Week 4 (Trait theories of Personality and Biological Influences) Flashcards
Definition of traits
Higher levels description of people’s thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours, that remain relatively stable across the lifespan.
Definition of facets
Components of traits that tend to be more specific than traits that tend to become more of less relevant depending on the situation.
Definition of characteristics
Temporal moments of facets that tend to be associated with the physical acts of facets.
Idiographic Vs Nomothetic
Idiographic
-Focuses on recognition of uniqueness
-Uses subjective experiences
-Based on the study of uniqueness of the individual
Nomothetic
-Attempts to generalise people
-Uses objective knowledge
-Based on numerical data or data that can be categorised
Definition of Idiographic approach
The study of one individual without comparing them with any other
Definition of Nomothetic approach
Describes personality in terms of sets of dimensions (traits) that can be applied to other people (via quantitative methods)
What did Hippocrates and Galen theorise about personality?
That there are different classifications of human “temperaments”, or personality, linked to the elements (and bodily fluids)
What does the Choleric classification of personality mean (Hippocrates and Galen)
Yellow bile
-Determined, quick to act, fiery, energetic, passionate
What does the Sanguine classification of personality mean (Hippocrates and Galen)
Blood
-Warm hearted, outgoing, volatile, optimistic, cheerful
What does the Phlegmatic classification of personality mean (Hippocrates and Galen)
Phlegm
-Slow, patient, calm, quiet, shy, rational, consistent
What does the Melancholic classification of personality mean (Hippocrates and Galen)
Black Bile
-Serious, anxious, quiet, fearful, depressed, poetic, artistic, sad.
What did Persian polymath Avicenna add to Hippocrates and Galen’s classification of personality.
-emotional aspects
-mental capacity
-moral attitudes
-self-awareness, movements and dreams
What did William Sheldon theorise about personality
Somatotypes (types of physique)
What are the traits of the endomorph somatotype
-Sociable
-Peaceful
-Tolerant
-Large body
What are the traits of the mesomorph somatotype
-Assertive
-Proactive
-Vigorous
-Muscular
What are the traits of the ectomorph somatotype
-Insecure
-Sensitive
-Delicate
-Weak muscles