Lecture 4 - Trait theories of personality

Question 1

Trait approach

Answer 1

Does not try to explain behaviour
identified personality characteristics that can be represented along a continuum
Trait:
- categories people according the degree to which they display a particular characteristic
- assumptions - personality characteristics are stable over time
Surface trait:
- characteristics or attributed that can be inferred from observable behaviour (what behaviours we see)
Source trait:
- most fundamental aspect of personality, broad, basic traits that’s are thought to be universal and few in number
Example:
A student is very social and always talks in class
- source treats -> observing that they are social and talk in class
- source trait -> this student may be high in extroversion, which causes them to be social and talkative

Question 2

Approaches in Trait theory

Answer 2

• Nomothetic approach -
  Describing personality along a finite number of traits
• extraversion
• neuroticism
  These traits ca be applied to everyone
• Idiographic approach -
  Identified any combination of traits to describe individual
  Infinite possibilities
  Idiographic traits may not apply to everyone
• Central traits -
  Can easily describe an individual’s personality
  Several cardinal traits can interact to personality
• e.g. extraversion, neuroticism
  Secondary traits
• prefers, not main predictor of behaviour
  Cardinal trait
• single dominating trait
• Hans Eysenck -
  Suggested 2 primary personality traits
• extroversion-introversion
• neuroticism (emotional instability)

Question 3

Jungian Personality theory

Answer 3

Carl Jung (psychoanalyst)
Personality traits for perceiving the environment and obtaining/processing information

Extraversion (E): talkative, externally-focused, assertive <- Getting energy -> Introversion (I): quiet, internally-focused, abstract
Sensing (S): concrete, realistic, practical <- Perceiving information -> Intuitive (N): imaginative, future-focused, abstract
Thinking (T): logical, objective, impersonal <- Making decisions -> Feeling (F): empathetic, caring, emotion-focused
Judging (J): organised, schedule-orientated, obscure-focus <- orienting to the external world -> Perceiving (P): spontaneous, adaptable, opportunity-focus

Question 4

Using statistics

Answer 4

Factor analysis
- data reduction technique
- simplify relations among variables
- identify common patterns in data

Why is factor analysis important?
Simplified assessment
- short surveys
- easier analysis
Find naturally occurring and covarying traits
- no more assumptions
- boils down personality to basic components
Average together traits into single trait
- easier than interpreting each individual subtract
- ease overarching “factor” is responsible for subtracts

Question 5

The Goldilocks conundrum

Answer 5

Hans Eysenck
- suggested 2 personality traits
- not considered to be enough
Raymond Cattle
- used factor analysis to identify personality trait
- proposed 16 personality traits
~ outgoing-reserved
~ intelligence
~ stable-emotion
~ assertive-humble
~ happy-go-lucky-Sober
~ conscientious-expedient
~ venturesome-shy
~ tender-minded-tough-minded
~ suspicious-trusting
~ imaginative-practical
~ shrewd-forthright
~ apprehensive-placid
~ experimenting-conservative
~ self-sufficiency-group-tied
~ controlled-casual
~ tense-relaxed
- considered to be too many
The big 5
- established via factor analysis
- Costa and McCrae
- tested in more than 50 cultures
- biologically influences
- traits seem stable over lifespan
- considered to be the perfect amount

Question 6

The Big-Five

Answer 6

Openness:
- imaginative vs down-to-earth
- preference for variety vs preference for routine
- independent vs conforming
- involved imagination, divergent thinking and intellectual curiosity
- people on the high end are unconventional, and independent thinkers
- individuals on the low end prefer the familiar rather than than the imaginative
Conscientiousness:
- well-organised vs disorganised
- careful vs careless
- self-discipline vs weak willed
- people on the high end are organised, plan orientates and determined
- individuals on the low end are careless, easily distracted from tasks and undependable
Extraversion
- social vs retiring
- fun-loving vs sober
- affectionate vs reserved
- places extreme extroverts at one end and extreme introverts at the other
- extraverts are very sociable people
- introverts are revered and independent people
Agreeableness
- softhearted vs ruthless
- trusting vs suspicious
- helpful vs uncooperative
- people with high scores are helpful, trusting and sympathetic
- individuals with low scores tend to be antagonistic and skeptical
Neuroticism
- worried vs calm
- insecure vs secure
- self-pitying vs self-satisfied
- places people according to their emotional stiabniloty and personal adjustment
- people with high scores are more vulnerable to anxiety and depression
- individuals with low scores tend to be calm and well adjusted

Factor analysis is not perfect
- subjective interpretation of results
- we have to decide what items are included
- what if we forget or miss something?

Question 7

Taste buds

Answer 7

• sweet
• salty
• sour
• bitter
• umami? -> recognised in 1990 at International Symposium on Glutamate receptors on tongue found in 2006
  Shows factor analysis is not perfect
• researchers have to interest analyses
  Ongoing issues:
• too broad?
• what do traits capture?
• are there missing or important factors?
• subjective interpretation of results

Question 8

Finding traits

Answer 8

How do psychologists start identifying traits?
- lexical approach
- examine traits used within language
- traits already embedded in every day speech

Question 9

Lexical approach

Answer 9

Allport and Obert (1936)
- searched dictionary for words that describe people
- 18,000 out of 55,000
- these were then filtered
~ removed physical attributes e.g. tall
~ remove cogntive abilities and talents e.g. smart
~ remove transient states e.g. sad
~ remove highly evaluative terms e.g. moron
- 4,500 terms removed
Many terms were too closely related or synonymous
- Raymond Mattel attempted to simplify it
- reduced Allport and Odbert’s set
- used factor analysis to find primary traits
- found 16 factors
- basic dimensions of personality
16 factors considered too many to assess
- slight overlap
- measuring similar constructs
Reduced further to the big 5

Question 10

Big Five cont

Answer 10

Provides 5 fundamental people differ
Improves and provides framework for:
- assessment of personality
- investigation of personality correlates
- explanation of the underpinning of personality
Provides a way to map specific personality traits
- e.g. shyness combination of (low) extroversion and (high) neuroticism
Big five found in studies of many languages
Similar factors observed in other species:
- extroversion
- neuroticism
- agreeableness

Question 11

issues with the big five

Answer 11

Derives from the lexical approach
But what if this approach is flawed?
- assumed personality is captured by everyday language
- uses personality surveys to derive basic factors
- Hans Eysenck -
Major opponent of lexical approach
Developed the two factor model
Then, proposed third factors
- pscyhoticism -> aggressiveness, coldness, antisocial tendencies, egocentricity, vulnerability to psychotic disorders (e.g. schizophrenia)