Role of Herdity and Environment Flashcards
MAVA technique
Cattell has tried to determine the relative contributions of heredity and environment to the development of traits.
He devised a statistical technique for this purpose and called it multiple abstract variance analysis(MAVA).
This test estimates not only the presence or absence of genetic influence but also the degree to which traits are due to genetic or to environmental influences[Cattell,1960].
MAVA involves gathering data on the resemblances between identical twins raised in the same family, non-twin siblings raised in the same family, identical twins raised apart, and non-twins siblings raised apart.
Results from MAVA technique (based on personality tests administered to assess a particular trait) suggest that the importance of genetic and environmental influences varies widely from trait to trait.
Examples of conclusions of MAVA
For example, Cattell’s data indicate that about 65 to 70 percent of the variation in scores on measures of intelligence and assertiveness can be accounted for by genetic factors,
whereas the genetic influence on traits such as conscientiousness and neuroticism is half that.
Cattell estimates that about two-thirds of personality
is determined by environmental influences and one–third by heredity.
Syntality
Along with immediate situational factors, Cattell believes that much of people’s behaviour is determined by the groups to which they belong (such as families, peer groups, school, and the like).
Just as people can be described in terms of their traits, so can traits be used to describe social groups with which people are associated.
The trait dimensions along which groups can be objectively described are called their syntality.
Using factor analysis Cattell[1949]studied the syntality of various religious, school, and peer groups. He also studied several traits that compose the syntality of entire nations (Cattell et al., 1952).
The major traits found to identify the syntality of countries included size, morale, affluence, and industriousness.
Constitutional vs Environmental Mold Traits
Constitutional
Source traits can be divided into two subtypes-depending on their origin.
Constitutional traits derive from the biological and physiological conditions of the person.
For instance, recovery from cocaine addiction may cause a person to be momentarily irritable, depressed, and anxious.
Cattell would suggest that these behaviours result from changes in the person’s physiology and thus reflect constitutional source traits.
Environmental-mold traits
Environmental-mold traits are determined by influences in the social and physical environment.
These traits reflect learned characteristics and styles of behaving and form a pattern that is imprinted on the personality by the individual’s environment.
Thus, a person who is raised in a rural setting behaves differently from a person, who grows up in an urban area.
Ability
ABILITY, TEMPERAMENT AND DYNAMIC
TRAITS
Source traits can further be classified in terms of the modality through which they are expressed.
Ability traits determine the person’s skill and effectiveness in pursuing a desired goal. For example, intelligence, musical aptitude.
Temperament traits
ABILITY, TEMPERAMENT AND DYNAMIC
TRAITS
Temperament traits relate to other emotional and stylistic qualities of behaviour.
For example, people may either work quickly or slowly on a task.
Cattell considers temperament traits to constitutional source traits that determine a person’s
emotionality
Dynamic traits
ABILITY, TEMPERAMENT AND DYNAMIC
TRAITS
Dynamic traits reflect the motivational elements of human behaviour.
These are traits that activate and direct the person toward particular goals.
Thus, a person may be characterised as ambitious, power-oriented, or interested in acquiring
material possessions.
COMMON VERSUS UNIQUE TRAITS
A common trait is one that is shared in varying degrees by all members of the same culture.
For example, self-esteem, intelligence, and introversion.
Unique traits are those that are shared by few or no other people.
Unique traits are especially observed in the areas of interests and attitudes.
Measurements
Cattell gives much significance on the use of factor analysis to identify the major traits of personality. Cattell draws his data from three basic sources:
life record data(L-data),
self-rating questionnaire data(Q-data),
and objective test data(OTdata).
L-data:
Measurements
L-data, involves the measurement of behaviour in actual, everyday situations such as school performance or interactions with peers.
Q-data:
Measurements
Q-data, refers to the person’s self-ratings about his/her behaviour, feelings or thoughts.
Such information reflects the person’s introspections and self-observations (For example, Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire). Such data is prone to faking.
OT-data
Measurements
Finally, OT-data are derived from the creation of special situations in which the person’s performance on certain tasks may be objectively scored.
For example, responding to a Rorschach test. Such data is resistant to faking.
Self_assessment questions:
1) Define Ability traits, temperament and dynamic traits
2) What do you understand by the terms common and unique traits? Theory of Personality
3) Define and describe L data, Q data and OT data. How are these contributing to personality?
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