Structure of personality Flashcards
Lexical hypothesis= (2)
1) personality characteristics most important to the person will become part of their language
2) most important personality characteristics described in a single word (e.g. neurotic)>
Lexical approach: “Measurement of character”- Galton 1884=
> included 1000 words that differ in meaning describing character
lexical approach> overall
> overall: look at idea language itself can be used to explore & understand individual difference between people
why did Galton’s 1984 ‘lexical hypothesis’ not take hold for several decades?>
Due to Galton’s advocation for ‘eugenics’; idea human race should engage in selective breeding to reach “full potential”
>thus people were skeptical about him & thus his other ideas
Lexcial approach: Allport & Odbert, 1936> main idea
idea “fundamental” descriptors should have many words
Lexcial approach: Allport & Odbert, 1936> Groups 1-4
- Group 1: Personality traits (4504): (e.g. ‘brave’, “ferocious”)
- Group 2: Temporary States (4541) (e.g.”impressed”, “mad”)
- Group 3: Social evaluations (5226) (e.g. “brainless” “admirable”)
- Group 4: misc (3862) (e.g. “incapacitated”, “afflicted”)
Lexcial approach: Problems with Allport & Odbert, 1936>
very broad scope of words; difficult to implement in real-world setting & used to study/predict behaviour
Lexcial approach: Raymond Cattel, 1947-1957> (1) Factor analysis
- built on allport & odbert initial list of P traits; cut down to ‘core essentials’
- early use of factor analysis
- focused on meaningful CLUSTERS of personality traits
Lexcial approach: Raymond Cattel, 1947-1957> (2) Post-factor analysis (4)
- Analysis found 16 factors known as PRIMARY traits
- idea score would emerge as personality description, which would act as insight into different personalities
- found his factors were hierarchical
- went on to develop global traits (5)
Lexcial approach: Raymond Cattel, 1947-1957> Primary traits> list> (16)
- warm
- lively
- bold
- private
- self-reliant
- emotionally stable
- vigilant
- apprehensive
- sensitive
- tension
- abstracted
- open to change
- dominant
- vigilant
- rule-conscious
- perfectionistic
Lexcial approach: Raymond Cattel, 1947-1957> Global traits> list> (5)
- Extraversion
- Anxiety/ neuroticism
- Tough mindedness
- Independence
- Self-control
Lexcial approach: Raymond Cattel, 1947-1957> (1) primary & global traits> Pros>
- Good, robust test
- Difficult for participants to ascertain what is & isnt desirable> thus stops them engaging in ‘social desirability biases’ behaviours
Lexcial approach: Raymond Cattel, 1947-1957> Primary & Global traits> Cons
- very difficult to replicate
Hans Eysenck & typological biological theory of personality> (3)
- looked at limbic system structure (inherited by parents) & how this affects personality manifestation
- proposed 2 factors, then 3 factors
- proposed the PEN model
Hans Eysenck & PEN model> (3)
- Extraversion vs Introversion
- Neuroticism vs emotional stability
- Psychoticism vs normality
>each related to a biological function
Hans Eysenck: TBTOP> Extraversion vs introversion (3)
- based on cortical arousal (cerebal cortex & firing of neurons in response to external stimuli> increases heart rate, sweating etc)
- related to social interest & positive effect
- or could be dopamine-responsivity based?
