week 4

Question 1

what did trait believe

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

what is a surface trait

Answer 2

characteristics or attributes that can be inferred from observed behaviour

Question 3

what is a source trait

Answer 3

most fundamental aspect of personality; broad, basic traits that are through to be universal and few in number (reasoning for the surface trait)

Question 4

what is the nomothetic approach

Answer 4

describing personality along a finite number of traits;

• extraversion
• neuroticism

Question 5

what is the idiographic approach

Answer 5

• identifies any combination of traits to describe individual
• infinite possibilities
• Idiographic traits may not apply to everyone

Question 6

what are central traits

Answer 6

can easily describe an individuals personality

Question 7

what are secondary traits

Answer 7

preferences, not main predictor of behaviour

Question 8

what is a cardinal trait

Answer 8

single dominating trait in personality;

• extraversion
• neuroticism

Question 9

what’s Hans Eysneck theory

Answer 9

suggested 2 primary personality traits;
- extraversion-introversion
- neuroticism (emotional instability)
(too little!)

Question 10

whats Carl Jung’s theory

Answer 10

Jungians personality theory

- personality traits for perceiving the environment and obtaining/processing information

Question 11

In Jungians personality theory, how to the traits link together

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

what is factor analysis

Answer 12

shrinking down mass data to a more manageable and understandable size

Question 13

ways to perform factor analysis

Answer 13

• data reduction techniques
• simplify relations among variables
• identify common patterns in data

Question 14

why is factor analysis important

Answer 14

simplifies assessment;
- shorter surveys & easier analysis
Finds naturally occurring and covarying traits;
- no more assumptions
- “boils down” personality to basic components

Question 15

what’s Raymond Cattell’s theory

Answer 15

• Used factor analysis to identify personality traits
• proposed 16 personality traits
  (too many!)

Question 16

what is costa and mccrae’s theory

Answer 16

• The big five!
• established via factor analysis
• tested in more than 50 countries, biologically influenced
• traits seem stable over lifespan

Question 17

what is the big five (OCEAN)

Answer 17

• Openness
• conscientiousness
• extraversion
• neuroticism
• agreeableness

Question 18

characteristics of openness

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

characteristics of consciensiousness

Answer 19

• 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

Question 20

characteristics of agreeableness

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

characteristics of neuroticism

Answer 21

• 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

Question 22

characteristics of extraversion

Answer 22

• sociable versus retiring
• fun-loving versus sober
• affectionate versus reserved
• extraverts at one end and introverts at other end

Question 23

issues with the big five

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

how do psychologists start identifying traits

Answer 24

• lexical approach
• examine traits used within language
• traits already embedded in everyday speech

Question 25

what did eysenck propose instead of the big five

Answer 25

the 3-factor model

• extraversion
• neuroticism
• psychoticism