Let’s talk about TRAITS! Tristram Jones, Ph.D. PS330 Unit V

What IS a trait??? A trait is a theoretical concept describing a basic dimension of personality---does that clear it up??? A trait is a theoretical concept describing a basic dimension of personality---does that clear it up???

Where can we find an expert who will explain traits to us??? “Who will explain this mysterious concept so that we can understand?”

Fortunately, there are experts! CATELL, ALLPORT, MCCRAE, COSTA & FRIENDS

First, let’s check out Gordon Allport "Personality is far too complex a thing to be trussed up in a conceptual straightjacket." (Gordon Allport, Becoming, 1955, p.vii) First to say “humanistic psychology!” First to say “humanistic psychology!” Personological Theory Personological Theory Resented behaviorism (Watson, /Fuller) Resented behaviorism (Watson, /Fuller) MISTRUSTED METHODOLOGIES MISTRUSTED METHODOLOGIES CONSIDERED TRAITS TO BE CONSIDERED TRAITS TO BE INDIVIDUAL/REJECTED ONE OR A FEW MOTIVES! CONSIDER HOW THIS DIFFERS FROM MOST THEORIES! PEOPLE ARE MOTIVATED BY DIVERSE TRAITS THAT REFLECT DIFFERENT LEARNINGS! TRAITS THAT REFLECT DIFFERENT LEARNINGS!

It’s the environment, Stupid! PERSONALITY= ATTEMPTS BY THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TO COMPROMISE AFFECTIVE CRAVINGS AND ENVIROMNETAL DEMANDS! PERSONALITY= ATTEMPTS BY THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TO COMPROMISE AFFECTIVE CRAVINGS AND ENVIROMNETAL DEMANDS! ALLPORT TAUGHT THAT TRAITS WERE PRIMARY COMPONENTS OF PERSONALITY That the sum of your traits equals a unique YOU, in other words! ALLPORT TAUGHT THAT TRAITS WERE PRIMARY COMPONENTS OF PERSONALITY That the sum of your traits equals a unique YOU, in other words! ALLPORT distinguished “person variables” from INDIVIDUAL TRAITS and this is a big deal! ALLPORT distinguished “person variables” from INDIVIDUAL TRAITS and this is a big deal! CARINAL TRAITS more defining than CENTRAL TRAITS

NOMOTHETIC vs. IDIOGRAPHIC ALLPORT CONSIDERED UNIQUE TRAITS TO BE PSYCHOPHYSICAL, UNIQUE TO THE INIVIDUAL (Idiographic!) These are NOT COMMON TRAITS! ALLPORT CONSIDERED UNIQUE TRAITS TO BE PSYCHOPHYSICAL, UNIQUE TO THE INIVIDUAL (Idiographic!) These are NOT COMMON TRAITS! Nomothetic traits (common traits) do “not measure the full-bodied person” Not really traits at all!

Resisting NOMOTHETIC research? Factor analysis loses the individual in the average! Factor analysis loses the individual in the average! Allport advocated common sense, content analysis! (A qualitative codification of content Allport called “structural dynamics”) But he hated computers! Allport advocated common sense, content analysis! (A qualitative codification of content Allport called “structural dynamics”) But he hated computers! The Allport-Vernon-Lindzey Values Instrument—nomothetics rears its ugly head? The Allport-Vernon-Lindzey Values Instrument—nomothetics rears its ugly head?

More Allportisms: Little personality change after thirty Little personality change after thirty Traits become “functionally autonomous!” Traits become “functionally autonomous!” Healthy personality is a unitas multiplex. Healthy personality is a unitas multiplex. Allport considered himself “eclectic” but emphasized systematic, not “jackdaw” eclecticism, making a unified whole out of the traits that are adapted, rather than a mish-mash. Allport considered himself “eclectic” but emphasized systematic, not “jackdaw” eclecticism, making a unified whole out of the traits that are adapted, rather than a mish-mash.

And then there was Raymond Cattell! Defined personality as “that Defined personality as “that which permits a prediction of which permits a prediction of what a person will do...” what a person will do...” He developed lots of TESTS! He developed lots of TESTS! Result: Lots of DATA Result: Lots of DATA IF YOU STUDY THE DARK WORLD OF STATISTICS, YOU MAY BE THINKING: IF YOU STUDY THE DARK WORLD OF STATISTICS, YOU MAY BE THINKING: PEARSON, or even SPEARMAN because Spearman Rank Analysis measures the extent to which, as one variable increases, the other variable tends to increase, without requiring that increase to be represented by a linear relationship. If, as the one variable increases, the other decreases, the rank correlation coefficients will be negative. GOT THAT?? PEARSON, or even SPEARMAN because Spearman Rank Analysis measures the extent to which, as one variable increases, the other variable tends to increase, without requiring that increase to be represented by a linear relationship. If, as the one variable increases, the other decreases, the rank correlation coefficients will be negative. GOT THAT?? CAN YOU BELIEVE HIS OFFICE WAS NEXT TO ALLPORT’S?

PERSONALITY TESTING! PERSONALITY TESTING! Cattell’s most I important contribution Cattell’s most I important contribution to trait theory is his to trait theory is his systematic description systematic description of personality—a of personality—a descriptive taxonomy! descriptive taxonomy! He invented the 16- He invented the 16- Factor Test! Factor Test!

Three Types of Cattell's Tests:  “Q TESTS”--- Standard questionnaire style instrument—can be style instrument—can be faked! faked!  “T-TESTS”--- Projective tests, observed behaviors and kinesic readings; readings...hard to fake! behaviors and kinesic readings; readings...hard to fake!  “L-TESTS” --- hard to falsify but very hard to reduce to data, too. to reduce to data, too. Kind of like Marilyn when you think about it! About it! Kind of like Marilyn when you think about it! About it!

And what might the 16 factors be? GLAD YOU ASKED! Herewith: Warmth Warmth Reasoning Reasoning Emotional stability Emotional stability Dominance Dominance Liveliness Liveliness Rule consciousness Rule consciousness Social boldness Social boldness Sensitivity Sensitivity Vigilance Vigilance

And Abstractness Abstractness Privateness Privateness Apprehension Apprehension Openness to change Openness to change Self-reliance Self-reliance Perfectionism Perfectionism Tension Tension “Frapped” by the magic of MULTIVARIATE of MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS by COMPUTER!

And then came... THE BIG FIVE! No, wait.... And then came... THE BIG FIVE! No, wait....

THEN came the big five!!! No, wait....

Ahh--- THEN CAME THE BIG FIVE! (finally!) So how come there’s only two of them? So how come there’s only two of them?

BECAUSE THEY CAME UP WITH FIVE FACTORS! EXTRAVERSION EXTRAVERSION AGREEABLENESS AGREEABLENESS NEUROTICISM NEUROTICISM OPENNESS OPENNESS CONSCIENTIOUSNESS CONSCIENTIOUSNESS EACH MEASURED BY A FACET, OR FOCUSED TRAIT!

So, Nomothetic or Idiographic? Did the research wonks win by using computers? Can personality be quantified?