1.2 - Trait and Biological Perspectives on Personality (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from notes on evolutionary/biological perspectives, trait theories, major theorists, the Big Five, assessments, and limitations.

Evolutionary perspective on personality

An approach that focuses on similarities in traits across people, suggesting universal traits shaped by evolution.

Biological perspective on personality

An approach that explains differences in personality through heritability, genetics, and biological bases.

Heritability

Proportion of variation in a trait across a population that can be attributed to genetic differences (not applicable to an individual’s traits).

Trait theories

theories that describe personality in terms of broad, fundamental traits and identify unique trait patterns in individuals.

Biological theories (of personality)

Theories that seek to quantify and explain personality by identifying biological bases and specific traits in individuals.

Gordon Allport

First trait theorist; proposed trait categories including cardinal, central, and secondary traits.

Cardinal traits

Dominant traits that shape most of a person’s behavior.

Central traits

General characteristics that form the core of a person’s personality.

Secondary traits

Traits that appear in specific situations or contexts.

Raymond Cattell

Developed factor analysis to identify clusters of traits based on patterns of co-occurring behaviors.

Factor analysis

A statistical method used to identify groups of related traits that tend to occur together.

The Big Five (Five-Factor Model) (CANOE)

A personality model with five traits: conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness, and extraversion. created by paul costa and robert McCrae

C: Conscientiousness

Trait characterized by being careful, disciplined, organized.

A: Agreeableness

Trait characterized by being gentle, trusting, cooperative.

N: Neuroticism

Trait involving anxiety, emotional instability, and vulnerability.

O: Openness

Trait involving imagination, creativity, and openness to new experiences.

E: Extraversion

Trait characterized by sociability, talkativeness, and drawn energy from social interaction.

Paul Costa & Robert McCrae

Researchers who developed the Big Five model of personality.

trait-based Personality assessments (inventories)

Tools (often true/false or multiple-choice) used to measure personality traits; examples include MMPI-2.

Self-report inventories

Questionnaires where individuals report their own traits, which can be influenced by bias or social desirability.

Person-situation controversy

Debate over whether behavior is better predicted by stable personality traits or by situational factors.

Determinism

Belief that behavior is predetermined and fixed, often ignoring the role of free will.