Using Traits to Understand Behavior Different approaches: The Single-Trait Approach The Many-Trait Approach The Essential-Trait Approach The Simultaneous-Trait Approach

The Essential-Trait Approach Odbert and Allport found over 4,500 adjectives that describe personality traits 17,953 adjectives overall (but some were not traits) Are all of these really independent of each other? Essential Approach tries to find how many and which traits are essential

The Big Five: History Allport and Odbert (1936) Cattell (1943) 17,953 trait terms Cattell (1943) Factor analysis finds 35 clusters Fiske (1949) Factor analysis results in 5 factors Tupes & Christal (1961) Replicate Fiske Norman (1963) replicates Tupes & Christal, and writes a review about these “big five” traits Surgency (extraversion) Agreeableness Conscientiousness Emotional stability Culture

Essential Trait Big-Five Inventory

E 1, 11, 16, 26, 36 R 6, 21, 31 A 7, 17, 22, 32, 42 R 2,12, 27, 37 C 3, 13, 28, 33, 38 R 8, 18, 23, 43 N 4, 14, 19, 29, 39 R 9, 24, 34 O 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 44 R 35, 41 R 1 = 5 2 = 4 3 = 3 4 = 2 5 = 1

Agreeableness Trust Straightforwardness Altruism Compliance Modesty Obi-Wan Kenobi -- This loyal, kind, and honorable young Jedi is a good man.    Emperor Palpatine -- An evil, power hungry tyrant, he is manipulative, evil, and ruthless. Trust Straightforwardness Altruism Compliance Modesty Tender-mindedness

Extraversion Warmth Gregariousness Assertiveness Activity Excitement seeking Positive emotions Lando Calrissian -- An energetic, sociable man. He is adventure seeking, talkative, and socially skilled.    Wampas -- reclusive creatures of the ice planet Hoth. They are rarely seen & generally shy, leading a solitary existence

Conscientiousness Competence Order Dutifulness Achievement striving Self-discipline Deliberation Admiral Ackbar -- This rebel Admiral is renowned for his great powers of organization, responsibility, and administrative abilities. He is individual who can be relied upon.    Han Solo -- This disheveled and scruffy smuggler leads a reckless and haphazard life, with little respect for rules and procedures.

Neuroticism Anxiety Angry hostility Depression Self-consciousness Impulsiveness Vulnerability Princess Leia -- A confident & calm individual who does not crack under pressure (e.g.,. when being threatened by Lord Vader). She is brave and relaxed, even when in great danger (e.g., when disguising herself as a bounty hunter to gain access to Jabba the Hutt’s palace).    Tusken warriors -- These inhabitants of Tatooine are unpredictable, temperamental, and excitable, and known to be especially moody.

Openness to Experience Fantasy Aesthetics Feelings Actions Ideas Values Yoda -- This wise, philosophical, and thoughtful Jedi master challenges the establishment, encouraging his pupils to unlearn what they have learned and see the world in novel, creative ways.    C-3PO -- This droid versed in political protocol of thousands of cultures is governed by rules and prefers not to meddle with the ways and traditions of his hosts.

The Big Five Also known as the Five-Factor Model Extraversion Agreeableness Conscientiousness Neuroticism Openness to Experience OCEAN

Example Preadolscent girls and risk behavior Subjects were 160 girls Markey, Markey, and Tinsley 2003 Subjects were 160 girls 5th grade mothers completed BFI and girls pubertal development was assessed 6th grade girls reported engagement in risky behaviors e.g., smoking, drinking, deep kissing, etc.

Results Conscientiousness Neuroticism Openness Puberty .29 Extraversion .10 Agreeableness -.38 Conscientiousness -.42 Neuroticism .03 Openness -.04

Results

Results Demonstrates predictive power of the Big-5 Demonstrate show traits can interact with other elements (e.g., pubertal development) to create different behaviors

Using Traits to Understand Behavior Different approaches: The Single-Trait Approach The Many-Trait Approach The Essential-Trait Approach The Simultaneous-Trait Approach

The Simultaneous-Trait Approach Trait approaches tend to be “one-dimensional” They only consider one trait at a time “He is extraverted” Pro: Simple and automatic Con: Not all extraverts act the same

The Simultaneous-Trait Approach An “extraverted” and “agreeable” person An “extraverted” and “disagreeable” person

The Simultaneous-Trait Approach An “extraverted” and “agreeable” person Warm An “extraverted” and “disagreeable” person Controlling

The Simultaneous-Trait Approach This approach examines how traits “blend” together within an individual

Rate on a scale of 1 – 8 1 = Extremely inaccurate description of self 8= Extremely accurate description of self 1) Self-assured 2) Softhearted 3) Self-confident 4) Accommodating 5) Assertive 6) Gentlehearted 7) Persistent 8) Tenderhearted 9) Firm 10) Charitable 11) Dominant 12) Tender 13) Forceful 14) Sympathetic 15) Domineering 16) Kind

Score Dominance (your score – 40) / 10 Warmth (your score – 50) / 10

Interpersonal Circumplex Cold Warm -2 -1 0 1 2

Interpersonal Circumplex Dominant 2 1 -1 -2 Submissive

Interpersonal Circumplex Dominant Cold Warm Submissive

The Interpersonal Circumplex

The Interpersonal Circumplex

IPIP-IPC Warm-Agreeable Am interested in people. Reassure others. Inquire about others’ well-being. Get along well with others. Markey & Markey, 2009

