Trait perspective Flashcards
What is a trait perspective on personality?
The trait perspective is a perspective that measures personality through dimensions of traits. These traits are scaled and their degree is what differentiates individuals’ personalities from one another.
The trait perspective uses limited sets of adjectives or adjective dimensions to describe and scale individuals.
Statistical analyses are important in trait theory. Explain the use of factor analysis in the development of the theory.
Factor analysis is a statistical technique to reduce information and to cluster data into overarching factors. Factor analysis is used to determine which items (factors) correlate with each other. These correlations are then used to group items together in order to measure personality traits.
AKA
we have a bunch of stuff that corelates with a bunch of other stuff. if we find the stuff binding it all together its a lot easier to know what’s going on. that is factor analysis.
Describe the development of the trait theory based on the contribution of Jung, Cattell, and Spearman!
Jung:
extroversion - orient towards things outside of themselves
introversion - orient towards thing inside of themselves
Cattell:
Factor analysis and found 16 base trait (16PF)
Spearman:
the OG as in that one dude that came up with (g) as a general factor for intelligence (also from factor analysis)
Allport is important for the development of trait psychology, explain his concepts: Common traits, the importance of culture, functional equivalence, personal dispositions.
Allport identified a bunch of words and divided personality up into three levels
Cardinal trait - core trait (dominates a persons life)
Central trait - general characteristic that this person falls under
Secondary - trait peculiar quirks to an individual
The Big Five (Costa and McCrae) is a contemporary trait approach. What are the five dimensions that the big five are based on?
Extraversion:
Measures sociability, optimism and proneness to positive emotions, seek stimulation in company of others, talkativeness, assertiveness.
Agreeableness:
Measures cooperativeness, friendliness, empathy towards others.
Conscientiousness:
Reflects a tendency to be self-disciplined, organized, goal-oriented, dependable, dutiful; aims for achievement
Neuroticism:
Measures emotional instability, proneness to unpleasant emotions such as anger, anxiety, depression etc.
Openness to experience:
Measures degree of intellectual curiosity. aesthetic appreciation, liberal values and emotional differentiation.
What does it mean the Big Five is research driven and not theory driven?
its a bottom up work, its derived from empirical data instead of any preexisting work.
