Personality Theories and Trait Models: Cattell, Allport, and Big Five

Who is Raymond Cattell?

A psychologist known for his work in intelligence testing and the measurement of personality.

What did Cattell pioneer in personality research?

The use of correlation and factor analysis.

What is Cattell's view on traits?

Traits work in tandem to create personality, rather than in isolation.

What are the two approaches to studying personality?

Nomothetic (group level) and idiographic (individual level).

What is a limitation of idiographic research?

Findings from case studies cannot be generalized to the population.

Who argued that the concrete individual has eluded study by other approaches?

Allport and Murray.

What is a theory in the context of personality research?

A systematic collection of empirically derived results that support a claim.

What misconceptions exist about theories?

1) They explain a single event; 2) They are just educated guesses.

What do theories provide in research?

Guidance for research, organization of findings, and predictions.

What are the five standards for evaluating personality theories?

Comprehensiveness, heuristic value, testability/falsifiability, parsimony, compatibility and integration.

What role does personality play in everyday life?

It influences various fields including health, social interactions, and the workplace.

What are the main taxonomies of personality?

Eysenck's hierarchical model, Cattell's 16 PF taxonomy, the Five Factor model, and the HEXACO model.

How should traits be conceptualized?

As internal causal properties or as purely descriptive summaries.

What is Allport's view on traits?

Traits are structures that influence behavior and are consistent and enduring.

What are cardinal dispositions?

Traits that are so dominant they cannot be hidden from others.

Give an example of a cardinal disposition.

An obsession with power or compassion.

What is the behaviorist view on traits?

Traits are seen as summaries of observable behavior without assumptions about internal processes.

What is the significance of the idiographic approach?

It allows for in-depth understanding of individual cases, despite generalization limitations.

What is the importance of empirical support in theories?

It ensures that theories are based on diverse observations and corroborating results.

What does parsimony in a theory refer to?

The theory should have the fewest assumptions necessary to explain findings.

What is the role of personality research in medicine?

It can address real-world issues such as health and employee effectiveness.