09. Personality - Trait Theories

Wilhelm Wundt

Used trait dimensions instead of categorical types of personality, people were placed along the dimensions rather than being placed into one category

Two dimensions of personality

1. Mood Stability

2. Strength of Emotions

Personality Traits

A dimension of personality used to categorise people according to the degree to which they manifest a particular characteristic

Four assumptions that underlie Trait Theory

1. Traits are relatively stable over time

2. Traits show stability across situations

3. Traits influence behaviour

4. Traits are continuous dimensions, people can be placed along this dimension

What are trait theorists

Interested in a typical group behaviour and making comparisons among people.

Sheldon’s Theory of Somatotypes

Described personality according to somatotypes which were based on physique and temperament.

Predicted that each body type was associated with a particular temperament

The three basic types of physique (Sheldon, 1970)

1. Endomorph: Rounded body tending towards fatness

2. Mesomorph: Large, bony with well-defined muscles

3. Ectomorph: Light-boned with a slight musculature

The Lexical Hypothesis

The personality traits and differences that are most important to people, become a part of their language more frequently.

For example, there are more synonyms for honest than pedantic, as we view honesty as an important personality trait

Allport and Odbent (1936)

Counted words used to describe personality, identified synonyms and produced a comprehensive list. They identified 18,000 words describing 4,500 personality traits

Allport suggested that the […] approach allows the identification of common personality traits. Why?

[nomothetic]

WHY: saw common traits as ways of classifying groups of people

Allport suggested that the […] approach allows the identification of the personal disposition of the individual. Why?

[idiographic]

WHY: represents the unique characteristics of each person, found this to be a useful approach towards developing a real understanding of personality

Allport’s three types of personality traits (1961)

1. Cardinal Traits: single traits that dominate an individual’s personality and heavily influence behaviour

2. Central Traits: 5-10 traits that best describe an individual’s personality

3. Secondary traits: an individual’s preferences, not a core component but become apparent in certain situations

Cattell’s Three Types of Traits (1965)

1. Ability traits: how well you deal with a situation and reach your goal in that situation

2. Temperament traits: individual differences in the styles people adopt when pursuing goals

3. Dynamic traits: motivate and energise behaviour

The three types of dynamic traits (Cattell)

1. Attitudes: the desire to act in a specific way

2. Sentiments: complex attitudes that include our opinions/interests that determine how we feel about people or situations

3. Ergs: innate motivators and drives

Common Vs Unique Traits

Common Traits: traits shared by many people

Unique traits: rare traits and specialised interests that motivate us

Surface Vs Source Traits

Surface traits: collections of trait descriptors that cluster together in many individuals and situations

Source traits: underlying traits identified by factor analysis

Eysenck’s Supertraits

Relatively stable, long-lasting characteristics of the individual

Eysenck’s three types of Supertraits that make up the structure of personality

1. Extraversion: socialbility

2. Neuroticism: emotional stability

3. Psychoticism: severe psychopathology

Supertrait: Extraversion

Extraversion - Introversion

Extroverts: sociable and impulsive, like excitement, orientated towards external reality

Introverts: quiet and introspective, prefer a well-ordered life, oriented towards inner reality

Supertrait: Neuroticism

A dimension that a person can be placed on.

Neurotics are emotionally unstable, displays an anxiety/fear level disproportionate to the reality

Supertrait: Psychoticism

Psychotics are insensitive to others, hostile, cruel and inhumane, a strong need to upset others

He et al., 2019

Explored the relationship between neuroticism and night eating.

Found that they were significantly and positively related.

Costa & McCrae’s Big Five Model (1992) - OCEAN

Five Supertraits make up the basic structure of personality

1. Openness to experience

2. Conscientiousness

3. Extraversion

4. Agreeableness

5. Neuroticism

Measured with the NEO-PI

The NEO-PI

Consists of 240 items that measure the Big Five Factors, and 30 specific traits/facets that define the factors

The Big Five Factors: Openness

The individual having an openness to new experiences, showing intellectual curiosity, divergent thinking, an active imagination and willingness to consider new ideas

The Big Five Factors: Conscientiousness

Degree of self-discipline and control, being determined, organised, and plan ahead

The Big Five Factors: Extraversion

The individual’s sociability, being sociable, energetic, optimistic, friendly and assertive

The Big Five Factors: Agreeableness

Characteristics of the individual that are relevant for social interaction, being trusting, helpful, soft-hearted and sympathetic

The Big Five Factors: Neuroticism

An individual’s emotional stability and personal adjustment, experiencing wide mood swings and having unstable emotions, or being calm, well-adjusted and not prone to extreme emotional states