Introduction to Advanced Topics in Personality: The Trait Approach

Type theories: the precursors of trait theories The four temperament types: Galen, Hippocrates The three somatotypes: Kretschmer, Sheldon

The four temperament types, according to the ancient Greeks Sanguine corresponds to the fluid of blood. A person who is sanguine is generally optimistic, cheerful, even-tempered, confident, rational, popular, and fun-loving. Choleric corresponds to the fluid of yellow bile. A person who is choleric is a doer and a leader. Many great charismatic, military and political figures were cholerics. On the negative side, they are easily angered or bad tempered. Melancholic corresponds to the fluid of black bile. A person who is a thoughtful ponderer has a melancholic disposition. Often kind and considerate, melancholics can be highly creative—as in poets and artists—but also can become overly obsessed on the tragedy and cruelty in the world, thus becoming depressed. Phlegmatic corresponds to the fluid of phlegm. A phlegmatic person is calm and unemotional. Although phlegmatics are generally self-content and kind, their shy personality can often inhibit enthusiasm in others and make themselves lazy and resistant to change.

Type theories: the precursors of trait theories The four temperament types: Galen, Hippocrates The three somatotypes: Kretschmer, Sheldon

The three prototypic somatotypes: ectomorphic, endomorphic, and mesomorphic

Personality as trait dimensions Trait: a dimension of personality used to characterize people according to the degree to which they manifest a particular characteristic. Assumption 1: personality characteristics are relatively stable over time. Assumption 2: personality characteristics are relatively stable across situations. Important question: To what extent does nature (our genetic makeup) or nurture (our experience and learning history) contribute to a given trait?

An example of a trait dimension

Personality as trait dimensions Trait: a dimension of personality used to characterize people according to the degree to which they manifest a particular characteristic. Assumption 1: personality characteristics are relatively stable over time. Assumption 2: personality characteristics are relatively stable across situations. Important question: To what extent does nature (our genetic makeup) or nurture (our experience and learning history) contribute to a given trait?

Traits are hierarchically structured (trait, patterns of behavior, specific surface behaviors)

The Big Five personality factors Characteristics Extraversion Sociable versus retiring, fun-loving versus sober, assertive versus reserved Agreeableness Softhearted versus ruthless, trusting versus suspicious, helpful versus uncooperative Conscientiousness Well-organized versus disorganized, careful versus careless, self-disciplined versus weak-willed Neuroticism Worried versus calm, insecure versus secure, self-pitying versus self-satisfied Openness Imaginative versus down-to-earth, preference for variety versus preference for routine, independent versus conforming

Historical identification of the Big Five personality dimensions Investigator(s) Factor I Factor 2 Factor 3 Factor 4 Factor 5 Fiske (1949) Confident self-expression Social adaptability Conformity Emotional control Inquiring intellect Tupes & Christal (1961) Surgency Agreeableness Dependability Emotional stability Culture Norman (1963) Conscientiousness Borgatta (1964) Assertiveness Likeability Task interest Emotionality Intelligence Digman & Take-moto-Chock (1981) Extraversion Friendly compliance Will to achieve Ego strength (Anxiety) Intellect Goldberg (1981, 1989) McCrae & Costa (1985) Neuroticism Openness to experience Conley (1985) Social extraversion Impulse control Intellectual interests Botwin & Buss (1989) Dominant-assured Intellectance-culture Peabody & Goldberg (1989) Power Love Work Affect

Human universals W We all smile when happy, mourn the los loss of a child, negotiate a place in a so social setting with specific traditional rol roles. We all eat, experience hunger, lea learn which foods are acceptable, connect eating with social occasions, an and use food-related activities as basic metaphors for aspects of life.

The nomothetic versus the idiographic approach Nomothetic: How do people at one end of a trait dimension differ from people at the other end? Major strength: allows us to discover general laws of personality Secondary strength: allows us to learn a great deal about the personalities of individual persons Idiographic: What kind of personality does Lindsay Lohan have? (psychobiography, case study) Major strength: insights into the distinctive features of Lindsay’s personality and how she got to be that way Major weaknesses: inefficiency and the inability to use this approach to derive general laws of personality

An example of a trait dimension

Important questions How do we know that personality traits really exist? How can we measure personality traits? What are the main traits that make up our personalities? How does personality change throughout the life span? Is personality shaped more by genes or by environments? How did personality evolve in our early ancestors? Are there “disorders” of personality? What is the role of personality in aspects of life such as relationships, work, health, the law, and life satisfaction?