Module 7 2A Flashcards
Module 7 Individual differences and dispositions total lecture 3
Trait Approach Themes:
Stability – Consistent traits over time.
Biological Evidence – Links to biology.
Inductive – Observational, no pre-hypotheses.
Research-Oriented – Practical, data-driven.
Parsimony – Simple explanations for differences.
Advanced Stats – Modern data analysis methods.
Objective Data – Focus on observable traits.
Inductive vs Deductive:
Inductive – Based on observations.
Deductive – Tests pre-existing hypotheses.
Personality in Cartoons:
Makes characters relatable and believable.
Questions:
Expressing Personality: Through consistent behaviors and emotions.
Mickey/Goofy Traits: Yes, Mickey is optimistic, Goofy is clumsy.
Social Media: Yes, traits can be shown through posts and online behavior.
Early Trait Approaches:
Literature: Heroes = “just,” Villains = “evil.”
Ancient Greece:
Hippocrates: Temperament via bodily humors.
Theophrastus: Character sketches.
Science:
Darwin: Traits evolve via natural selection.
Galton: Measured inherited abilities.
Trait Types:
Sanguine: Cheerful, outgoing.
Choleric: Goal-oriented, strong.
Phlegmatic: Relaxed, adaptable.
Melancholic: Perfectionist, neat.
Lexical Approach:
Lexical Hypothesis: Important traits become part of language.
Allport & Odbert (1936): Found 17,953 trait terms.
Adaptiveness: Labels help predict behavior and interactions.
Cattell & Factor Analysis:
Factor Analysis: Identifies core traits by analyzing correlations.
35 Primary Traits: 23 normal, 12 pathological.
16 Key Traits: Most studied and relevant for normal population.
Data Types:
L-Data: Life record, observations.
Q-Data: Questionnaires.
T-Data: Objective tests.
Measurement: 16 Personality Factor Scale.
See diagram
Cattell’s 16 Personality Factors:
Outgoing - Reserved
Suspicious - Trusting
More - Less Intelligent
Imaginative - Practical
Stable - Emotional
Shrewd - Forthright
Assertive - Humble
Apprehensive - Placid
Happy-go-lucky - Sober
Experimenting - Conservative
Conscientious - Expedient
Self-sufficient - Group-tied
Venturesome - Shy
Controlled - Casual
Tender-minded - Tough-minded
Tense - Relaxed
Cattell’s View: His approach was objective and based on factor analysis; frustrated by those avoiding 16 traits.
Factor Analysis Concepts:
Process: Collect data, determine relationships between variables.
Correlation Coefficient: Measures variable relationships (produces a matrix).
Factors: Clusters of related traits.
Factor Loadings: Shows contribution of a measure to a factor.
Traits: Unipolar (zero to high) or bipolar (positive to negative).
Rotation:
Orthogonal: Independent factors (Five Factor Model).
Oblique: Correlated factors (Cattell).
McCrae & Costa:
Early Work: Focused on aging adults and personality traits.
Initial Factors: Extraversion, neuroticism, and openness.
NEO-PI: Developed personality indicator.
Five-Factor Model (1985): Added agreeableness and conscientiousness.
NEO-PI Revision (1992): Fully developed agreeableness and conscientiousness scales.
Big-Five Personality Traits:
Openness: Open to new ideas vs. conventional.
Conscientiousness: Responsible and organized vs. careless.
Extraversion: Sociable vs. withdrawn.
Agreeableness: Trusting vs. suspicious.
Neuroticism: Emotionally unstable vs. stable.
Most promising modern trait theory developed through factor analysis
Regional Personality Differences:
North Dakotans: Sociable, friendly, less anxious.
New Yorkers: Less agreeable, more neurotic, creative.
Openness: High in Northeast & West Coast, low in Midwest.
Neuroticism: Higher in Eastern US.
Success of the Five Factor Model:
Origins: Compared NEO-PI with other inventories.
Key Questions:
Structure of personality?
Common language for traits?
Why Five Factors?
Found across cultures (McCrae & Allik, 2002).
Stable with age (McCrae & Costa, 2003).
Five Factor Theory:
Core Components:
Basic Tendencies (Big Five Traits): Inherited/learned traits.
Characteristic Adaptations: Learned, flexible behaviors.
Peripheral Components:
Biological Bases: Genes, hormones, brain.
Objective Biography: Life experiences.
External Influences: Environment.
Related Research:
Links to Traits:
Health, well-being (Marting et al., 2007; Costa & McCrae, 1980)
Academic success (Noftle & Robins, 2007)
Mood, career, divorce, mortality (McNiel & Fleeson, 2006; Roberts et al., 2007)
Consistency & Change:
Stability (McCrae & Costa, 2003; Krueger & Johnson, 2008)
Change (Zimmermann & Nayer, 2013)
Temperament: Early impulsiveness predicts adult issues.
Big Five Controversies:
Biological Basis: No clear evidence linking traits to biological structures.
Bias: We may be biased to view others in five dimensions.
Cultural Differences:
Big Five doesn’t emerge universally (e.g., Tsimane, Gurven et al., 2013).
Cultures value traits differently (e.g., competition vs. cooperation).
