The Trait Perspective

Question 1

Nature

Answer 1

Biology

Question 2

Nurture

Answer 2

Establishment of behavioral patterns through experience

Question 3

Situations influence

Answer 3

People but they do not influence everyone the same.

Question 4

The same heat that melts the butter hardens the egg.

Answer 4

Allport, 1937

Question 5

Personality

Answer 5

The dynamic organization within the individual of those psychological systems that determine his unique adjustments to the environment.

Personality = f(heredity)*e(environment)

Question 6

Temperament

Answer 6

Biologically based differences in personality and emotional reactivity.

Question 7

Deterministic view

Answer 7

1. Personality is a cause of behavior.
2. CNS seeks safety in a harsh environment.
3. Individual personality is a unique pattern of adaptive behaviors.

Question 8

Freud, Jung, Alder, and Horney believed

Answer 8

1 motive underlines all humans’ behavior.

Question 9

Allport believed

Answer 9

People are unique and are motivated by different things depending on genetics and upbringing

Question 10

Personality traits

Answer 10

Characteristics of a person that makes that person unique, with a unique style of adapting to stimuli in the world.

Question 11

Individual/unique traits

Answer 11

Idiographic approach

Question 12

Common traits

Answer 12

Nomothetic approach

Same traits, different amounts.

Question 13

Central traits

Answer 13

Small number of traits that influence behavior in most settings

Question 14

Secondary traits

Answer 14

Consistent personal preferences

Question 15

Cardinal traits

Answer 15

The eminent trait, the ruling passion.

Question 16

Machiavelli

Answer 16

Italian statesman who urged new rulers to use cunning and manipulation to increase power.

Question 17

Machiavellianism core beliefs

Answer 17

1. People are weak, gullible, and untrustworthy.
2. Others are impersonal objects.
3. One should manipulate others whenever necessary to achieve ones own ends.

Question 18

Cattle’s trait theory

Answer 18

A trait is that which defines what a person will do when faced with a defined situation.

Question 19

Q-data

Answer 19

Questionnaire data

Self report measures

Question 20

T-data

Answer 20

Objective test data

Indirect measures: projective tests, observation of nonverbal behaviors.

Question 21

L-data

Answer 21

Life record data

School performance, job supervisor ratings, driving record, etc.

Question 22

Surface traits

Answer 22

Backed on observable behaviors.

May change based on situation.

Question 23

Source traits

Answer 23

Robust, underlying personality traits.

Stable across situations

Question 24

Second order factor.

Answer 24

Factor analysis of source traits, five second order factors

Question 25

IQ test problem

Answer 25

Biased against those without formal education

Question 26

Fluid intelligence

Answer 26

Innate ability to learn

Working memory and brain size

Question 27

Crystallized intelligence

Answer 27

1. Based on what has been learned.

2. Predict scores on AP tests

Question 28

Cattle’s heredity research

Answer 28

IQ is 80% heritable/fluid, 20% environmental/crystallized