9. Personality traits

Question 1

What is the trait approach to personality?

Answer 1

A trait is a dimension of personality used to cateogorize people to the degree to which they manifest a particular characteristic

Question 2

What are the two assumptions of trait theory?

Answer 2

1. Traits are stable over time
2. Show stability across situations

Question 3

What did Wundt classify personality as? (two dimensions)

Answer 3

1. Mood stability
2. Strength of emotions

Question 4

What is Sheldon’s theory of somatotypes?

Answer 4

Describe personality according to somatotypes which were based on physique and temperament

Question 5

What are the three types of physique?

Answer 5

1. Endomorphy
2. Mesomorphy
3. Ectomorphy

Question 6

What type of personality is an ectomorph?

Answer 6

Cerebrotonia
- need to privacy
- restrained

Question 7

What type of personality is a mesomorph?

Answer 7

Somatotnia
-Physically assertive
-Competitive

Question 8

What type of personality is an endomorph?

Answer 8

Viscertatonia
- Love of relaxation and comfort

Question 9

What is the basis for Alloport’s lexical approach to personality?

Answer 9

Using words to describe personality

Question 10

What are cardinal traits in personality?

Answer 10

Single traits that dominate an individual’s personality

Question 11

What are central traits to personality?

Answer 11

5-10 trait that best describe an individual

Question 12

What are secondary traits?

Answer 12

Concerned with an individuals preference that become apparent in certain situations

Question 13

What are Catell’s three key personality traits?

Answer 13

Ability- how well you deal with a situation
Temperament- Individual styles people adopt when pursuing goals
Dynamic traits- motivate and energise behaviour
attitudes, sentiments and ergs

Question 14

What are surface and source traits?

Answer 14

Surface- collection of trait descriptors that cluster (overt behaviour)
Source- underlying traits

Question 15

What is factor analysis?

Answer 15

Sixteen major source factors that claim to represent the basic structure of personality

Question 16

What are Eyesneck’s supertraits?

Answer 16

Extraversion
Neuroticism
Psychotisism

Question 17

What did Eyseneck find in support of his theory?- extraversion

Answer 17

Extraverts are more likely to engage in risky behaviour
More job changes and change in partner

Question 17

What did He et al find in support of Eysenck?- neuroticism

Answer 17

Neuroticicm was significantly positvely related to night eating

Question 17

What are Costa and McCrae’s five big factors?

Answer 17

1. Openness
2. Conscientiousness
3. Extraversion
4. Agreeableness
5. Neuroticism

Question 18

How are there factors measured?

Answer 18

Using the NEO-Pi

Question 19

What is openness?

Answer 19

Open to new experiences
Active imagination
Independant thinkers

Question 20

What is conscientiousness?

Answer 20

Self-discipline and control

Question 21

What is Extraversion?

Answer 21

Sociability

Question 22

What is aggreableness?

Answer 22

How they perform in social interaction

Question 23

What is neuroticism?

Answer 23

Emotional stability and personal adjustment

Question 24

What research has been found in support of openness?

Answer 24

Openness is related to artistic creativity but not scientific

Question 25

What research has been found in support of conscientiousness?

Answer 25

People with high self-discipline are more likely to engage in healthy behaviours

Question 26

What has been found in support of extraversion?

Answer 26

More likely to approach others in stressful situations

Question 27

What has been found in support of aggreableness?

Answer 27

Predicted greater relationship satisfaction

Question 28

What has been found in support of neuroticism?- Costa and McCrae

Answer 28

Neurotic people perform better when they are worried before giving a speech