week 4 Flashcards
what did trait believe
- does not try to explain behaviour
- categorizes people according to degree to which they display a particular characteristic
- assumptions, personality characteristics are stable over time
what is a surface trait
characteristics or attributes that can be inferred from observed behaviour
what is a source trait
most fundamental aspect of personality; broad, basic traits that are through to be universal and few in number (reasoning for the surface trait)
what is the nomothetic approach
describing personality along a finite number of traits;
- extraversion
- neuroticism
what is the idiographic approach
- identifies any combination of traits to describe individual
- infinite possibilities
- Idiographic traits may not apply to everyone
what are central traits
can easily describe an individuals personality
what are secondary traits
preferences, not main predictor of behaviour
what is a cardinal trait
single dominating trait in personality;
- extraversion
- neuroticism
what’s Hans Eysneck theory
suggested 2 primary personality traits;
- extraversion-introversion
- neuroticism (emotional instability)
(too little!)
whats Carl Jung’s theory
Jungians personality theory
- personality traits for perceiving the environment and obtaining/processing information
In Jungians personality theory, how to the traits link together
- Extraversion and Introversion linked together through getting energy
- Sensing and intuitive linked together through perceiving information
- Thinking and feeling linked together through making decisions
- judging and perceiving linked together through orienting to the external world
what is factor analysis
shrinking down mass data to a more manageable and understandable size
ways to perform factor analysis
- data reduction techniques
- simplify relations among variables
- identify common patterns in data
why is factor analysis important
simplifies assessment;
- shorter surveys & easier analysis
Finds naturally occurring and covarying traits;
- no more assumptions
- “boils down” personality to basic components
what’s Raymond Cattell’s theory
- Used factor analysis to identify personality traits
- proposed 16 personality traits
(too many!)
what is costa and mccrae’s theory
- The big five!
- established via factor analysis
- tested in more than 50 countries, biologically influenced
- traits seem stable over lifespan
what is the big five (OCEAN)
- Openness
- conscientiousness
- extraversion
- neuroticism
- agreeableness
characteristics of openness
- imaginative versus down to earth
- preference for variety versus preference for routine
- independent versus conforming
- individuals on the high end unconventional and independent thinkers
- people on the low end prefer familiar rather than imaginative
characteristics of consciensiousness
- well organized versus disorganized
- careful versus careless
- self-disciplined versus weak willed
- people on the high end are organized, plan orientated and determined
- individuals on the low end are careless, easily distracted from tasks and undependable
characteristics of agreeableness
- softhearted versus ruthless
- trusting versus suspicious
- helpful versus uncooperative
- people on high end are helpful, trusting and sympathetic
- people on low end tend to be antagonistic and skeptical
characteristics of neuroticism
- worried versus calm
- insecure versus secure
- self pitying versus self satisfied
- people on high end are more vulnerable to anxiety and depression
- people on low end tend to be calm and well adjusted
characteristics of extraversion
- sociable versus retiring
- fun-loving versus sober
- affectionate versus reserved
- extraverts at one end and introverts at other end
issues with the big five
- subjective interpretation of results
- too broad?
- Are there missing or more important factors?
- derived from the lexical approach but what if that approach is flawed?
- assumes personality is captured by everyday language
- uses personality surveys to derive basic factors
how do psychologists start identifying traits
- lexical approach
- examine traits used within language
- traits already embedded in everyday speech
what did eysenck propose instead of the big five
the 3-factor model
- extraversion
- neuroticism
- psychoticism