IPIP-IPC Gregarious-Extraverted Start conversations. Love large parties. Feel comfortable around people. Talk to a lot of different. Markey & Markey, 2009

IPIP-IPC Assured-Dominant Do most of the talking. Demand to be the center of attention. Speak loudly. Demand attention. Markey & Markey, 2009

IPIP-IPC Arrogant-Calculating Cut others to pieces. Contradict others. Snap at people. Have a sharp tongue. Markey & Markey, 2009

IPIP-IPC Cold-Hearted Believe people should fend for themselves. Don’t fall for sob-stories. Don’t put a lot of thought into things. Am not interested in other people’s problems. Markey & Markey, 2009

IPIP-IPC Aloof-Introverted Am a very private person. Don’t talk a lot. Have little to say. Am quiet around strangers. Markey & Markey, 2009

IPIP-IPC Unassured-Submissive Dislike being the center of attention. Let others finish what they are saying. Speak softly. Seldom toot my own horn. Markey & Markey, 2009

IPIP-IPC Unassuming-Ingenuous Tolerate a lot from others. Take things as they come. Seldom stretch the truth. Think of others first. Markey & Markey, 2009

The Interpersonal Circumplex The IPC can help us understand sex – well at least who does it the most! Markey & Markey, 2007

Sex "Sex is a conversation carried out by other means.” "Sex with love is the greatest thing in life. But sex without love -- that's not so bad either."

Sex and Personality What accounts for different people’s willingness (or lack thereof) to engage in sexual relations with multiple partners?  Who has multiple partners? High Extraversion Low Agreeablness

Method Participates Measures 210 participants IAS 105 men and 105 women Measures IAS Sexual promiscuity (different levels of intimacy) 1) One minute continuous lip kissing 2) Manual manipulation of nude partner’s genitals 3) Oral manipulation of nude partner’s genitals 4) Sexual intercourse

Results 1) Men reported more partners for: 1) One minute continuous lip kissing 2) Manual manipulation of nude partner’s genitals 3) Oral manipulation of nude partner’s genitals 4) Sexual intercourse

Results 2) For both males and females dominance was positively related to: 1) One minute continuous lip kissing 2) Manual manipulation of nude partner’s genitals 3) Oral manipulation of nude partner’s genitals 4) Sexual intercourse

Results 3) Warmth had a quadratic relationship with: 1) One minute continuous lip kissing 2) Manual manipulation of nude partner’s genitals 3) Oral manipulation of nude partner’s genitals 4) Sexual intercourse

Interpersonal Circumplex Note: the IC measures 2 FFM traits By using only 2 traits you can actually measure 8 personality characteristics This number can actually be even larger!

The Simultaneous-Trait Approach What if we add another dimension to the IC? Consider 3 dimensions simultaneously Markey & Markey, under review

Rate on a scale of 1 – 8 1 = Extremely inaccurate description of self 8= Extremely accurate description of self Reliable Careful Organized Dependable Thorough Methodical Persistent Efficient

The Simultaneous-Trait Approach Extraversion and Agreeableness Conscientious Contains interpersonal information Together EAC are the “largest” factors of the FFM “The Big 3”

The Interpersonal Sphere Conscientiousness Conscientiousness 90o 45o 180o 225o 135o 270o 90o Dominance 0o Warmth 45o 315o 0o Warmth -45o -90o

Warm Dominating Conscientious Longitude Latitude Example Item 1. Warm 1.00 0.00 Get along well with others. 2. Cold -1.00 180 Want to be left alone. 3. Dominating 90 Do most of the talking. 4. Submissive 270 Seldom toot my own horn. 5. Conscientious Do things in a logical order. 6. Unconscientious -90 Leave my work undone. 7. Ambitious 0.577 45 35 Take the initiative. 8. Boisterous -0.577 -35 Let myself go. 9. Honest 315 Try to follow the rules. 10. Docile Tolerate a lot from others. 11. Unyielding 135 Give in to no one. 12. Dishonest Don't care about rules. 13. Stuffy 225 Seldom joke around. 14. Lethargic Excel in nothing at all. 15. Extraverted 0.707 Start conversations. 16. Introverted -0.707 Don't talk a lot. 17. Disagreeable Snap at people. 18. Agreeable Think of others first. 19. Driven Seek to be the best. 20. Passive -45 Let things proceed at their own pace. 21. Reckless Rush into things. 22. Cautious Take precautions. 23. Dependable Seldom forget appointments. 24. Unreliable Break my promises. 25. Sensitive Laugh and cry at the same time. 26. Stolid Don't fall for sob-stories.

The Interpersonal Sphere Conscientious Conscientious Stolid Stolid Conscientious Conscientious Driven Unyielding Driven Cold Stuffy Cold Stuffy Introverted Cautious Disagreeable Introverted Dependable Dependable Honest Dominating Honest Ambitious Dominating Ambitious Submissive Submissive Dishonest Dishonest Lethargic Unreliable Lethargic Agreeable Extraverted Boisterous Unreliable Agreeable Extraverted Boisterous Reckless Passive Warm Reckless Passive Warm Docile Docile Unconscientious Sensitive Unconscientious Sensitive Unconscientious Unconscientious Front Back Front Back

Using Traits to Understand Behavior Different approaches: The Single-Trait Approach The Many-Trait Approach The Essential-Trait Approach The Simultaneous-Trait Approach

Conclusion Personality is a unique “blend” of traits Like chemistry’s periodic table Elements do not exist in a vacuum Combine together! H20, NH3, CO2, etc.