Trait Theory/BiologicalPersonality Perspectives Continued

▶ You will see pictures of 3 different men.

▶ On a piece of paper please respond to the following questions/prompts.

1. Choose a name for the person in the picture.

2. Create a list of 5 personality traits you think may be used to describe the man in the picture.

3. What kind of job might this many have?

Follow the directions!

Name and describe this man

Name and describe this man

Name and describe this man

▶ 1940s’s study of 4,000 men

▶ Developed a theory that there are three basic body types, or somatotypes

▶ Endoderm

▶ Mesoderm

▶ Ectoderm

▶ Each associated with personality characteristics, representing a correlation between physique and temperament

▶ According to this view human personality traits are underwritten, as it were, by human physical types.

▶ Does this idea seem plausible?

▶ Does body type dictate temperament?

▶ To what extent does body type influence personality development, if at all?

William Sheldon-Somatotypes

William Sheldon-Somatotypes

William Sheldon-Somatotypes

William Sheldon- Somatotypes

▶ Trait theory is focused on identifying and measuring these individual personality characteristics.

▶ How many traits are there?

▶ Hans Eysenck claimed that any personality can be described by 3 basic factors (trait clusters) which are biologically determined.◦ Introversion-extroversion

▶ In the 1930’s there were 4,500 traits in 1990 it was been reduced to 5.

▶ A trait can be thought of as a relatively stable characteristic that causes individuals to behave in certain ways.

▶ Unlike other theories of personality, the trait approach is focused on differences between individuals.

Trait Theory

▶ Allport categorized traits.▶ Cardinal◦ Traits that dominate an

individual’s whole life.◦ Consider the origins of the

following terms⚫ Freudian, Don Juan, Christ-like

◦ rare and tend to develop later in life.

Gordon Allport’s Trait TheoryCardinal, Central, & Secondary

▶ Central Traits: The general characteristics that form the basic foundations of personality.

▶ These central traits, while not as dominating as cardinal traits, are the major characteristics you might use to describe another person.

▶ Terms such as intelligent, honest, shy and anxious are considered central traits.

Gordon Allport’s Trait TheoryCardinal, Central, & Secondary

▶ Secondary Traits: Traits that are sometimes related to attitudes or preferences

▶ Often appear only in certain situations or under specific circumstances.

▶ Some examples would be getting anxious when speaking to a group or impatient while waiting in line.

Gordon Allport’s Trait TheoryCardinal, Central, & Secondary

▶ Organizes all personality traits into 5 categories.

Five-Factor Model (Big 5) OCEAN Mnemonic device

Five-Factor Model (Big 5) OCEAN Mnemonic device

Five-Factor Model (Big 5) OCEAN Mnemonic device

Five-Factor Model (Big 5)OCEAN Mnemonic device

Five-Factor Model (Big 5)OCEAN Mnemonic Device

▶ Although traits are stable tendencies to behave in certain ways, this stability does not necessarily apply across situations◦ Personality tests reveal stability in traits, but may be a weak predictor

of behavior. ⚫ Conscientiousness?

◦ PERSON –SITUATION INTERACTION

▶ Personality traits are both changeable and stable. ◦ Most change occurs before age 30 because adolescents and young adults

are more willing to adopt new values and attitudes, or revise old ones.

◦ Most stability occurs after age 30, but adults do continue to grow in their ideas, beliefs & attitudes.

Big 5 Model Raises 3 IssuesBig 5 Model Raises Issues