3 - McCrae & Costa's Five-Factor Trait Theory

trait approach

how we intuitively talk to each other and how does it predict behaviour?

trait

internal dispositions, presumably stable over time and across situations

• understood in bipolar terms
• bell curve normal distribution in traits
• different traits are additive and independent
• broad individual differences in socioemotional functioning

Raymond Cattell

• early trait theorist
• advocated for rigorous quantitative psychology
• acknowledges unique traits
• focus on common traits, individual differences among many people
• inductive method

personality (Cattell)

that which permits a prediction of what a person will do in a given situation

L-Data

(Cattell’s three sources for data on traits)

• a persons life record derived from observations made by other people
  • diaries, letters, etc.

Q-data

(Cattell’s three sources for data on traits)

• self-reports obtained from questionnaires etc. that allowed people to make subjective descriptions of themselves

T-data

(Cattell’s three sources for data on traits)

• objective tests, measure intelligence, speed of reasoning, and other activities designed to challenge maximum performance
  • in controlled, lab settings

Cattell used ----- -----, examining responses from 3 dimensions of data

factor analysis

surface traits

traits that cluster together, are empirically measured and readily observable (Cattell)

source traits

traits that must be inferred through statistical methods (Cattell) `

temperament

(Cattell’s traits further separated into 3)

• concerned with how a person behaves
• stylistic, emotional reactivity

motivation

(Cattell’s traits further separated into 3)

• why one behaves
• set action into accomplishment

ability

(Cattell’s traits further separated into 3)

• how far or fast one can perform
• effectiveness at attaining a goal

16 PF personality test

Cattell’s personality scale that understood psychological individuality

• 16 scores for each source trait

Cattell controversy

• he was an extremist
• promoted eugenics and IQ associated to race
• sterilization, nazism
• falsified work

factor analysis

a mathematical procedure for reducing a large number of variables to a few; used by Eysenck and others to identify traits and factors

factor loading

degree of correlation that a score contributes to a given factor

• allows us to see independence of different factors

unipolar traits

traits with only one pole, scaled from zero to large amount

bipolar traits

traits with two poles; scaled from minus to positive point, with zero as midpoint

• most personality traits

factor

unit of personality derived through factor analysis

orthogonal rotation

method of rotating axes in factor analysis that assumes the independence of primary factors

• axes are right angles
• unrelated factors
• results in fewer traits

oblique rotation

method of rating the axes in factor analysis that assumes some intercorrelation among primary factors

• advocated for by Cattell
• results in more traits

issues with personality psych

• many different scales, lack of consistency
• no consensus on structure of personality

neuroticism

• strongest in psychometric properties
• high: anxious, temperamental, self-pitying, self-conscious, emotional, vulnerable, sensitive, nervous
• low: calm, even-tempered, self-satisfied, comfortable, unemotional, hardy, secure, confident

extraversion

• strongest in psychometric properties
• high: affectionate, warmth, gregariousness, talkative, assertiveness, active, fun loving, passionate, outgoing
• low: reserved, loner, quiet, sober, passive, unfeeling, solitary

openness to experience

• high: seeking variety in life, imaginative, creative, original, prefers variety, curious, liberal, inventive
• low: seeking familiarity, down-to-earth, uncreative, unconventional, prefers routine, cautious, conservative, consistent

agreeableness

• high: soft-hearted, trusting, generous, acquiescent, lenient, good-natured, friendly, compassionate, compliant, modest
• low: ruthless, suspicious, stingy, antagonistic, critical, irritable, challenging, detached

conscientiousness

• high: hardworking, well-organized, punctual, ambitious, persevering, efficient, dutiful, competence
• low: negligent, lazy, disorganized, late, aimless, quitting, easy-going, give up when projects are difficult

the five factors were originally a , classification of traits

taxonomy

core components of FFT

• basic tendencies
• characteristic adaptations

peripheral components of FFT

• biological bases
• objective biography
• external influences

dynamic processes

• the way the components are interconnected
  • direction of causal influence

basic tendencies

(core component of FTT)

universal raw material of personality capacities and dispositions that are generally inferred rather than observed

• may be inherited, imprinted by early experience, or modified by disease and psychological intervention
• define individual’s potential direction
• extend from biology
• relatively stable over time and situations
• no feedback into them

characteristic adaptations

(core component of FTT)

acquired personality structures that develop as people adapt to their environment

• habits, skills, etc.
• flexible, plasticity
• affected by external influences and feed back to self
• consequences of basic tendencies

self-concept

the knowledge, views, and evaluations of the self

• is a characteristic adaptation
• miscellaneous facts about history to identity

biological bases

(peripheral component of FTT)

biological mechanisms that influence basic tendencies including genes, hormones, and brain structures

