MEP - Trait Theories of Personality Lesson

Learning Target:

  • Compare and contrast trait theories of personality with other theories of personality.

AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2020. (n.d.). https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf

The Trait Perspective

Traits WordleWhile other personality theories emphasize the similarities among us, the trait theory focuses on primarily describing personal individual differences. Traits are those identifiable patterns of behavior or consciousness that motivate and describe our behavior. When you are describing a friend or family member to someone you are describing their traits. A trait theory of personality attempts to identify, describe, and measure those individual differences. We will examine diverse types of traits as well as various trait theories.

Surface vs. Source Traits

The traits that we use to describe friends and family are those traits that lie on the "surface" called surface traits. These traits are easily identifiable by observing people's behavior. The list of surface traits is exceptionally long. Psychologist Gordon Allport found more than 4,000 words in the dictionary that could be used to describe personality.

Source traits are those that are thought to make up the fundamentals of personality. These traits give rise to surface traits. Theorists believe that there are only a few true source traits.

Trait Theories

Trait theories in psychology propose that personality can be described and understood through a set of distinct traits or characteristics. These traits are stable and enduring over time, and they help to predict a person's behavior across a variety of situations. Trait theories focus on identifying and measuring these traits, often through self-report measures or observer ratings.

The Five Factor Theory

Many trait theorists found Raymond Cattell's theory too complex and Hans Eysenck's theory too simple. In a quest to find the perfect theory of personality "the Big Five" or Five Factor Theory was born. The five-factor theory states that the essential building blocks of personality can be described in five dimensions.

These five dimensions reflect those traits that have been most important in the social landscape and allowed us to survive. Being able to identify leaders and other contributors to society has allowed our species to continue to survive.

Once you take a test that measures your personality according to the big five you will find that your traits will be stable over time, can be attributed to your genes, applied cross-culturally, and may predict other attributes.

Big 5 Traits: Openness Example Behavior for LOW Scorers: Prefers not to be exposed to alternative moral systems; narrow interests; inartistic; not analytical; down-to-earth Example Behavior for HIGH Scorers: Enjoys seeing people with new types of haircuts and body piercing; curious; imaginative; untraditional Conscientiousness Example Behavior for LOW Scorers: Prefers spur-of-the-moment action to planning; unreliable; hedonistic; careless; lax Example Behavior for HIGH Scorers: Never late for a date; organized; hardworking; neat; preserving; punctual; self-disciplined Extraversion Example Behavior for LOW Scorers: Preferring a quiet evening reading to a loud party; sober; aloof; unenthusiastic Example Behavior for HIGH Scorers: Being the life of the party; active; optimistic; fun-loving; affectionate Agreeableness Example Behavior for LOW Scorers: Quickly and confidently asserts own rights; irritable; manipulative; uncooperative; rude Example Behavior for HIGH Scorers: Agrees with others about political opinions; good-natured; forgiving; gullible; helpful Neuroticism Example Behavior for LOW Scorers: Not getting irritated by small annoyances; calm, unemotional; hardy; secure; self satisfied Example Behavior for HIGH Scorers: Constantly worrying about little things; insecure; hypochondriacal; feeling inadequate

Other Assessments

A current way of assessing personality is using self-report inventories such as the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). The inventory contains items shown in research to differentiate between people. It is scored by comparing answers to standardized norms collected by large groups. The goal is to discriminate between groups by looking for differences in subjects compared to the norm.

Watch the video below on trait theory.

Raymond Cattell and Hans Eysenck

Raymond Cattell: He believed that these 16 factors represented the essential source traits that make up human personality.

Raymond Cattell

Trait theorist Raymond Cattell took Gordon Allport's list of thousands of traits and reduced them to 171 characteristics by eliminating those that seemed uncommon or redundant. By using factor analysis (a statistical measure used to identify related items) he was able to identify traits that were even more closely related and reduce his list to sixteen key personality factors. He believed that these sixteen factors represented the essential source traits that make up human personality. Each trait represents a dimension that ranges between two extremes. For example, if you are timid or shy you could be extremely shy and avoid others or a little shy to the extent that you do not like to speak in front of large crowds.

Each trait represents a dimension that ranges between two extremes. Reserved, unsociable <--> Outgoing, sociable Less intelligent, concrete <--> More intelligent, abstract Affected by feelings <--> Emotionally stable Submissive, humble <--> Dominant, assertive Serious <--> Happy-go-lucky Expedient <--> Conscientious Timid <--> Venturesome Tough-minded <--> Sensitive Trusting <--> Suspicious Practical <--> Imaginative Forthright <--> Shrewd, calculating Self-assured <--> Apprehensive Conservative <--> Experimenting Group-dependent <--> Self-sufficient Undisciplined <--> Controlled Relaxed <--> Tense

Hans Eysenck

British psychologist Hans Eysenck proposed an even simpler model of source traits. He believed that individual differences in personality are due to biological differences among people. His personality theory includes three dimensions. The first is introversion-extroversion: One who is introverted is quiet and reserved, while an extrovert is outgoing and sociable. Like Cattell's theory, your personality can fall onto various degrees of each trait. His second major division is neuroticism-emotional stability. Neuroticism is the predisposition to become emotionally upset, while emotional stability describes a predisposition to be emotionally even.

Eysenck believed that these two dimensions could be combined to classify four basic types of personality: introverted-neurotic, extroverted-neurotic, extroverted-stable, and introverted-stable. Later he identified the third dimension he called psychoticism. Someone who scores high on psychoticism is antisocial and cold, while those who score low are warm and caring.

Four Basic Personality Types:

Melancholic Personality (Emotionally Unstable/Neurotic and Introverted): Moody, Anxious, Rigid, Sober, Pessimistic, Reserved, Unsociable, Quiet Phlegmatic Personality (Emotionally Stable and Introverted): Passive, Careful, Thoughtful, Peaceful, Controlled, Reliable, Even-tempered, Calm Choleric Personality (Emotionally Unstable/Neurotic and Extraverted): Touchy, Restless, Aggressive, Excitable, Changeable, Impulsive, Optimistic, Active Sanguine Personality (Emotionally Stable and Extraverted): Sociable, Outgoing, Talkative, Responsive, Easygoing, Lively, Carefree, Leadership

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