CHAPTER 14 Theories of Personality

The trait approach Section 1

The Trait Approach  Trait-an aspect of personality that is considered to be reasonably stable.  Assumed to account for consistent behavior in different situations  Traits are somehow fixed or unchanging  Where do traits come from????? That is the question

Ancient Greek Physician-Hippocrates  Body contains fluid called humors  Traits are a mixture of bodily fluids  Yellow bile- quick tempered disposition  Blood- warm and cheerful temperament  Phlegm- sluggish and cool disposition  Black bile-melancholic, thoughtful temperament Diseases and disorders reflected a lack of balance of fluids Bloodletting and vomiting were recommended to restore balance

Gordon Allport  Cataloged 18,000 words that describe a person  Physical – Behavior- Morality  Traits were inherited and fixed in the nervous system  Traits are the building blocks of personality  A person’s behavior is the product of a particular combination of traits

Hans Eysenck  Focused on the relationship- Two personality dimensions  Introversion- extroversion  emotional stable-unstable  Introverts-imaginative, look inward for ideas and energy  Extroverts- active, self-expressive, gain energy from interaction with others

Continue --Hans Eysenck  Stable- reliable, composed and rational  Unstable- agitated and unpredictable

Eysenck’s Personality Dimensions

The Big 5 factor model  Extroversion-talkativeness, assertiveness/ silence, passivity, reserve  Agreeableness-kindness trust warm/ hostility, selfishness and distrust  Conscientiousness-organized, thoroughness, reliability/ carelessness, negligence, unreliability  Emotional stability-instability--reliability, coping ability /nervousness, moodiness, sensitivity to negative events  Openness to experience-imagination/ curiosity, creativity/ shallowness lack of perceptiveness

Evaluation of the Trait Approach  Shortcoming  Describes personality- does not explain where traits come from  Today- focuses on describing traits rather than tracing their origins or investigating how people can change for the better  Positive – links between personality, abilities and interests,  Used to link people to educational programs and jobs