Traits

Question 1

Trait theory?

Answer 1

trait theory in psychology is the idea that your personality is made up of traits, which are stable characteristics that mostly stay the same over time.

Question 2

What do the trait theories assume?

Answer 2

Trait theories assume that personality is made up of consistent traits that can be measured and used to explain individual differences in behaviour.

Question 3

Big 5 personality traits

Answer 3

Openness - to new experiences
Conscientiousness - self discipline, duty & achievement.
Extraversion- gratification from outside self
Agreeableness - Concern for social harmony.
Nuroticism - Tendancy for negative emotions.

Question 4

Allport

Answer 4

Allport was the first to say personality is made up of traits that shape how we think, feel, and act. He believed traits are influenced by both childhood and environment. In 1936, he began collecting personality trait words, narrowing them down from about 13,000 to 4,504.

Question 5

Allport theory

Answer 5

Cardinal traits are rare, but strongly shape a person’s behavior (defines their whole identity)

Central traits are common and form the core of our personality (e.g. kindness, loyalty).

Secondary traits appear only in specific situations and explain inconsistent behavior (e.g. nervousness during public speaking).

Question 6

What innovation did Cattell bring to the study of personality?

Answer 6

Raymond Cattell reduced Allport’s 4,000+ traits to 171 by removing rare ones and grouping similar traits (e.g. combining “outgoing” and “lively” into “extroversion”). He then rated people on these traits and used factor analysis to find patterns. This led him to identify 16 key personality traits, which he believed were the core of all human personality.

Question 7

How did Eysenck define personality?

Answer 7

Hans Eysenck, a British psychologist, believed personality is largely shaped by biology, focusing on two main dimensions: extroversion/introversion and neuroticism/stability. He linked these traits to differences in the nervous system and brain activity—introverts seek less stimulation, extroverts seek more, while neurotic people react strongly to stress, and stable people are calmer. His work pushed personality research toward a scientific, biological approach and influenced later models like the Big 5.

Question 8

How have trait theories changed over time?

Answer 8

Trait theories have evolved from simple trait lists to scientifically tested models that focus on measuring personality more accurately. Over time, they’ve become more structured, data-driven, and linked to biology.