• only causal influence on personality traits
• eliminate any role of environment on basic tendencies

objective biography

(peripheral component of FTT)

all experiences of a person across the lifespan

• presumably totally accurate account of their life
• everything person does, think, or feel across lifespan
• not a perspective

external influences

(peripheral component of FTT)

contextual demands that we respond to

• feedback into characteristic adaptations and objective biography
• how we respond is critical to our personality

postulates for basic tendencies

1. individuality
2. origin
3. development
4. structure

individuality

(postulate for basic tendencies)

stipulates that adults have a unique set of traits, and that each person exhibits a unique combination of trait patterns

• recipes, adding each trait in unique combo

origin

(postulate for basic tendencies)

stipulates that all personality traits are result solely of endogenous (internal) forces, such as genetic, hormones, and brain structures

• most controversial

development

(postulate for basic tendencies)

stipulates that traits develop and change through childhood, but slows in adolescence, and all but stops by mid-adulthood

• evolutionary, as we mature, traits no longer adaptive

structure

(postulate for basic tendencies)

stipulates that traits are organized hierarchically from narrow and specific to broad and general

postulates for characteristic adaptations

1. environmental adaptation
2. maladjustment
3. plasticity

environmental adaptation

(postulate for characteristics adaptation)

stipulates that we adapt to our environment by acquiring patterns for thoughts, feelings, and behaviour that are consistent with their personality traits and earlier adaptations

• seek circumstances that align with our traits

maladjustment

(postulate for characteristics adaptation)

stipulates that our responses are not always consistent with personal goals or cultural values

• develop rigid tendencies that lead to behaviours becoming maladaptive long term
  • ex., being shy reinforces non normative behaviors, develop agoraphobia

plasticity

(postulate for characteristics adaptation)

stipulates that basic traits may change over time in response to biological maturation, changes in enviro, or deliberate interventions

• ex., moving countries

FFT suggests personality is relatively stable and _ over life

constant

changes in personality most often come by _ changes in life-circumstances or brain functioning

drastic

personality changes often in _ patients

• increased neuroticism, decreased extraversion and conscientiousness

dementia

people become more ____ _and_ _ from early to late childhood

agreeable, conscientious

people become more _ and emotionally stable from adolescence to middle adulthood

assertive

people are more __ and __ from adolescence to adulthood

sociable, openness

living _ decreases anxiety and increases agreeableness

abroad

personality disorder

enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from expectations of individual’s culture

• pervasive and inflexible
• onset in adolescence or early adulthood
• stable over time
  • leads to distress or impairment

schizoid

(A: odd/eccentric)

pattern of detachment from social relationships and restricted range of emotional expression

• extreme isolation
• little interest in close relationships
• impervious to praise or criticism
• little pleasure in interactions

schizotypal

(A: odd/eccentric)

pattern of acute discomfort in close relationships, cognitive or perceptual distortions, and eccentricities of behaviour

• discomfort with interpersonal interaction
• odd speech, clothing, eye contact
• strange
• belief in mystical things
• high functioning
• Salvador Dali

paranoid

(A: odd/eccentric)

pattern of distrust and suspiciousness such that others’ motives are interpreted as malevolent

• every interaction
• conspiracy, plots, schemes against them
• hostile, combative behaviour
• unable to confide in others

antisocial

(B: dramatic, emotional, erratic)

pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others

• psychopathy
• cruel and aggressive
• criminality, little remorse
• abuse to animals
• more in men

borderline

(B: dramatic, emotional, erratic)

pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity

• instability
• swing between emotions
• boredom, contradiction
• fear of abandonment
• suicide, self-harm, eating disorders
  • \

histrionic

(B: dramatic, emotional, erratic)

pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking

• hysteria
• highly emotional
• flamboyant dress, hypersexual, flirtatious
• insincere
• expected more in women, but difference is small
  • men are more hypermasculine, macho

narcissitic

(B: dramatic, emotional, erratic)

pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy

• king of the world
• brilliant, gifted, distinguished, arrogant
• exploit others to attain what they want without empathy

avoidant

(C: anxious and fearful)

pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

• very rare
• fear of criticism
• perpetual inadequacy in social situations
• don’t take many risks, afraid of failure or rejection
• anticipate criticism, contempt, rejection so shy away
  • \

dependent

(C: anxious and fearful)

pattern of submissive and clinging behaviour related to an excessive need to be taken care of

• very rare
• highly submissive, passive relation to others
• can’t make decisions for self, no independence
  • \

obsessive-compulsive

(C: anxious and fearful)

pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control

• extreme manifestation of OCD
• constellation of maladaptive behaviours
• concerned about rules
• fear of losing control
  • too absorbed in details and rules, difficult to manage relationships

HEXACO model

personality model that adds a 6th factor of honesty-humility

• high: sincerity, fairness, avoid greed, modesty
  • \

digital footprint

what we leave behind on social media sites including likes, views, musical preferences, shares, tweets, etc.

• predicts personality
• more accurate than other personality reports

critique of theory

• limitations of prediction
  • we rely on statistical aggregates, but there is no average person
• psychological essentialism: categories of traits have underlying realities we can’t observe in some way
  • dangerous when we essentialize differences and treat them as unchangeable