Introduction to Traits (1)

Define personality (Larsen et al, 2017)

the set of psychological traits and mechanisms within the individual

six key properties of a personality trait

1. temporal stability 2. cross-situational consistency 3. internal/biological basis 4. predictive validity for behaviour 5. minimal overlap between traits 6. inter-individual differences

5 ways to evaluate the biological basis of a trait

1. physiological substrate, 2. hereditary/genetic contribution, 3. similar traits in non-humans, 4. cross-cultural evidence (universality), 5. temporal stability

how is trait structure hierarchically organised

domains, facets, specific behaviours

domains and facets differences

domains - e.g. neuroticism, facets - e.g. anxiety or impulsivity

name the three approaches to questionnaire development

lexical, statistical and theoretical

lexical approach

traits encoded in natural language

statistical approach

factor analysis to find clusters

theoretical approach

a priori theory specifies which traits matter

three key issues with self-report personality measures

carefulness, social desirability and Barnum statements (vague claims that seem true of everyone)

difference between personality types and traits

types are discrete categorical groupings (like introvert and extrovert), traits are continous dimensions on which everyone varies in degree

how does the psychodynamic domain (Freud) compare to trait approach

both have internal structures which shape behaviour, however, traits aren’t attributed to unconscious sexual conflicts and are empirically derived not clinically

humanistic domain (Maslow, 1970)

humanism is universalist, once true self actualisation is reached, people show similar characteristics

Buss (1991) - linking personality to evolution

personality traits are adaptive mechanisms promoting survival and reproduction

social cognitive critique of traits

behaviour is shaped by cognition, learning history and context

Bandura’s (2001) contribution

behaviour is determined by self-efficacy and environmental responsiveness not just stable traits

interactionism - B = f(P X S)

behaviour is a function of personality and situation interacting, people select environments suited to their traits

B = f(P X S)

behaviour = function -relationship between variables (person X situation/environment