Murray’s principles: personality is rooted in the brain
individual’s CEREBRAL PHYSIOLOGY guides and governs every aspect of the personality
certain DRUGS can alter brain functioning, and personality as well
EVERYTHING on which personality depends exists in the brain:
- feeling states
- conscious and unconscious memories
- beliefs
- attitudes
- fears
- values
Murray’s principles: tension reduction
people act to reduce physiological and psychological tension
but this doesn’t mean we live in a tension-free state
process of ACTING TO REDUCE TENSION that is satisfying, not the attainment of a condition free of all tension
we must have a certain level of tension to reduce
Murray’s principles: individual’s personality continues to develop over time
personality is CONSTRUCTED of all the events that occur during the course of the person’s life
therefore, the study of a person’s PAST is of great importance
(diff than other trait theorists who just focus on the present)
Murray’s principles: personality changes and progresses
it isn’t fixed or static
Murray’s principles: each person is unique, but there are similarities between all people
an individual human being is:
- like NO other person
- like SOME other people
- like EVERY other person
Murray - do we live in a tension free state?
no, never
people act to REDUCE tension, and this satisfies us
the attainment of a condition free of all tension isn’t what is satisfying
Murray believed that what is a source of distress?
a tension-free existence
we need activity, excitement, movement
we must have a certain level of tension to reduce
Murray’s list of needs
abasement, achievement, affiliation, aggression, autonomy, counteraction, defendence, deference, dominance, exhibition, harmavoidance, infavoidance, nurturance, order, play, rejection, sentinence, sex, succorance, understanding
infavoidance
to avoid humiliation
to quit embarrassing situations or to avoid conditions that may lead to scorn, derision, or indifference of others
to refrain from action because of the fear of failure
sentience
to seek and enjoy sensuous impressions
succorance
to be nursed, supported, sustained, surrounded, protected, loved, advised, guided, indulged, forgiven, or consoled
to remain close to a devoted protector
Henry Murray - people can be described in terms of a personal…
hierarchy of needs
PRESS: situation that influences the activation of a need
press
situation that influences the activation of a need
part of Murray’s hierarchy of needs
Henry Murrays 2 primary contributions to personality
- Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
- stimulated extensive research on psychogenic needs
