How many adjectives can you use to describe a person? Try it!

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) –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, 42R 2,12, 27, 37 C 3, 13, 28, 33, 38R 8, 18, 23, 43 N 4, 14, 19, 29, 39R 9, 24, 34 O 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 44R 35, 41 R 1 = 5 2 = 4 3 = 3 4 = 2 5 = 1

Agreeableness Trust Straightforwardness Altruism Compliance Modesty Tender-mindedness 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.

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 –Markey, Markey, and Tinsley 2003 Subjects were 60 girls –5 th grade mothers completed BFI and girls pubertal development was assessed –6 th grade girls reported engagement in risky behaviors e.g., smoking, drinking, deep kissing, etc.

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

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

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

The Interpersonal Sphere Ask yourself: High (+) Moderate (0) Low (-) –How dominant are you? –How warm are you?

Interpersonal Circumplex WarmCold - 0 +

Interpersonal Circumplex Dominant Submissive

Interpersonal Circumplex WarmCold Dominant Submissive

Interpersonal Circumplex

Participants n = 184 (50% female; 50% male) Age M = Range 17 to 29 years old Markey & Funder, 2002

Behaviors Relevant to Agency and Communion Each participant interacted in three different situations with an opposite sex stranger UnstructuredCooperativeCompetitive

Coding Behaviors For each interaction, 64 social behaviors were coded by four different judges e.g., “Speaks quickly” “Displays ambition” “Offers advice”

Warm-Agreeable Seems to enjoy the interaction Seems to like the other person Expresses warmth Behaves in a cheerful manner Makes or approaches physical contact

Gregarious-Extraverted Exhibits social skills Interviews their partner Is talkative Engages in constant eye contact Initiates humor

Assured-Dominant Tries to control the interaction Dominates the interaction Shows a wide range of interests Appears relaxed and comfortable Volunteers a large amount of information about self

Arrogant-Calculating Exhibits condescending behaviors Speaks in a loud voice Speaks quickly Talks at rather than with partner

Cold-Hearted Expresses criticism Keeps partner at a distance Acts irritated Speaks sarcastically Tries to undermine, sabotage, or obstruct

Aloof-Introverted Reserved and unexpressive Seems detached from the interaction Shows physical signs of tension Exhibits awkward interpersonal style Expresses insecurity (overly sensitive)

Unassured-Submissive Expresses guilt Behaves in a fearful or timid manner Expresses self pity or feelings of victimization

Unassuming-Ingenuous Laughs frequently Seeks reassurance from others Smiles frequently Expresses agreement frequently

Applying the Interpersonal Circumplex to predict important childhood events Markey, Markey, & Tinsley, 2004

Method Participates –117 preadolescent children 52 girls, and 65 boys –All were in the 4th grade (M = 9.88). Each child was videotaped interacting with his or her parent(s).

Coding Behaviors Children were coded using the Interpersonal Circumplex

Method One year after study 1 children were asked to complete the Risk Behavior Assessment 94 completed the assessment (M = years)

Method Asked if they had participated in the following behaviors Smoked a cigarette (9% had) Consumed alcohol (22% had)

“Risky” Child

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!

Interpersonal Circumplex By using only 2 traits you can actually measure 8 personality characteristics

What if another dimension is added? What if we add another dimension to the IC? –Consider 3 dimensions simultaneously Markey & Markey, 2006

What is the best dimension to add?

The Interpersonal Sphere Extraversion and Agreeableness Conscientious –Contains interpersonal information –Together EAC are the “largest” factors of the FFM “The Big 3”

The Interpersonal Sphere Ask yourself: High (+) Moderate (0) Low (-) –How dominant are you? –How warm are you? –How conscientious are you?

A three-dimensional approach to personality How might conscientiousness “blend” with dominance and warmth?

Conscientiousness and Dominance

Conscientiousness and Warmth

A three-dimensional approach to personality Combining these three circles creates the Interpersonal Sphere (IPS). ++= Markey & Markey (2006). European Journal of Personality.

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.

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

Question Where did your personality come from? Random Environment Genetics

“Twin Study” Dizygotic (DZ) “Fraternal” No more genetically related than siblings Monozygotic (MZ) “identical” Genetically identical

“Twin Study” Example Give 100 MZ pairs a measure of Extraversion Calculate a correlation r =.50 Give 100 DZ pairs a measure of Extraversion Calculate a correlation r =.30

Twin Study Why is MZ > DZ? Heritability Coefficient –The proportion of behavioral variance that can be explained by genetic variance (MZr – DZr) x 2 ( ) x 2 =.40 Heritability of Extraversion = 40%

Behavior Genetics Note: Doesn’t really study behavior or genetics directly Typical Heritability of personality traits is around 40%

Behavior Genetics Genes matter! Heritability are almost always greater than zero Not all of personality is determined by the environment or random chance

Genes and Environment Environment can affect heritability Example: –Height and food intake

Genes and Environment Genes work though the environment to affect behavior

Genes and Environment Genes gave him bad eyesight

Genes and Environment Wearing glasses caused him to be teased and rejected by the opposite sex

Genes and Environment Due to these interaction he becomes introverted Note: Introversion due in part to genes, but only came about through environment

Genes and Environment Diathesis-Stress Model A genetic predisposition can cause a person to develop maladaptive behaviors in stressful situations

Diathesis-Stress

Behavior Genetics Limitations All humans are highly similar to each other –Share 90% of genes BG is only looking at differences in the remaining 10%

Behavior Genetics Limitations Saying “A father shares 50% of his genes with his daughter” really means “A father shares 50% of the genetic material that varies across individuals with his daughter” Heritability Coefficient –The proportion of behavioral variance that can be explained by genetic variance

Behavior Genetics Why do you have two feet? –Environment? –Genes? Heritability of arms would be zero!

Behavior Genetics Thus, if there is no variation due to genetic influences heritability will be zero

Question Where did your personality come from? Random Environment Genetics

Behavior Genetics Genes matter! Heritability are almost always greater than zero Not all of personality is determined by the environment or random chance

Behavior Genetics Limitations All humans are highly similar to each other –Share 90% of genes BG is only looking at differences in the remaining 10%

Behavior Genetics Thus, if there is no variation due to genetic influences heritability will be zero

Why would some elements of our personality and body not vary across people? Important for survival!

Evolution Applied to human behavior: Behaviors are present because in the evolutionary history of human species, these behaviors were helpful or necessary for survival. –Survive –Reproduce

Evolution Examines the shared 90% of genes Asks: How a behavior pattern could have been adaptive during the development of the human species

Evolution Not forward thinking –e.g., giraffes neck Don’t want to consciously do this (we are wired) –Its not about what you consciously want, its about what you ultimately try to do!

But I don’t want to have kids! You would not be here if SOMEONE didn’t have children. What caused them to reproduce? Sexual urges (do you think you would be here otherwise?) Your sexual urges are based on an inherited instinct Even if you don’t WANT to reproduce, your sexual urges make it more likely that you WILL have children Other examples: pornography, etc.

Evolution Morality and evolution Naturalistic Fallacy If it is natural it is good e.g., you and kids Political objections are irrelevant from a scientific standpoint

Evolution Works at the level of the GENE, not the individual “You” really are not even important (or any animal) in an evolutionary framework it is all about the GENES! –“The Selfish Gene”