Personality psychology chapter4 the trait perspective

Chapter Four The Trait Perspective Themes of Dispositional Approach • Continuity in thoughts, feelings, behaviors • Focus on individual differences, rather than intrapersonal processes Types vs Traits • Types – Discontinuous categories (e.g., introverts vs extraverts) – Represent qualitative differences in people – Labeling convenience – Often viewed as biologically or genetically based • Traits – Continuous dimensions (e.g., sociability, aggressiveness) – Represent quantitative differences in people – Individual differences reflect differences in amount of a trait Views of Traits • Nomothetic – – – – From the Greek meaning ‘law’ Sees traits as universal Comparison among individuals is possible Individuality reflected in unique combinations of traits • Idiographic – Sees traits as idiosyncratic, not universal – Not all traits are shared – Traits may differ in connotation and importance among people – Comparisons may be not be possible What Traits Matter? • Key issues: – How many basic traits are there? – Which ones are they? – Essentially, how to define and organize the many ways we describe personality? Factor Analysis Statistical technique for decomposing large numbers of intercorrelations into basic underlying dimensions • Patterns of commonality (covariance) between descriptors indicate underlying traits • Results of factor analysis can shed light on the structure of personality • Caveat: What you get out of a factor analysis depends on what you put into it Steps in a Factor Analysis • Collect measurements on many variables – Self-reports – Observations • Collect data from many people • Compute correlations between all pairs of variables • Extract factors • Label factors based on factor loadings How to Decide the Nature of Personality • Empirical Approach – Demonstrated by Raymond Cattell – Language has evolved to describe the basic qualities of human nature – Factor analyzed 171 trait names – Resulted in 16 primary factors of personality How to Decide the Nature of Personality • Theoretical Approach – Demonstrated by Hans Eysenck – Conceptually identified types or “supertraits” • Introversion—Extraversion • Emotionality—Stability • Psychoticism (least studied) – Many individual difference variables can be explained in the cross between extraversion and emotionality – Types can be further broken down into component traits Another Theoretical Approach Interpersonal Circle • Assumes that core traits derive from those that concern interpersonal functioning • Two core traits – – • Dominance (Dominant Submissive) Love (Cold-hearted Warm-agreeable) Like Eysenck’s view, individual differences arise from combinations of the two dimensions The Big Five • Growing evolution of evidence suggests there are five basic superordinate traits • Disagreement about the exact nature of the traits – Why? • Factor analysis is used to identify factors • Labeling of factors is subjective • Results depend heavily on the items you start with Factor One • EXTRAVERSION (Sociability) – Other labels: Social adaptability; Assertiveness; Energy – Relevant life domain: Power – Reflected through behavioral and affective channels – Common adjectives: • Gregarious • Energetic • Timid (-) • Outspoken • Seclusive (-) Factor Two • AGREEABLENESS – Other labels: Conformity; Friendly Compliance; Likeability – Relevant life domain: Love – Reflected through behavioral, affective, and cognitive channels – Common adjectives: • Friendly • Kind • Considerate • Cold (-) • Spiteful (-) • Good-natured Factor Three • CONSCIENTIOUSNESS – Other labels: Responsibility; Will to Achieve – Relevant life domain: Work – Reflected mostly through cognitive channels – Common adjectives: • Cautious • Serious • Planful • Frivolous (-) • Careless (-) • Hard-working Factor Four • EMOTIONALITY (Neuroticism) – Other labels: Emotional Control; Emotional Lability – Relevant life domain: Affect – Reflected through affective channels – Common adjectives: • Nervous • Excitable • Anxious • Composed (-) • Calm (-) • High-strung Factor Five • INTELLECT – Other labels: Culture; Inquiring Intellect; Openness to Experience – Relevant life domain: Intellect – Reflected mostly through cognitive channels with some affect and behavior input – Common adjectives: • Imaginative • Creative • Unreflective (-) • Polished • Simple (-) • Knowledgeable – Factor with least consensus about meaning Additional Considerations of Big Five • Are all traits included? – What about evaluative words (e.g., good, bad, excellent, evil) • What is the best level of specificity? – Higher-order factors (socialization and personal growth) – Lower-order facets are more predictive of many socially significant behaviors Is Behavior Really Trait Like? • Some say “No” – Behavior across contexts tends to vary – Low association between trait self-reports and behavior – Walter Mischel’s personality coefficient (r ≈ 30) • Why low correlations? – Faulty trait self-reports of personality – Faulty measurement of behavior • Aggregation of behavior as solution Responses to Low Associations SITUATIONISM • Assumption: – Situations really drive behavior – Differences in personality are irrelevant • Data don’t support this position Responses to Low Associations INTERACTIONISM • Assumption: – Differences in personality and situations interact to cause behavior • Suggests an “analysis of variance” view of behavior – Example: – Effect of personality on behavior “depends on” strong vs weak situations Nail biting An ty e i x p ne o r Not prone No Test Test Personality’s Influence on Situations • Personality influences the situations people choose to enter (e.g., church, scuba diving, work, marriage partners) • People evoke different responses from others Result: Personality can influence situations such that the situation is actually different Personality Coefficient Revisited • When analysis is restricted to examination of carefully conducted studies, coefficient is somewhat higher • Size of correlation is limited by the fact that behavior is multiply-determined – Example: Extraversion Self-consciousness Ask for a date? Trait Anxiety New View of Traits • Personality is linked to behavior only when in a situation that brings it out • Patterns of linkages between situations and actions vary among people – Represent individuality, uniqueness – Differences represent idiographic differences in trait expression Assessment • Represents an important focus of the trait perspective • Mostly self-report in nature • Frequently evaluate multiple indicators • Often used to create a personality “profile” Disorders of Personality • From the Big perspective – Generally indicate patterns of behavior that: • • • • Deviate from cultural norms or expectations Interfere or disrupt person’s life Interfere or disrupt the lives of others Are thought of as extreme manifestations of Big • From the interactionism perspective – Traits represent vulnerabilities – Disorder relies on a combination of vulnerability and a catalytic situation (diathesis-stress) ... explained in the cross between extraversion and emotionality – Types can be further broken down into component traits Another Theoretical Approach Interpersonal Circle • Assumes that core traits derive... Not all traits are shared – Traits may differ in connotation and importance among people – Comparisons may be not be possible What Traits Matter? • Key issues: – How many basic traits are there?... 16 primary factors of personality How to Decide the Nature of Personality • Theoretical Approach – Demonstrated by Hans Eysenck – Conceptually identified types or “supertraits” • Introversion—Extraversion