Personality refers to “factors” Personality refers to “factors” inside people that explain their inside people that explain their behavior (MacKinnon, 1944).behavior (MacKinnon, 1944).

The sum total of typical ways of The sum total of typical ways of acting, thinking, and feeling acting, thinking, and feeling that makes a person unique.that makes a person unique.

• Ancient Greeks characterized human Ancient Greeks characterized human character by excessive influence of bodily character by excessive influence of bodily fluids: blood, yellow & black bile, and fluids: blood, yellow & black bile, and phlegm.phlegm.

• Early psychological examinations looked Early psychological examinations looked at psychopathology.at psychopathology.

•By the 1930’s researchers started looking By the 1930’s researchers started looking at the structure of everyday behaviour. at the structure of everyday behaviour. Came up with universal traits.Came up with universal traits.

Openness - refers to open-minded thinking and interest

Conscientiousness - refers to how organized and persistent we are in pursuing our goals.

Extroversion - refers to the preference for, & behavior in

social situations Agreeableness - refers to how well we tend to interact with others

Neuroticism - refers to the tendency to experience negative thoughts and feelings.

Additions to the Big Five? – Honesty, Respect, Integrity,. Additions to the Big Five? – Honesty, Respect, Integrity,.

Many agree that five basic traits provide a Many agree that five basic traits provide a complete description of our personalities. They are:complete description of our personalities. They are:

What Are Projective What Are Projective Tests?Tests?

A projective test uses A projective test uses ambiguous ambiguous stimuli designed stimuli designed to reveal the contents of the to reveal the contents of the client’s unconscious mind. client’s unconscious mind.

What Are Objective What Are Objective Tests?Tests?

In an objective test, no In an objective test, no attempt is made to attempt is made to subjectively understand subjectively understand what the person means what the person means by answer to each by answer to each question.question.

What Make a Good Personality What Make a Good Personality MeasureMeasure

InterpretabilityInterpretability - Broad vs. - Broad vs. Narrow (more reliable)Narrow (more reliable)

StabilityStability - Are tests valid? - Are tests valid?

- Are they reliable?- Are they reliable?

- Are they standardized?- Are they standardized?

Temporal stability – short vs. long term? Assumed etiology/cause – situation

specific vs. person-centered? Assumed mutability – changeable or

stable?

ExamplesExamples

16PF16PF

Myers Briggs Inventory (better to use Myers Briggs Inventory (better to use the NEO-PI)the NEO-PI)Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)Inventory (MMPI)

567 item, T/F inventory developed using an empirical approach

Criterion group validation (T > 65) Low face validity (see Burisch criteria) Validity scales (e.g., L, K, F, Fb, S,

VRIN/TRIN) Primary clinical Restructured clinical Content/Content component Supplemental

TAT Rorschach using Exner scoring system

Location Determinant Content Popular