540 CHAPTER 13
Trait Theories: Who Are You?
- 9 Describe early attempts to use traits to
conceptualize personality.
- Tr a i t t h e o r i s t s d e s c r i b e p e r s o n a l i t y t r a i t s i n o rd e r t o p re d i c t
behavior. - Allport first developed a list of about 200 traits and believed that
these traits were part of the nervous system. - Cattell reduced the number of traits to between 16 and 23 with a
computer method called factor analysis.
- 10 Identify the five trait dimensions of the
five-factor model of personality.
- Several researchers have arrived at five trait dimensions that
have research support across cultures, called the Big Five or
five-factor model. The five factors are openness, conscientious-
ness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. - Tr a i t s m a y b e u s e d t o p re d i c t a v a r i e t y o f l if e o u t c o m e s , i n c l u d-
ing occupations, success in school and work, physical health, and
mental health. - Specific traits appear to be related to different aspects of cogni-
tion and intelligence.
- 11 Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the trait
view of personality.
- Some researchers believe the expression of some traits will differ
based on situation or context. - Factors continue to be researched. For example, some five-factor
researchers use the label Openness/Intellect to recognize poten-
tially different aspects of cognition and intelligence.
Personality: Genetics and Culture
- 12 Explain how twin studies and adoption studies
are used in the field of behavioral genetics.
- Behavioral genetics is a field of study of the relationship between
heredity and personality. - Studies with both identical and fraternal twins, those either
raised together or raised apart, assist researchers in investigat-
ing the role of genetics and environment on the development of
personality. - Adoption studies of twins or nontwin siblings also provide valu-
able information.
- 13 Summarize current research on the heritability
of personality.
- Studies of twins and adopted children have found support
for a genetic influence on many personality traits, including
intelligence, leadership abilities, traditionalism, nurturance,
empathy, assertiveness, neuroticism, and extraversion.- Cross-cultural research has found support for the five-factor
model of personality traits in a number of different cultures. - Future research will explore the degree to which child-rearing
practices and heredity may influence the five personality factors.
Assessment of Personality- 14 Identify the advantages and disadvantages
of using interviews, behavioral assessments, and
personality inventories to measure personality.
- Interviews are used primarily by psychoanalysts and human-
ists and can include structured or unstructured interviews.
Disadvantages of interviews can include the halo effect and bias
of the interpretation on the part of the interviewer. - Behavioral assessments are primarily used by behaviorists and
include direct observation of behavior, rating scales of specific
behavior, and frequency counts of behavior. Behavioral assess-
ments have the disadvantage of the observer effect, which causes
an observed person’s behavior to change, and observer bias on
the part of the person doing the assessment. - Personality inventories are typically developed by trait theorists
and provide a detailed description of certain personality traits.
The NEO-PI-3 is based on the five-factor model, whereas the
MMPI-2-RF is designed to detect abnormal personality. - Personality inventories include validity scales to prevent mini-
mization or exaggeration of symptoms, or “faking bad,” but such
measures are not perfect.
- 15 Identify the advantages and disadvantages
of using projective personality tests.
- Projective tests are based on the defense mechanism of projec-
tion and are used by psychoanalysts. Projective tests include the
Rorschach inkblot test and the Thematic Apperception Test. - Projective tests can be useful in finding starting points to open
a dialogue between therapist and client but have been criticized
for being low in reliability and validity.
Applying Psychology to Everyday Life: Biological
Bases of Personality- 16 Identify some biological bases of personality.
- Personality neuroscience is a growing area of research, and
brain structure differences associated with some aspects of the
Big Five dimensions of personality have been identified using
structural MRI.