Hans Eysenck: TBTOP> Neuroticism vs emotional stability>
- based on activation thresholds (SNS- ‘fight’ or ‘flight’)
- activation threshold differences between neurotic & emotionally stable
Hans Eysenck: TBTOP> Psychoticism vs normality> (3)
- Based on increased testosterone levels
- Focused on likelihood of experiencing a psychotic breakdown (more testosterone= more likely)
- Also connected to likelihood of engaging in aggressive acts
The five factor model> (3)
- widespread attempt to unify everyone’s findings
- spanned BLIS typology: self/informant reports, educational, employment outcomes
- heavy use of psychometric testing of predictive validities, reliabilities etc
The five factor model> 5 primary factors (OCEAN) (goldberg, 1990)
- Openness
- Conscientiousness
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Neuroticism
5 factor model> Trait relationships> (2)+(1)
- 5 traits are ORTHOGONAL (statistically independent)
- Exception: saucier, 2002, argues there is crossover due to construction of questionnaire (scale construction process)
- specifically S argues: negative correlations often appear between neuroticism & extraversion
5 factor model> Openness> Description & outcomes>
Description=
- intelligent, witty
- creative, perceptive,
- “open”
Outcomes=
- more liberal, educated,
- more intellectually “gullible”
- substance abuse
Which is the most controversial & unreliable of the big 5>
Openness: as difficult to measure creativity
5 factor model> Openness> Supporting evidence> (3)
- pro-environmental attitudes:
-high openness > predictor of conservation attitudes - Approach to learning:
-structural & correlational modelling tests- O found to be linked to deep learning - cultural competence:
-openness main predictor of openness to universal-diverse orientation (appreciation of human diversity q
5 factor model> Conscientiousness> Description & outcomes>
Description:
- Responsible, trustworhty, reliable
- Detail-oriented, tidy
Outcomes:
- Academic success
- Lower absenteeism
- Greater longevity
- most commonly used in industrial-organisational settings
5 factor model> Conscientiousness> Supporting evidence> (3)
> covid-based risk perception:
-conscientious significantly predicted perceived travel risk during pandemic
Financial behaviour:
-conscientiousness predicts numerical literacy
Autonomic nervous system
-signals relationship between ANS & conscientiousness
5 factor model> Extraversion> Description & outcomes>
Description:
- likes being around others
- sociable, outgoing, energetic
- Reward sensitive, positive affect
Outcomes:
- popularity
- physically attractive
- substance abuse
- common across virtually all personality frameworks
5 factor model> Extraversion> supporting evidence>
> financial behaviour:
-extraversion predicted risk-taking behaviour with personal finances
COVID lockdown:
- high extraversion associated with increased perception of stressfulness
Military training
-High extraversion predicts excellence in simulation-based and communication-based performance
5 factor model> Agreeableness> Description & Outcomes>
Description:
- likeable, warm, cooperative
- conforming, friendly compliance
- gets along well with others
Outcomes:
- less likely to be victim of bullying
- good sense of humour
- faster recovery from injury/illness (stronger/larger support network)
- happier personal/romantic relationship
- high self-regulation? (better at supressing own sense of self/desires to please another person)
5 factor model> Agreeableness> supporting evidence>
> Interpersonal conflict:
-high openness is predictor of moderating behaviour for interpersonal conflicts
social-cultural sensitivity:
- agreeableness a predictor of religiosity in relgious-focused cultures
long-term relationships:
-agreeableness the stronger predictor of successful marital adjustment
5 factor model> Neuroticism> Description & outcomes>
Description:
- negative emotions
- stronger, more likely under ambiguity
- complaints
- threat sensitivity (real or perceived)
- correlates with everything “bad”
Outcomes:
- worse personal relationships
- lower job satisfaction
- higher rates of psychopathology
- common across virtually all personality frameworks
5 factor model> neuroticism> supporting evidence>
> cohort comparisons- undergrad
-arts/humanities & psych students scored highest on
neuroticism
predictor of social anxiety
-link between social phobia & high neuroticism personality trait
-high neuroticism, alongside perfectionist traits predicts social anxiety
Criticisms of big 5 model> (6)
- Lack a foundational theory= (big 5 was empirical finding)
- Cultural context= based on WEIRD cultural presumptions & lack reliability in other cultural contexts
- Orthogonal claims= lack of clarity as to the claim of entirely independent factors
- Traits potential for change= model doesnt offer idea traits can change/ develop over time
- Just five?- what about other personality traits (e.g. optimist)
- Process of development- factor analysis not well-supported as a rigorous means of selecting from a range of factors
HEXACO model>
based on 5 traits model
includes a 6th dimension: Honesty- Humility> with 4 facets
HEXACO model: honesty-humility dimension>
- sincerity
- Fairness
- Greed avoidance
- Modesty
Focus= the extent to which an individual promotes their own self-interest above others
HEXACO model: honesty-humility dimension> impact of High & low score>
High score= sincere, fair, honest
Low score= manipulative, narcissist, & self-focused
HEXACO model> changes to big 5>
> new trait “emotionality”:
-aligns with trait of neuroticism, but also includes “sentimentality” (less NEGATIVELY focused than 5 factor model)
How is HEXACO model measured?>
HEXACO Personality Inventory-revised (HEXACO-PI-R)
>self-report
>observer report
HEXACO model> supporting evidence>
- honesty-humility dimension is predictive of life aspirations
- model offered more insight into RELATIONSHIP between traits & phobic tendencies than 5FM
- model has adv over 5Fm in predicting psychological wellbeing
HEXACO model> criticisms
- Condon (2017) assessment of 700 statement-based personality tests= 5 broad traits not 6
- Meta-analysis: workplace deviancy (people who engage in destructive behaviour at work)
—>found “fairness” facet was as predictive as ALL OTHER dimensions combined, thus poor predictive value in context
-overly easy to develop complimentary trait to 5 factor (as 5F are so broad ranging)
