Trait Approach to Personality Q: What is the trait approach to personality and how does it differ from the psychodynamic approach?

The Theory: Unlike the psychodynamic approach which argues that most of personality is a function of the unconscious mind, the trait approach argues that people’s personality is a function of characteristics that people exhibit over time and across situations. These personality traits are relatively stable and can become somewhat predictable

Traits Versus Types: In older thought, people tried to describe a certain type of personality that would explain their reactions in a certain way In the traits theory, the traits explain the type, not the other way around

Big 5 Personality Dimensions: According to Raymond Cattell, there are 5 major factors that determine personality These traits will determine what we do in a situation. They can also help us determine the personality of others

Nature versus Nurture: According to Hans Eysenk, our personality is more of a function of genetics than learning He argued that we would react a certain way based o two factors Introversion vs. Extroversion Emotionality vs. Stability

Eysenck’s 4 levels of Personality: