Personality traits

Question 1

what type of thinking does personality traits encourgage

Answer 1

encourages dichotomous and polarised thinking; you either ‘are’ [ perhaps always and in every way] or you ‘are not’

Question 2

Jung’s “types”

Answer 2

• more introverted than extraverted
  
  • dominant concern with internal objects of knowledge, i.e. the self
• more extraverted than introverted
  
  • dominant concern with external objects of knowledge, ie the world
• both ‘types use [all] four functions

Question 3

Jung’s function

Answer 3

Sensing [≈ perception]

Thinking [≈ logic]

Intuiting [≈ via UCs]

Feeling [≈ evaluation/judgement]

four dynamics by which all ppl know themselves and the world [with more or less ease and comfort]

Question 4

myers & Briggs

Answer 4

• modified and extended ‘Jung’s’ ideas
• paired and contrasted SENSATION vs INTUITION, and THINKING vs FEELING, and added JUDGING vs PERCEPTION
• mixed in INTROVERSION vs EXTRAVERSION
• categorised ppl according to ‘which side’ dominated for each of these ‘alternatives’

Question 5

contrpversy of MBIT test

Answer 5

• NOT RELIABLE
  
  • test-retest reliability shocking
• NOT VALID
  
  • no evidence of 16 types
  • the types predict little
• NOT COMPREHENSIVE
  
  • missing, eg emotional stability, conscientiousness
• NOT INDEPENDENT
  
  • easy to be high in ‘opposite’ functions, eg, thinking and feeling

Question 6

definition of traits

Answer 6

dimensions of personality on which individuals vary

eg everyone is introvert and extrovert to some extent, likely to differ across situations, but nevertheless differ on balance [ie averaging across time and situations] relative to other individuals

Question 7

the gist of traits

Answer 7

• Personal (‘internal’) rather than situational (‘external’)
• Stable rather than transitory (across time)
• Consistent rather than inconsistent (across ‘similar’ situations)
• Can be relatively broad or narrow (across ‘different’ situations)
• Potentially universal dimensions: Individual differences (across people)

Question 8

what are allports non-common traits

3 listed

Answer 8

1. cardinal traits
2. central traits
3. secondary traits

Question 9

cardinal traits

allports non-common traits

Answer 9

Single defining traits that (rarely) characterise some individuals, e.g., Machiavellian. A bit like types!

Question 10

central traits

allports non-common traits

Answer 10

Typically, 5-10 traits: “those usually mentioned in careful letters of recommendation … or in brief verbal descriptions of a person”, e.g., “helpful”

Question 11

secondary traits

allports non-common traits

Answer 11

like central traits but more specific to particular stimuli, responses, or situations, eg ‘works well in a team’

Question 12

factor analysis [FA]

Answer 12

• The principal statistical method of most trait theorists
• Data-reduction of literally thousands of possible individual difference/personality descriptors
• Possible identification of key indicators of ‘human nature’

Question 13

correlation

as a method

Answer 13

If two measures “correlate”, they have a ‘linear’relationship with each other, such that if scores on one measure go up, scores on the other measure also tend to go up (“positive correlation”) or go down (“negative correlation”)

Question 14

factor analysis

as a method

Answer 14

One method of finding patterns among lots of variables

• Looks for clusters of measures that correlate strongly with each other but less so with other measures
• Imagine scoring me out of 10 on each of the following:humour, fun, giggles, tidiness, order, and presentation
• Scores for the first 3 would probably correlate with eachother, and so would scores for the latter 3, but scores on the first 3 would probably correlate less with scores on the latter 3 (especially if you asked lots of people for scores)

Question 15

methods; measures [not] included in FA

Answer 15

• clusters of measures are nearly inevitable if those measures are almost identical
• clusters of measures can only be found for measures that have been included

Question 16

method: findings unsurprising if ‘rigged’

Answer 16

Replication’ of factors is weak support for the existence of ‘real’ entities if the ‘input’ data is specifically constrained in ways that increase the likelihood of those factors being ‘found’

Question 17

Raymond Cattell’s 16PF

Answer 17

In various analyses, Cattell factor analysed “representative” items from Allport & Odbert’s list, supplemented by specialist jargon he felt was important and missing

• From among various solutions, he created the 16PF (among other measures)

Question 18

Hans Eysenck’s ‘Big Two’

Answer 18

Hans Eysenck’s “Big Two” model of personality includes:

1. Extraversion-Introversion: Measures sociability; extraverts are outgoing, while introverts are reserved.
2. Neuroticism-Stability: Assesses emotional stability; high neuroticism indicates anxiety and moodiness, while low neuroticism reflects calmness.

Eysenck’s model highlights the biological basis of these traits.

Question 19

Eysenck’s big 3 [PEN] model

Answer 19

Eysenck’s “Big Three” model, also known as the PEN model, includes:

1. Psychoticism: Reflects traits such as aggressiveness, creativity, and a lack of empathy. High psychoticism is associated with being tough-minded and antisocial.
2. Extraversion: Measures sociability and assertiveness. Extraverts are outgoing and energetic, while introverts are more reserved and introspective.
3. Neuroticism: Assesses emotional stability. High neuroticism indicates anxiety and emotional instability, while low neuroticism suggests resilience and calmness.

This model emphasizes the biological underpinnings of personality traits.

Question 20

Costa & McCrae’s Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality traits

Answer 20

Openness [seeking and tolerant]

Conscientiousness [Ordered and Persistent]

Extraversion [Exuberant and Sociable]

Agreeableness [caring and considerate]

Neuroticism [Neurotic]

Question 21

comprehensiveness

Answer 21

The claim that the FFM is comprehensive does not mean that it exhaustively measures individual differences in personality, any more than a comprehensive examination asks every single question a student should be able to answer on a topic. What the model hypothesizes is that almost every personality trait is substantially related to one or more of the five factors, and that any remaining traits…form a miscellaneous category rather than covarying to define a sixth or subsequent factor (p. 218, f. 1)

Question 22

validity

Answer 22

• multiply recovered
  
  • Schmitt et al [2007]… J cross-cultural Psychology, 38[2], 173-212
• neuroscience support
  
  • DeYoung et al. [2010]… psychological science, 21[6], 820-8]
• convergence

Question 23

conclusions

Answer 23

• a useful, global, broad- brush hierchial taxonomy
• largely descriptive of manifest characteristics
• explanation and prediction tricky unless in borders on the tautological/circular

Question 24

Facets of agreeableness

Answer 24

Agreeableness is a personality trait characterized by several facets:

1. Trust: Believing in the honesty and good intentions of others.
2. Morality: Valuing fairness and ethical behavior, avoiding manipulation.
3. Altruism: Showing concern for others and a willingness to help.
4. Cooperation: Preferring collaboration over competition in social situations.
5. Modesty: Being humble and unpretentious, not seeking to elevate oneself.
6. Sympathy: Feeling compassion and empathy towards others’ feelings.

Overall, agreeableness reflects a person’s tendency to be kind, cooperative, and compassionate.

Question 25

HEXACO personality traits and facets

Answer 25

The HEXACO model includes six traits, each with facets:

1. Honesty-Humility: Sincerity, fairness, greed avoidance, modesty.
2. Emotionality: Emotional sensitivity, fearfulness, dependence, sentimentality.
3. eXtraversion: Social self-esteem, sociability, assertiveness, activity level.
4. Agreeableness: Forgivingness, gentleness, flexibility, patience.
5. Conscientiousness: Organization, diligence, perfectionism, prudence.
6. Openness to Experience: Fantasy, aesthetics, feelings, actions, ideas, values.

The model highlights the importance of honesty and humility in personality.

Question 26

mean level stability/change

Answer 26

• The average of a cohort’s trait score(s) compared across time
• On average, people within a cohort will increase in ____ and decrease in ____
• A “variable centred” concept/measure

Question 27

rank order stability/change

Answer 27

• The average of people’s traits scores relative to other people’s trait scores across time.
  
  • On average, a person high in a trait relative to their peers at t1will be high in that trait relative to their peers at t2
  • A “variable centred” concept/measure

Question 28

McAdams [1993]

study

Answer 28

• level 1: dispositional traits
  
  • potentially unchanging biology [basic tendencies]
• level 2 : personal concerns
  
  • enduring but developing motivational and strategic individual concerns [characteristric adaptions]
• level 3 : life narrative
  
  • actively choosing a meaningful life story

Question 29

individual personality change

Answer 29

• context effects
  
  • with friends or parents; awake or asleep
• life changing events
  
  • trauma, dementia etc
• dissociative identity disorder
  -

Question 30

DSM-V personality psychopathology

Answer 30

A hybrid dimensional-categorical model:

• Six - ten specific personality disorder types, including antisocial, diagnosed with…
  
  • Multiple traits, including negative affectivity, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition vs. compulsivity, and psychoticism

Question 31

a type of traits [antisocial personality type]

Answer 31

antisocial personality type split into 1. antagonism 2. disinhibition
Antagonsim:
* manipulativeness
* deceitfullness
* hositility
* callousness -> 1. agressiveness 2. sadism 3. low compassion 4, low remorse
Disinhibition
* irresponsibility
* imulsiveness
* risk-taking