individual 1 Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is the definition of individual differences?
How individuals differ in personality, thought, behaviour, and emotion.
What are the main questions addressed in the study of individual differences?
- What are the main dimensions of personality?
- How does personality vary across individuals?
- What mechanisms explain personality differences?
- Is personality influenced by genes or the environment?
- Does personality change over time?
Define a personality trait.
A stable, consistent pattern in how individuals behave, think, and feel.
What are the scientific functions of personality traits?
- Description: Classify individuals’ average behaviour and feelings.
- Prediction: Forecast behaviours (e.g., job performance).
- Explanation: Understand why a person behaves in a certain way.
What do trait theories focus on?
- Individual differences that are stable across time and situations.
- Measurement via self-report questionnaires and empirical testing.
How are traits conceptualized in trait theories?
Traits are not categorical but dimensional (e.g., introversion and extraversion exist on a continuum).
What are the levels in the hierarchical organization of traits?
- Trait (e.g., extraversion).
- Habitual Behaviours (e.g., being conversational).
- Specific Behaviours (e.g., greeting a stranger).
What is the lexical hypothesis in identifying personality traits?
Traits are reflected in language.
What did early research by Allport & Odbert (1936) reveal about personality-related words?
Identified 17,953 personality-related words, later reduced to 4,504.
What statistical methods are used to identify personality traits?
- Correlation: Measures associations between variables.
- Factor Analysis: Reduces large datasets into smaller clusters or ‘factors.’
What is the range of the correlation coefficient (Pearson’s r)?
Ranges from -1 to 1.
Who is Raymond Cattell and what did he contribute to trait theories?
Used factor analysis to identify 16 basic personality traits.
What types of data did Cattell use in his research?
- L-Data: Life records (e.g., school reports).
- Q-Data: Self-report questionnaires.
- OT-Data: Objective measures (e.g., reaction times).
What are the three factors in Hans Eysenck’s model?
- Psychoticism: Aggressiveness, antisocial tendencies.
- Extraversion: Sociability, liveliness.
- Neuroticism: Emotional instability.
What is the Five-Factor Model (Big Five) of personality?
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Conscientiousness
- Neuroticism
- Openness
What do the dimensions of the Big Five represent?
- Extraversion: Sociable, energetic vs. quiet, reserved.
- Agreeableness: Cooperative, empathetic vs. competitive, detached.
- Conscientiousness: Organised, dependable vs. spontaneous, careless.
- Neuroticism: Anxious, emotional vs. calm, resilient.
- Openness: Creative, curious vs. traditional, practical.
What historical studies contributed to the development of the Big Five?
- Fiske (1949)
- Norman (1963)
- Popularised by Costa & McCrae (1980s–1990s).
funny new concept called the big 5
What are facets in relation to the Big Five?
Each broad trait includes finer sub-traits or facets.
What does the stability of the Big Five refer to?
Traits remain relatively stable in adulthood.
What were the retest correlations over 9 years for neuroticism in men and women?
Neuroticism = 0.76 in men, 0.55 in women.
What are the two higher-order dimensions proposed by Colin DeYoung?
- Stability: Desire for consistency and order.
- Plasticity: Openness to change and novelty.
What are characteristics of narrow traits?
- Theoretical clarity.
- Clear methods of measurement.
How do narrow traits differ from global traits?
Narrow traits are distinct from global traits (e.g., Big Five).
