The Essential Trait Approach and The Five Factor Model

what is the essential trait approach and some examples?

uses factor analysis to synthesise, reduce and formalise traits

examples:

Cattell’s 16 source traits

Eysenck’s 3 essential traits (extraversion, neurotic and psychoticism)

Gray’s 2-dimensional model (behavioural activation and inhibition)

The Five Factor Model - BIG FIVE (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism)

Cattell’s 16PF hierarchy

1. surface traits - fine details that make people unique

2. 16 second-order factors - source traits

3. Third order factors - global factors (extroversion, anxiety tough-mindedness, independence and self-control)

how did Cattell collect his data?

took a empirical and inductive approach

used factor analysis

L-data - life record data

Q-data - self report

T-data - data from objective tests

how did he come to the 16 source traits?

reduced Allports main traits to 171 surface traits

removed uncommon traits and combined similar ones

used factor analysis to reduce to 16

these source traits were described in terms of opposing tendencies

how may source traits arise? (2 ways)

1. environmental-mold traits - experiences

2. constitutional traits - determined by biology

how may source traits be expressed? (3 ways)

1. ability traits - determine the personals skill

2. temperament traits - emotional tendencies and inherited traits

3. dynamic traits - motivational drives (hunger, curiosity, ambition)

what questionnaire is constructed around Cattell’s 16 source traits?

the sixteen personality factor questionnaire

185 MCQ asking about daily behaviours, interests and opinions

what does proprietary mean?

owned and controlled by business or individual

what is the test that uses a public domain? (not proprietary)

the international personality item pool (ipip)

collection of 3,320 items over 250 scales

how are the 16 source traits used?

1. research and clinical settings - diagnosis and therapy

2. vocation psychology - choosing suitable careers

3. occupational psychology - personnel selection and placement

what are the 5 global factors the 16PF suggests?

extroversion/introversion

low/high anxiety

tough-mindedness/receptivity

independence/accommodation

self-control/lack of restraint

strengths of the 16PF

contribution to psychology - factor analysis and computer technology

criticisms of the 16PF

findings not easy to replicate

used factor analysis in such a way (oblique rotation) as to end up with factors that were correlated - not independent (unlike Eysenck which used orthogonal rotation which ensured factors are independent)

difference between the types of factor analysis

Cattell used oblique rotation - factors correlate (not independent)

Eysenck used orthogonal rotation - ensured factors are independent

what are the 3 dimensions Eysenck identified?

Neuroticism vs emotional stability - individuals tendency to worry

Extroversion vs introversion - degree which an individual is socially outgoing to withdrawn

psychoticism - individuals level of conformity, aggressiveness and empathy

what was a key element of Eysenck’s PEN theory?

explains using biological terms

what are the 2 sets of mechanisms in the brain and how is balanced maintained?

2 mechanisms - excitatory and inhibitory

balance maintained by ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)

what are the 2 major systems accounting for differences in arousal?

1. the reticulo-cortical (brain stem) - controls cortical arousal

2. the reticulo-limbic (amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus) - regulate responses to emotional stimuli

biological basis of extraversion vs introversion

argued differences in extraversion explained by reticulo-cortical system

introverts would have a greater tendency to be cortically aroused so need more time to adapt to external stimuli and benefit from quiet environments

on the other hand extraverts have a greater need to compensate

research evidence examples for extraversion vs introversion

1. extroverts choses a higher level of volume of music than introverts did

2. sensory deprivation, extraverts compensated for the lack of stimulation by moving around more

biological basis of neuroticism

differences in the limbic system which is activated by emotional stimuli

neurotic individuals would experience higher activation so experience intense emotions

biological basis for psychoticism

did not provide a detailed account

suggested may arise from dopamine or higher testosterone levels

what are some critiques of Eysenck’s theory?

theorised neuroticism and extraversion are in reality physiologically interdependent

inability to test his theories sufficiently

attempts to re-examine using EEG and ERP found his findings were rarely replicated

what personality test is based on Eysenck’s dimensions?

the EPQ-R

similarities between Cattell’s 16PF and Eysenck’s PEN model

importance of biological and genetic factors

adopted a nomothetic approach - establishing general laws

differences between Cattell’s 16PF and Eysenck’s PEN model

both used factor analysis but in different ways (Cattell = oblique, Eysenck = orthogonal)

Cattell was data-driven (inductive) whereas Eysenck was theory driven (deductive)

Gray’s biopsychosocial personality theory

theories 2 brain-based systems

1. the behavioural inhibition system (BIS)

2. the behavioural activation system (BAS)

what is the BAS?

influences individuals disposition to pursue and achieve goals

aroused when receives cues corresponding to rewards

associated with hope and impulsivity

higher activation = feel more positive emotions with rewards

what is the BIS?

theoried to predict differences in responses to anxiety-relevant cues

associated with punishment

leads to avoidance

highly sensitive to punishment

over activation = neurotic anxiety and depression

research evidence for BIS and BAS

found that participants with greater BAS felt more positive during reward tasks

those with greater BIS felt more negative feelings during punishment tasks

Carver and White’s BIS/BAS scales

items rated on a 5-point scale

4 scales:

BIS scale - inhibition

3 BAS scales - reward responsiveness, drive and fun seeking

implications of Gray’s theory

some evidence for correlation between BIS → neuroticism and BAS → extraversion

suggests differences in peoples sensitivity to positive and negative cues

agreed with Eysenck about the inclusion of psychoticism

what is the Five Factor Model of Personality (FFM/BIG FIVE)

1. openness - conventional or unconventional thinking

2. conscientiousness - measure control and self discipline

3. extraversion/introversion - measures arousal

4. agreeableness - high = helpful + trusting, low = antagonistic and sceptical

5. neuroticism - high = emotional distress, low = calm and well adjusted

(OCEAN)

what are the 6 subordinate traits (facets)

how was the FFM developed?

on the basis of lexical hypothesis

developed via statistical methods

provides a descriptions rather than causal explanation

what commonly measures the big five?

the Neo-PI

240 items rated on a 5-point liker scale

what is another measure of the FFM?

the big five inventory (BFI)

short instrument - approx 5 mins

44 short-phrase items on a 5-point scale

FFM and behaviour

high extraversion = more likely to exercise, drink and be honest

high in conscientiousness = better grades

high openness = more likely to play a musical instrument

highly agreeable = smoke less

strengths of FFM

can be reproduced cross-culturally

claims of universality

a lot of supporting empirical evidence

highly compatible with other models

critiques of the FFM

doesn’t provide a explanation for development or mechanisms underlying personality

debate over naming traits

sex differences - suggests ‘sexist’ personality descriptions

are there only five?

a sixth trait has been suggested by several researchers - eg ‘trustworthiness’ or ‘values’

HEXACO model - adds honesty-humility

Paunonen and Jackson - proposed additional traits

“dark triad” - Machiavellians, narcissism and psychopathy

are the dimensions independent?

when Neuroticism is reversed and scored in terms of Emotional Stability
several studies report all five traits to be positively and significantly intercorrelated

could personality be simplified further?

Rushton and Irwing found evidence for a general factor (beneficial for survival)

what’s an alternative explanation for high correlations between traits?

positive intercorreltaiotns could reflect sociably agreeable responding (“faking good”) - some scores seen as more ‘desireable’

why is the FFM a common psychometric tool?

good validity and reliability

findings using other measures and scales can be ‘translated’ due to compatibility

what are some other methods used beyond self-report methods?

role-playing video games and virtual escape rooms