Psych 161 Types and Traits Pt1

Basic Dimension or categories of personality =

Search of basic dispositions that make up personality

Two Kinds of Disposition

Types & Traits. and Needs and Motives

Types & Traits

summarization of observable behavioral tendencies

Needs and Motives

summarization of basic motivations underlying meaning behind behavioral tendencies

Type Theory

• discrete categories

• Broad

• Either Group A or not

Traits theory

• continuous dimension

• more narrow and specific

Hippocrates four human Theory

Theory of medicine based on the 4 fluids and how an excess of any of these fluids is fxn to diff illneses

what are the 4 fluids to the ippocrates human Theory?

blood, black bile, yellow bile, phlegm

Galens human theory of temperament

Galen used Hippocrates theory of medicine w/fluids linking it to behavior and personality traits

What was Galens take?

Excess of any fluids leads to diff behaviors & links to diff personality traits

What are the 4 Fluids in Galens Theory?

1. Sanguine( excess lood): optimistic

2. Melancholic(excess black bile): Moody & Withdrawal

3. Chloric:(excess Yellow bile): irritable & resentful

4. phlegmatic(excess phlegm):weak,fragile & indecisive

Sheldons Somotypes (based on steroytpes)

1. endomorphy -plump

2. mesomorphs -Muscular

3. ectomorphy -fragile

How did Sheldon come up with his Somotypes what is he doing?

Sheldon is associating body types w/ personality types

What characteristics did Sheldon give Endomorphs(Plump)?

• relaxed

• lover of comforts

• sociable

• good humored

What characteristics did Sheldon give mesomorphs(muscular)?

• Adventurous

• courageous

• competitive

• lover of risk and chance

What characteristics did Sheldon give Ectomorphs(frail)?

• self conscious

• introverted

• mentally intense

• emotionally restrained

Embody cognition

The body impacts our perception and mind which can impact our behavior

Problem w/ Type approach?

to broad and not effective lots of missing information

Type Theory - Discrete Categories Overview

• Gallens humor

• Sheldons Somotypes

• Myers brigg

Trait Theory - Continuous dimensions Overview

• Allport - Father of Traits

• Cattel

• Eyseneck

• The Big 5

Gordon Allport

• Created 1st personality paper

• talked with Freud and it sparked his interest in personality

Allports definition of traits

1. Traits are real

2. traits account for concsitency in behavior

If individuals act consistant throughout then what can we call that?

A behavior

How traits organize behavior

Processed throught a lens & that lens leads to consistant behavior in that lens

What are the three kinds of traits

1. Cardinal traits - everything

2. Central Traits - small #

3. Secondary Traits- idiosyncratic,limited setting

About Cardinal traits - everything

• Encompasses a whole personality

• 1 word for a whole personality

About Central Traits - small #

3-10 traits that together as a whole captures a person

About Secondary Traits- idiosyncratic,limited setting

• context based

• diff behavior for everything

Inconsistency in behavior in situations why?

stimuli from situations can overstimulate/overwhelm natural traits

Consistency in behavior is what?

A trait

What are two methods used to study personality?

Nomothetic & idiographic

What is Nomothetic?

• vague

• comparing everyone on the same lvl

• general laws of behavior

What is idiographic

• in depth analysis of a single person

• dimensions relevant to that persons specific personality

Patterned Individuality

Unique combinations of traits in an individual

What is an example of a study were they use the idiographic method?

Letters from Jenny