Introduction to Personality and Trait Theory

Practice flashcards reviewing Chapter 14 lecture material on personality definitions, historical trait theorists (Allport, Cattell, Einzike), factor analysis, the Big Five, and the mini IPIP.

Why is the term temperament used instead of personality when describing infants?

Observations in infants reflect temperament because personality can only be spoken about when a child is able to talk about their thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

How is personality defined in the lecture?

A set of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive tendencies that people display across time and situation that helps distinguish an individual from other people.

What are personality traits according to trait theory?

Enduring, stable qualities of personality that center on particular dimensions characterizing most individuals across different situations.

Which theorist coined the term "trait" and founded trait theory?

Allport.

What analogy did the lecturer use to explain factor analysis in personality psychology?

Sorting incoming emails into labeled folders to classify and create order out of numerous attributes or traits.

How many total words describing people and behavior did Allport extract from the Webster dictionary, and how many nonjudgmental trait names did he narrow them down to?

He extracted $17,953$ words and narrowed them down to $4,504$ nonjudgmental trait names.

What physiological biological system did Allport believe personality traits were linked to?

The central nervous system.

To how many traits did Raymond Cattell narrow down Allport's list of trait names?

$16$ traits.

Which three key personality dimensions were identified by Hans Einzike (Eysenck)?

Extroversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism.

In modern personality research, what updated term replaces "neuroticism"?

Emotionality.

How is the historical trait of "psychoticism" understood in modern personality terms?

Nonconformity, representing a lack of regard for conventional socialization and social conventions.

Which two researchers commercialized the Big Five personality framework?

McCray and Costa (also referenced as Coster and McCray).

What two acronyms can be used to remember the Big Five personality traits?

OCEAN and CANOE (standing for Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism).

What sub-factors comprise the Big Five trait of extroversion?

Warmth, gregariousness, assertiveness, excitement seeking, and positive emotion.

What emotional labels are evaluated under neuroticism (emotionality)?

Anxiety, hostility, depression, self-consciousness, impulsiveness, and vulnerability.

How can having high agreeableness negatively impact a person's level of conscientiousness?

Agreeing to help others or taking on extra commitments before thinking can prevent a person from fulfilling previous commitments, pushing down conscientiousness.

What personality dimensions are analyzed when researchers use the "alpha" and "beta" trait combinations?

Alpha analyzes extrovert, neuroticism, and agreeableness; Beta analyzes conscientiousness and openness to experience.

What is the mini IPIP six, and what additional trait dimension does it add to the traditional five?

It is an affordable, non-commercial research alternative to the Big Five that adds the trait of honesty and humility (reciprocal altruism).

Who runs the New Zealand values and attitude survey mentioned in the lecture?

Danny and Chris, social psychology lecturers.