Psychology 102 Module 41-42

Course Instructor Dr. Haghighi

Trait Theories Explain differences between people in terms of stable personality traits Modern day psychologists have found 5 personality dimensions that span cultures

The 5 Factor Theory Extraversion Neuroticism Conscientiousness Agreeableness Openness to Experience

The 5 Factor Theory Extraversion Neuroticism Outgoing Withdrawn Stable Unstable

The 5 Factor Theory Agreeableness Conscientiousness Low High Undependable Dependable

Openness to Experience The 5 Factor Theory Openness to Experience Closed Open

The 5 Factor Theory Helpful in predicting general trends in behavior Too general to predict behavior in a specific situation

Behaviorist Theory Behavior determined by: Reward Punishment Classical conditioning

Social Cognitive Theory Bandura's Reciprocal Determinism and Self-Efficacy Rotter's Locus of Control

Reciprocal Determinism Environment Personal Cognitive Factors Behavior

Self-Efficacy One's perception of personal effectiveness One of Bandura's personal/cognitive factors

Greater effort & persistence Self-Efficacy Belief you will do well Greater effort & persistence Success

Belief you will do poorly Self-Efficacy Belief you will do poorly Less effort & persistence Failure

Belief you control your fate Internal Locus Belief you control your fate Optimism about the future Taking action

Belief you don’t control your fate Internal Locus Belief you don’t control your fate Pessimism about the future Doing nothing

Personality & Heredity Heritability can be calculated by comparing traits of twins reared together and twins reared apart

Heritability, Big 5 Traits (Minnesota Study)

Heritability, Extraversion (Minnesota Study)

Heritability, Neuroticism (Minnesota Study)

Heritability, Conscientiousness (Minnesota Study)

Heritability, Agreeableness (Minnesota Study)

Heritability, Openness (Minnesota Study)

Assessment Observation Interviews Rating Scales Inventories Projective Tests

Problems Observations, interviews, & rating scales suffer from reliability problems & the halo effect Halo Effect: Assuming that someone with one favorable trait has many others as well

The MMPI-2 The most widely-used inventory Consists of 567 true-false questions

MMPI-2: Clinical Scales Hypochondriasis(Hs): Exaggerated concern about physical health Depression (D): Distress, depression Hysteria (Hy): Physical symptoms w/ no cause Psychopathic Deviate (Pd): Disregard for moral & social standards Masculinity-Femininity (Mf): Having traditional male or female traits

MMPI-2: Clinical Scales Paranoia (Pa): Fear of others & suspiciousness Psychasthenia (Pt): Rigidity, tension, worry Schizophrenia (Sc): bizarre & unusual thinking Hypomania (Ma): Excitability, impulsiveness Social Introversion (S): Modesty, Shyness

MMPI-2: Validity Scales Cannot Say (?): Evasiveness Lying (L): Lying in order to look good Infrequency (F): Lying in order to look bad Correction (K): Defensiveness in filling out the scale

Typical MMPI Profiles

Typical MMPI Profiles

Typical MMPI Profiles

The CPI An MMPI-like test designed for normal individuals The MMPI is more useful for clinical purposes, the CPI for normal populations

Projective Tests The Rorschach Inkblot Test The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

The Rorschach Subject tells what each blot looks like and what aspect of the blot triggered that response

The Rorschach Responses scored on use of parts vs. wholes, movement, content, use of color Criticized for lack of reliability, low validity (inability to predict behavior)

The TAT Consists of 19 vague or ambiguous drawings Person describes what is happening in each

The TAT A TAT-like picture:

Sentence Completion A projective test requiring completion of open-ended sentences May be more reliable than the TAT

Magazine Quizzes “Personality” tests in popular magazines often use vague terms and rely on the the “Barnum Effect”: "Always have a little something for everybody.” (Famed circus owner P.T. Barnum) In this case, it involves having everyone's assessment be vague (so it fits) but positive (so you'll believe it)

End of Personality Theories Have I mentioned what a brave, generous, clever person you are?