Chapter 7: Trait Theories of Personality

Trait theory of Gordon W. Allport

• Harvard Psychologist
• Highlighted healthy aspects of human behavior
  • This contrasted with the psychoanalytic emphasis on animalistic and neurotic aspects of behavior
• Traits are basic units of personality
  • Defined by frequency, intensity, and range of situations
• Three different kinds of traits
  • Cardinal
  • Central
  • Secondary
• Trats are necessary to explain consistency
• Idiographic research
  • Focus is on the potentially unique individual
  • Studies are viewed as a path for learning about people

Factor-Analytic Trait Theory of Raymond B Catell

• PhD from University of London
• Did personality research and got clinical experience in Britian