Trait Approach

Question 1

What is trait approach?

Answer 1

Theory that identifies characteristics that can be represented on a continuum and maintains that any person can be placed along that continuum

Question 2

What is a trait?

Answer 2

They categorize people according to the degree to which they manifest particular characertistics

Question 3

What assumptions are made within the trait approach?

Answer 3

It assumes that personality characteristics are stable over time and across situations

Question 4

What does Trait Approach predict?

Answer 4

It doesnt predict behaviors on specific events; rather, it predicts how people behave typically according to their placement on the continuum

Question 5

What did Allport and Freud disagree on?

Answer 5

Allport believed that some behaviors have obvious conscious motivations and that Freud overestimates the importance of childhood events on current behavior

Question 6

What limitation did Allport acknowledge?

Answer 6

That behaviors are also influenced by a variety of environmental factors

Question 7

What is the name of the two research strategies Allport developed?

Answer 7

1. Nomothetic approach: assumes all people can be described along a single dimension according to their levels of certain traits that everyone have (common traits)
2. Idiographic approach: identifies individual’s unique combination of trait that they determine for themselves.

Question 8

iWhat are the three types of traits identified in the idographic approach?

Answer 8

1. Cardinal trait: single trait that best defines a person, more dominant and representative trait (*not everyone has it)
2. Central traits: 4-5 centrals and core traits
3. secondary traits: traits not central to personality, more interests and hobbies

Question 9

How did Allport define personality?

Answer 9

Dynamic organization within individuals of psychosocial systems determining characteristics behaviors and thoughts

Question 10

Which two other approaches did Allport’s definition of personality oppose?

Answer 10

Behaviorism (personality = history of rewards) and psychoanalytics (personality = unconscious memories)

Question 11

What school of psychology did Allport also take inspiration from?

Answer 11

Gestalt psychology

Question 12

What is the first element that constitutes a good theory of personality, according to Allport?

Answer 12

1. Personality contained within the individual
   Theory that explains the internal mechanisms and not focused on external mechanisms (like behaviorism)

Question 13

What is the second element that constitutes a good theory of personality, according to Allport?

Answer 13

2. Views person as filled with variables that contribute to actions
   Reaction against behaviorism, who argues that the brain is an empty vessels

Question 14

What is the third element that constitutes a good theory of personality, according to Allport?

Answer 14

3. Seeks motives for behaviors in the present
   Reaction against psychoanalysis, rather adults are aware of their motives

Question 15

What is the fourth element that constitutes a good theory of personality, according to Allport?

Answer 15

4. Employs units of measure capable of living synthesis
   People are more than test scores; they need to measure whole and dynamic personality

Question 16

What is the fifth element that constitutes a good theory of personality, according to Allport?

Answer 16

5. Adequately account for self-awareness

Question 17

According to Allport, what shapes personality?

Answer 17

Genetic, which provides raw materials and environment

Question 18

What does Allport mean when he says personality is discontinious?

Answer 18

That there is no continuum between childhood and adulthood, rather many stages separate both, and that adult personality is not constrained by early experiences

Question 19

Why is personality predictable according to Allport?

Answer 19

Because traits organize experiences and confront events based on them, if you know someone’s trait, you can predict their general behaviors

Question 20

What influences schemas?

Answer 20

Traits are influenced by schemas and they become part of our self-schemas

Question 21

What is the interaction between trait and situation?

Answer 21

Traits are range of possible behaviors activated at varying points within a range according to demands of a situation

Question 22

What is the Proprium?

Answer 22

State when all of the aspects of personality are integrated by the organizing agent. For Allport, the organizing agent is the proprium

Question 23

What are the two types of conscience?

Answer 23

1. Must conscience: things we must do by fear of punishment
2. Ought conscience: goals we ought to achieve, closely tied to Proprium

Question 24

What are the first three stages of the development of the proprium that happen between 1-3 years old?

Answer 24

1. Bodily-self: aware of our existence
2. Self-identity: identity remains intact despite of change
3. Self-esteem: take pride in accomplishment

Question 25

What are the 2 stages of the development of the proprium that happen between 4-6 years old?

Answer 25

4. Extension of self: recognize objects and people of their world
5. Self-image: idealized version of self

Question 26

What is the stage of the development of the proprium that happens between 6-12 years old?

Answer 26

6. Self as rational: apply reason and logic

Question 27

What is the stage of the development of the proprium that happens between 12-18 years old?

Answer 27

7. Propriate striving: formulation of long-term goals

Question 28

What is the stage of the development of the proprium that happens between 18 years old?

Answer 28

8. Adulthood: autonomous of childhood motives

Question 29

What did Raymond Cattell do?

Answer 29

Factor analysis: technic used to determine structure of human personality, he identified 16 source traits = basis personality traits

Question 30

What approach did Cattell use?

Answer 30

Nomothetic approach

Question 31

What is Cattell’s definition of personality?

Answer 31

That which permits a prediction of how someone will behave

Question 32

What did Eysenck’s do?

Answer 32

Also using factor analysis, he identified 3 dimensions of personlity: extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism

Question 33

Eysenck’s theory was a mix of Trait approach and…?

Answer 33

Biological approach

Question 34

Why was Eysenck’s theory biological?

Answer 34

He firmly believed in the prevalence of genes. He looked at twins studies where even though they were raised apart, they still lived very similar lives

Question 35

What is the big 5?

Answer 35

Using modern factor analysis, researchers identified 5 factors that underlie personality: openness, consciousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism

Question 36

Who is Henry Murray?

Answer 36

He created personology, a blend of psychoanalysis and trait approach in which he identified needs as the basis for behaviors.

Question 37

What are the two types of needs, according to Murray?

Answer 37

1. Viscerogenic needs: basis survival needs
2. Psychogenic needs: response to conditions that are largely unconscious and can be activated by cues in the environment

Question 38

What are 4 principles of Murray’s personology?

Answer 38

1. Personality is rooted in the brain; evidence of this is that drugs that influence brain capacities also influence behavior (still true today)
2. Tension reduction: people act to have satisfaction by reducing tension, and lack of tension leads to distress
3. Personality develops over time; it is is constructed of all events and dynamic (like Erikson)
4. Everyone is unique, but also similar

Question 39

What was Murray’s biggest contribution?

Answer 39

TAT, where people can be described in terms of personal hierarchy of needs and a press situation has the ability to activate such needs