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