tom farsides atp paid 2: traits trait approaches to personality

Tom FarsidesATP PAID 2: Traits

Trait Approaches to Personality


Lecture contents

• From cardinal to basic traits

• Issue 1: What and where are traits?

• Issue 2: What use are traits?


Traits: The gist

Personal (‘internal’) rather than situational (‘external’)

Stable rather than transitory (across time)

Consistent rather than inconsistent (across ‘similar’ situations)

General rather than specific (across ‘different’ situations)

Universal dimensions: Individual differences (across people)


Manifest, latent, or manifest because latent?

• Potential vs. actual

• Internal vs. interactive

• Explanation vs. description

• Behaviours vs. motives, affects, cognitions


An early definition

“generalized and personalized determining tendencies - consistent and stable modes of an individual’s adjustment to his environment”

Allport & Odbert (1936, p. 26)


Behavioural traits and individual differences from

• Situational preferences

• Cognitive styles

• Expressive styles


Traits and individual differences attenuated by

• Strong situational constraints

• Trait combinations

• Trait conflicts Other traits Motives Temporary moods Roles


Allport’s non-common traits

Cardinal traitsCardinal traits Single defining traits that characterise some, but not all, Single defining traits that characterise some, but not all,

individuals.individuals.

Central traitsCentral traits Typically 5-10 traits: “those usually mentioned in careful letters of Typically 5-10 traits: “those usually mentioned in careful letters of

recommendation … or in brief verbal descriptions of a person” recommendation … or in brief verbal descriptions of a person” (Allport, 1937). (Allport, 1937).

Secondary traitsSecondary traits Like central traits but more specific to particular stimuli or Like central traits but more specific to particular stimuli or

particular responses.particular responses.


Cattell’s 16 PF (5th Edition)

A. Warmth Reserved Warm B. Reasoning Low High C. Emotional stability Reactive Calm E. Dominance Deferential Assertive F. Liveliness Quiet Energetic G. Rule consciousness Expedient Dutiful H. Social boldness Shy Socially bold I. Sensitivity Logical Sensitive L. Vigilance Trusting Vigilant M. Abstractness Practical Contemplative N. Privateness Forthright Private O. Apprehension Self-assured ApprehensiveQ1. Openness to change Traditional Free thinkingQ2. Self-reliance Affiliative IndependentQ3. Perfectionism Unexacting PerfectionistQ4. Tension Relaxed Tense


Have I read you right?

You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses you are generally able to compensate for them. You have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. Disciplined and self-controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure on the inside. At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You also pride yourself as an independent thinker; and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. But you have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extroverted, affable, and sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be rather unrealistic.


The 16PF5 (Global Factors)

Tough-Mindedness/Receptivity

Low Self-Control/High Self-Control

Introversion/Extraversion

Independence/Accommodation

Low Anxiety/High Anxiety


Hans J. Eysenck’s ‘Big Two’


Eysenck’s Extraversion

Extraversion

Sociable Lively Active Assertive

Carefree Dominant Surgent Venturesome

Sensation-seeking


Eysenck’s Neutroticism

Neuroticism

Anxious Depressed Tense Irrational

Shy Moody Emotional Low self-esteem

Guilt-feelings


For fun only

Answer the following questions using a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much)

1. Do you stop to think things over before doing anything?

2. Would being in debt worry you?

3. Do you lock up your house carefully at night?

4. Would it upset you a lot to see a child or animal suffer?

5. Do you believe insurance plans are a good idea?

Add the scores together.


Eysenck’s PEN model


Eysenck’s Psychoticism

Psychoticism

Aggressive Cold Egocentric Impersonal

Impulsive Unempathic Creative Anti-social

Tough-minded


(P)EN Evaluation

• E & N result from almost all factor analyses• Measures (e.g., EPQ-R) are generally accepted as

psychometrically impressive • Each factor score correlates with different biological stuff• Genetic contributions to E and N scores• Systemmatic mean differences across highs and lows,

e.g., Introverts vs. Extraverts

• I want to know more about: predictive/criterion validity comprehensiveness Utility generally


Fundamental Lexical Hypothesis

The ‘Big Five’

“the most important individual differences in human transactions will come to be encoded as single terms in some or all of the world’s languages”

(Goldberg, 1990, p. 1216)

• Single-trait words reveal factors I-V in US, UK, Japan, China, etc


The Five-Factor Model (FFM)

Costa & McCrae (1992)

Openness (Curious and unconventional)

Conscientiousness (Ordered and persistent)

Extraversion (Exuberant and sociable)

Agreeableness (Caring and considerate)

Neuroticism (Emotional and anxious)


FFM: Openness to experience

Openness

Fantasy Aesthetics Feelings Ideas

Actions Values


FFM: Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness

Dutifulness Competence Order Deliberation

Self Discipline

Achievement Striving


FFM: Extraversion

Extraversion

Gregariousness Activity level Assertiveness Warmth

Excitement Seeking

Positive Emotions


FFM: Agreeableness

Agreeableness

Trust Altruism Modesty Compliance

Straight-forwardness

Tender-mindedness


FFM: Neuroticism

Neuroticism

Anxiety Depression Vulnerability Impulsiveness

Self-consciousness

AngryHostility


‘Consensus’ on 5 ‘basic’ traits

16PF5 Big 5 FFM

Tough-Mindedness/Receptivity Intellect Openness

Low Self-Control/High Self-Control ConscientiousnessConscientiousness

Introversion/Extraversion Surgency Extraversion

Independence/Accommodation Agreeableness Agreeableness

Low Anxiety/High Anxiety Emotional Stability Neuroticism

Remember the two crucial skills of factor analysis: Factor labeling Input variable selection


FFM Evidence

• Cross cultural replication using translation Using lexical method

• Self-other correlations

• Biological Genetic inheritance Evolutionarily consistent Cross species Neurological

• Diagnosis

• Prediction


What is being claimed?

The claim that the FFM is comprehensive does not mean that it exhaustively measures individual differences in personality, any more than a comprehensive examination asks every single question a student should be able to answer on a topic. What the model hypothesizes is that almost every personality trait is substantially related to one or more of the five factors, and that any remaining traits…form a miscellaneous category rather than covarying to define a sixth or subsequent factor.

Costa & McCrae (1995, p. 218, f. 1)


Evaluation

Description more than explanation.

Conceptual fuzziness.

Little prediction or control.

Person-situation controversy continues.

However, the Five Factor approach does seem well grounded and the best trait taxonomy currently available.

tom farsides atp paid 2: traits trait approaches to personality

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