Trait Perspective Flashcards
Themes of dispositional approach - 1
❖Continuity in thoughts, feelings, behaviors
❖Focus on individual differences, rather than
intrapersonal processes
>. Differing approaches of theorists
>. Trait-and-type approach catalogue dimensions of difference:
• traits are assumed static
• trait approach assumes stable inner qualities reflected in behaviour. i.e., predispositions to behave in certain ways
• e.g. feeling anxious & worried before novel events
• types are assumed distinct and discontinuous (e.g. introverts vs. extroverts)
Themes of dispositional approach -2
The notion that people can be divided into different ‘types’ goes back to Hippocrates (400 BC) where
people were thought to form four groups :
1. choleric (irritable)
2. melancholic (depressed)
3. sanguine (optimistic)
4. phlegmatic (calm)
Types
- discontinuous categories (e.g., introverts vs. extraverts)
- represent qualitative differences in people
- labeling convenience
- often viewed as biologically or genetically based
Traits
- continuous dimensions (e.g., sociability, aggressiveness)
- represent quantitative differences in people
- individual differences reflect differences in amount of a trait
Views of Traits
❖Nomothetic
• from the Greek meaning ‘law’
• sees traits as universal
• comparison among individuals is possible
• individuality reflected in unique combinations of traits
❖Idiographic
• sees traits as idiosyncratic, not universal
• not all traits are shared
• traits may differ in connotation and importance
among people
• comparisons may be not be possible
Empirical approach
- demonstrated by Raymond Cattell
- language has evolved to describe the basic qualities of human nature
- factor analysed 171 trait names
- resulted in 16 primary factors of personality
Factor analysis
Statistical technique for decomposing large numbers of
intercorrelations into basic underlying dimensions
❖patterns of commonality (covariance) between
descriptors indicate underlying traits
❖results of factor analysis can shed light on the structure of personality
CAVEAT: What you get out of a factor analysis
depends on what you put into it
Steps in a factor analysis
❖collect measurements on many variables • self-reports • observations ❖collect data from many people ❖compute correlations between all pairs of variables ❖extract factors ❖label factors based on factor loadings
Theoretical approach 2
Hans Eysenck started with a theory about which qualities were useful to measure:
❖conceptually identified 3 ‘types’ or “supertraits”
• Introversion—Extraversion
• Emotionality—Stability
• Psychoticism (least studied)
❖many individual difference variables can be explained in the cross between extraversion and emotionality
❖Eysenck also used the statistical technique of factor
analysis to emphasise measurement & develop a
classification of traits
Theory Agreement
Trait theorists agree:
i. traits are the fundamental building blocks of human personality
ii. human behaviour & personality can be organised into a hierarchy
e.g., Hans Eysenck suggests behaviour at it’s simplest level consists of specific responses
which link together & form more general habits - grouped together under traits
>. At an even higher level, traits such as sociability, assertiveness & liveliness tend
to co-occur & link as superfactors/supertraits e.g., extraversion
Theoretical approach 3
Interpersonal Circle:
❖assumes that core traits derive from
those that concern interpersonal functioning
❖two core traits
• dominance (dominant - submissive)
• love (cold-hearted - warm-agreeable)
❖like Eysenck’s view, individual differences arise from combinations of the two dimensions
The big five
❖growing evolution of evidence suggests there are five basic superordinate traits
❖disagreement about the exact nature of the 5 traits
WHY?
• factor analysis is used to identify factors
• labeling of factors is subjective
• results depend heavily on the items you start with
EXTRAVERSION (sociability)
❖ other labels: social adaptability; assertiveness;
energy
❖ relevant life domain: power
❖ reflected through behavioral and affective channels
❖ common adjectives:
• gregarious • energetic • timid (-)
• outspoken • seclusive (-)
AGREEABLENESS
❖ other labels: conformity; friendly compliance;
likeability
❖ relevant life domain: love
❖ reflected through behavioural, affective, and cognitive channels
❖ common adjectives:
• friendly • considerate • spiteful (-)
• kind • cold (-) • good-natured
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
❖ other labels: responsibility; will to achieve
❖ relevant life domain: work
❖ reflected mostly through cognitive channels
❖ common adjectives:
• cautious • planful • frivolous (-)
• serious • careless (-) • hard-working
EMOTIONALITY (neuroticism)
❖other labels: emotional control; emotional lability ❖relevant life domain: affect ❖reflected through affective channels ❖common adjectives: • nervous • anxious • calm (-) • excitable • composed (-) • high-strung
INTELLECT
❖other labels: culture; inquiring intellect; openness to
experience
❖relevant life domain: intellect
❖reflected mostly through cognitive channels with
some affect and behavior input
❖common adjectives:
• imaginative • creative • unreflective (-)
• polished • simple (-) • knowledgeable
Is behaviour really trait like?
• behaviour across contexts tends to vary
• low association between trait self-reports and
behaviour
• Walter Mischel’s personality coefficient (r ≈ .30)
❖Why low correlations?
• faulty trait self-reports of personality
• faulty measurement of behaviour
❖ Aggregation of behavior as solution
Responses to low associations: Part 1
SITUATIONISM
❖assumption:
• situations really drive behaviour
• differences in personality are irrelevant
Responses to low associations: Part 2
INTERACTIONISM
❖assumption:
• differences in personality and situations interact to cause behaviour
❖suggests an “analysis of variance” view of
behavior e.g.,
• effect of personality on behaviour “depends
on” strong ‘v’ weak situations
Personality’s influence on situations
❖Personality influences the situations people choose to
enter (e.g., church, scuba diving, work, marriage partners)
❖People evoke different responses from others
Result: Personality can influence situations such that the situation is actually different
Personality coefficient revisited
❖when analysis is restricted to examination of carefully
conducted studies, coefficient is somewhat higher
❖size of correlation is limited by the fact that behaviour
is multiply-determined
New view of traits
❖Personality is linked to behaviour only when in a situation that brings it out
❖Patterns of linkages between situations and actions vary among people
• represent individuality, uniqueness
• differences represent idiographic differences in trait
expression
Assessment of personality
❖Represents an important focus of the trait
perspective.
❖Mostly self-report in nature
❖Frequently evaluate multiple indicators
❖Often used to create a personality “profile”
Disorders of personality
❖From the Big 5 perspective generally indicate patterns of behavior that:
• deviate from cultural norms or expectations
• interfere or disrupt person’s life
• interfere or disrupt the lives of others
• are thought of as extreme manifestations of Big 5
❖From the interactionism perspective:
• traits represent vulnerabilities
• disorder relies on a combination of vulnerability and a catalytic situation (diathesis-stress)
