Trait Theories
Basic Assumptions and Central Points
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behavior determined by stable generalized
traits
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basic qualities that exist within a person and
express themselves across situations
goal of trait psychology:
determine those trait dimensions
determine where people stand relative to others (indiv. diff.s)
Types Vs. Traits
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types: discrete categories
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traits: dimensions
Allport
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uniqueness of the individual
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Cardinal Traits
Central Traits
Secondary Dispositions
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Idiographic Vs. Nomothetic
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Cattell
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Surface Traits
Source Traits
Factor Analysis
16 PF
Eysenck
3 main factors (really 2)
Introversion-Extroversion
Neuroticism
Psychoticism (antisocial)
The Big 5
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Psycholexical approach
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Costa & McCrae
Big 5
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Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion-(Introversion)
Ageeableness
Neuroticism
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OCEAN
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Common Features
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traits account for consistency
most differentiate between superficial and
underlying
traits are stable over time and situation
focus of research is to find basic dimensions and
develop good measures of them
Problems/Criticisms of Trait approach
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Atheoretical ( underlying traits arrived at
empirically not theoretically)
Tautology (circular reasoning) can describe
not explain
Is that all there is???
Exaggerate consistency and ignore
situation
Revision of Trait Theory
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Types of Consistency (aggregated, if-then)
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Person X Situation Interaction
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Signatures (Mischel) “if-then”
Assessment
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Basic assumptions
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can assess personality by asking
traits are quantifiable and scalable
behaviors are “signs”, but of underlying traits
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Common Measures
MMPI
clinical profiles, objective standardized scoring
10 subcales
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NEO-PI
based on Big 5
global measure of normal personality
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Reliability
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Validity
Testing
problems/criticism re: use of personality testing
 bias in testing
(self-report bias, statistical bias, cultural bias)
 ethics of testing
(privacy, use of test results, etc.)
 labeling
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Social policy and decision making