PSCL313 8

Personality

that which permits a prediction of what a person would do in given situation

Traits

units of personality that have predictive value

Factor analysis

procedure for analyzing set of correlations among various measures into simpler underlying pattern, termed “factor structure”; gather info via observation, compute correlations between variables, identify significant correlations; interpretation may be difficult; high correlations may not mean that they are directly related (ex. $ of milk and my age)

Data types

1) Q data: questionnaire, 2) L data: life data, behavioral observation, 3) T data: test data, lab tests, ex. Physiological data

Data analysis

1) R technique: usually w Q data, 100s of people take questionnaires and then FA data, 2) dR technique: same as R, but people take test twice to asses change. See how changes relate to one another. 3) P technique: one person over an dover, used to see states, not traits

What are the 2 ideas regarding research approach?

Data types, data analysis

What are the 2 types of traits?

Surface and source trait

Surface trait

trait at the level of observable behavior

Source trait

primary factor derived from FA; ability trait, temperament trait, dynamic trait

Ability trait

how a person works to a desired goal (ex. intelligence)

Temperament trait

general style with which someone carries out tasks (ex. Positive trait)

Dynamic trait

provides E and direction to action; motivations and interests (ex. Ergs and metaergs)

Special ability trait: intelligence

1) fluid intelligence (ex. Raven’s Progressive Matrices): innate ability to learn, “fluid” bc can be expressed in diff types of learning, depends on opportunities presented to the individual. Cattell particularly interested in trying to learn about Fluid intelligence outside domain of education 2) crystallized intelligence (ex. SAT): includes effects of opportunity or education

What are the 2 types of dynamic traits?

Ergs, metaergs

Ergs

constitutional dynamic source traits (ex. instinct). Innate motivational traits (anger, curiosity, fear). Expression of “instinct” is learned (sex → mating, food → eat what?)

Metaergs

environmentally molded source traits, learned motivations (sentiments: formed early, endearing, ex. Politics. Attitudes: more specific, ex. Value of mother’s day)

Subsidation

type of meta-erg, basic drives are met by multi-step sequences, ex. In part bc we need to eat, we work → they are “means-end” activities

Cattell’s 16 PF

measures that Cattell saw as the most impt source traits, each measured dimensionally (1 to 100 as opposed to yes/no)

The Big Five

openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, emotional stability vs neuroticism

Research on the Big Five

fiske (1949): reported 5 factors from 16 PF, 1960: more replications, 1980: revived, with many studies showing 5 factors (differ in naming a bit)

Heritabillity

the extent to which 2 people with similar genetic status have similar personality, even when they have developed in diff environments → twins raised apart, each of Big 5 hve been found to be significantly acquired by genetics

Openness to experience

wide interests, original, curious, artistic, imaginative

Conscientiousness

thorough, reliable, persevering, efficient

Extraverson

talkative, energetic enthusiastic, outgoing, agreeableness: helpful, trusting, forgiving, considerate, cooperative

Emotional stability vs Neuroticism

relaxed, stable, confident, calm