The Essential Trait Approach

Question 1

16PF

Answer 1

• variant of 5-Factor models
• Cattell proposed multi-level hierarchical structure of personality:
  1. primary factors provide fine details/nuances that make each person unique; ^ powerful in predicting actual beh (1st order factors/surface traits)
  2. 16 2nd order global factors describe personality at broader/conceptual level (source traits)
  3. factor-analytic structure includes set of 3rd order/global factors; markedly similar to 5 Factor personality models
• derived via factor analysis of 2nd order factors

Question 2

RAYMOND CATTELL (1905-1998)

Answer 2

• empirical approach to trait theory
• used data from dif sources:
  1. L-DATA (life data)
  2. T-DATA (test data)
  3. Q-DATA (questionnaire data)
• adopted inductive approach; no specific guiding hypothesis BUT factor analysis of large data set used to generate hypotheses from emerging patterns

Question 3

SOURCE TRAITS

Answer 3

• underlying overt beh cause
• basic personality elements
• cause surface traits

Question 4

SURFACE TRAITS

Answer 4

• overt beh
• surface traits group together under larger source traits
• always manifestations of source traits
• groups of observations correlated/encompassed/explained by source traits

Question 5

ENVIRONMENTAL-MOLD TRAITS

Answer 5

• determined by experience/culturally ie. religious/political orientation

Question 6

CONSTITUTIONAL TRAITS

Answer 6

• determined by biology (beh genetics) ie. neuroticism

Question 7

ABILITY TRAITS

Answer 7

• ability to deal w/complex situations aka. IQ

Question 8

TEMPERAMENT TRAITS

Answer 8

• emotional tendencies
• inherited source traits
• determine general interaction style (ie. excitable/irritable)

Question 9

16 SOURCE TRAITS (1-8)

Answer 9

WARMTH
- warm-hearted VS aloof/critical
IQ/REASONING
- abstract VS concrete
EMOTIONAL STABILITY
- stable VS reactive
DOMINANCE
- dominant VS docile
LIVELINESS
- serious VS lively
RULE-CONSCIOUSNESS
- conscientious VS expedient
SOCIAL BOLDNESS
- shy VS uninhibited
SENSITIVITY
- sensitive VS tough minded

Question 10

16 SOURCE TRAITS (8-16)

Answer 10

VIGILANCE
- trust VS vigilant
ABSTRACTEDNESS
- imaginative VS practical
PRIVATENESS
- forthright VS private
APPREHENSION
- self-assured VS apprehensive
OPENESS TO CHANGE
- free thinking VS traditional
SELF RELIANCE
- self-reliant VS group-orientated
PERFECTIONISM
- tolerates disorder VS controlled perfectionist
TENSION
- relaxed VS tense

Question 11

THE SIXTEEN PERSONALITY FACTOR QUESTIONNAIRE (16PF)

Answer 11

• constructed around Cattell’s 16 factors/source traits
• one of most widely used personality measures
• contains 185 multiple-choice items
• items ask simple qs about daily beh/interests/opinions > asking for personality trait self-assessment
• ie. in a boring situation I usually tune out/daydream about other things (true/false)

Question 12

INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITY ITEM POOL (IPIP)

Answer 12

WARMTH
- I take an interest in others’ lives
- I cheer people up
INTELLECT
- I make insightful remarks
- I know the answers to many questions
EMOTIONAL STABILITY
- I seldom feel blue
- I am relaxed most of the time

Question 13

16PF APPLICATIONS

Answer 13

• research/clinical settings
• vocational psychology
• personnel selection/placement
• w/adults/adolescents (16y)/5th grade reading LVL

Question 14

16PF & BIG FIVE

Answer 14

• Cattell contributed to development of Big Five personality theory
• Big Five proposes all traits fall under 5 broad groupings
• 16 traits measured by 16PF questionnaire can be grouped into 5 2nd order global factors which correlate w/Big Five:
  EXTRAVERSION
  ANXIETY
  TOUGH-MINDEDNESS
  INDEPENDENCE
  SELF-CONTROL

Question 15

CATTELL: 16PF

Answer 15

EXTRAVERSION/INTROVERSION
LOW/HIGH ANXIETY
TOUGH-MINDEDNESS/RECEPIVITY
INDEPEDENCE/ACCOMMODATION
SELF-CONTROL/LACK OF RESTRAINT

Question 16

COSTA & MCCRAE: NEO-PI-R

Answer 16

OPENNESS
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
EXTRAVERSION
AGREEABLENESS
NEUROTICISM

Question 17

GOLDBERG: BIG 5

Answer 17

SURGENCY
EMOTIONAL STABILTIY
INTELLECT/CULTURE
AGREEABLENESS
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS/DEPENDABILITY

Question 18

CATTELL: STRENGTHS

Answer 18

• revolutionary psych contribution in using factor analysis/computer tech = widely appreciated
• lots of research lending support to 16PF BUT problems remain

Question 19

CATTELL: CRITICISMS

Answer 19

• findings difficult to replicate
• 16PFT = actually Big Five
• factor analysis used to end up w/factors that were to some extend correlated w/each other not independent
• crux of dif between Eysenck/Cattell; Eysenck used method ensuring factors = independent from each other NOT correlated

Question 20

CATTELL & EYSENCK: SIMILARITIES

Answer 20

• placing great importance on bio/genetic factors
• both adopted nomothetic approach; emphasised scientific discovery/measurement of psychological traits > using clinical methodology
• both used factor analysis to arrive at their theories BUT in dif ways (Cattell - oblique rotation; Eysenck = orthogonal rotation)
• both primarily concerned w/explaining “normal” adult personality

Question 21

CATTELL & EYSENCK: DIFFERENCES

Answer 21

CATTELL
- primary factors (source traits)
- data driven (indictive)
- oblique rotation; factors correlated w/each other
EYSENCK
- 2nd order factors (supertraits)
- theory driven (deductive)
- orthogonal rotation; factors not correlated (independent of each other)