The Trait Perspective

Question 1

2 Points that the Trait Perspective emphasizes

Answer 1

1. People are consistent in their actions, thoughts and feelings over time and situations
2. Each individual displays different trait qualities that vary from person to person

Question 2

What are Galen’s types?

Answer 2

1. Choleric (irritable)
2. Melancholic (depressed)
3. Sanguine (optimistic)
4. Phlegmatic (calm) difficult to arouse

Question 3

What kind of variable are types?

Answer 3

Nominal/ categorical because you have to be one type or another. (introvert or extravert)

Question 4

What is the Nomothetic view of traits?

Answer 4

View that traits are universal among people, but are manifested differently. focuses on norms and variations among persons. Trait theorists endorse this perspective

Question 5

What is the Idiographic view?

Answer 5

A view that focuses on individual uniqueness. Believes traits are idiosyncratic, not universal.

Question 6

What is factor analysis?

Answer 6

a statistical procedure used to find basic relationships and commonalities underlying a set of measures or variables.

Question 7

What are the steps in factor analysis?

Answer 7

1. Collect responses on many items, such as through self-report, which leads to data from many people.
2. Compute correlations between all pairs of items.
3. Extract factors
4. Label factors based on factor loadings
   Factor analysis helps to establish dimensions whereas Cronbach’s alpha only tells us whether items are consistent. (factor analysis takes it a step further)

Question 8

What are the big 5 personality traits?

Answer 8

Extraversion, Agreeableness, Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism

Question 9

What is interactionism?

Answer 9

the idea that situations and personality (traits) interact to determine behaviour.
Need to know levels of both variables to predict behaviour.

Question 10

Diathesis-Stress Model

Answer 10

A theory holding that vulnerability (how much of a trait an individual possesses) plus stress creates problems in behaviour
(Ex. ppl high in neuroticism can be more vulnerable to addiction when facing adversity)

Question 11

What’s an example of a context-dependant expression of personality?

Answer 11

“shy (trait) with strangers (situation)” “Hostile (trait) when teased (situation)”

Question 12

What is a behavioural signature?

Answer 12

The pattern of situation-behaviour links the person has established over experiences in some specific domain.