Personality Assessments and Traits

Identifying Traits

lexical approach: the most crucial features of personality are embedded in our language

factor analysis: statistical technique that analyzes the correlations among responses

The Big Five

extroversion: quiet and reserved to outgoing and enthusiastic (introvert vs extrovert)

neuroticism: calm and emotionally stable to anxious and easily upset (chalant vs nonchalant)

agreeableness: critical and quarrelsome to sympathize and warm

conscientiousness: carelessness and disorganized to dependable and self disciplined

openness to experience: conventional and uncreative to inventiveness and curiosity

Empirical Method

data-based and determine items that best identify these groups advantages and disadvantages

could result in low face validity meaning respondents can tell what items are measuring

ex 1: minnesota multiphase personality inventory (MMPI)- asses symptoms of psychological disorders, true-false format, validity scales, evaluation

ex 2: california psychological inventory- assessed personality in the normal range

Rationally/Theoretically Constructed

starts with an idea of a personality trait, then items/categories are based on that idea

ex: NEO personality inventory and myers briggs type indicator (MBTI)

Projective Tests

ambiguous stimuli- project aspects of personality onto stimuli and look at answers to infer aspects of personality

ex: rorschach inkblot test and tell a tale

P.T. Barnum Effect

tendency to apply descriptions that are applicable to many people specifically to ourselves

illusory correlation