Theories of Personality Eysenck’s Biologically Based Factor Theory Chapter 14

Outline Overview of Factor and Trait Theories Biography of Hans J. Eysenck Basics of Factor Analysis Eysenck’s Factor Theory Dimensions of Personality Measuring Personality Biological Bases of Personality Personality as a Predictor Related Research Critique of Trait and Factor Theories Concept of Humanity

Overview of Factor and Trait Theories Utilize Factor Analytic Methods to Determine How Many Traits or Dispositions Disagreement on How Many Personality Traits Cattell: Many Factors Eysenck: Three Factors McCrae and Costa: Five Factors

Biography of Eysenck Born in Berlin, Germany in 1916 As a teenager, moved to England to escape Nazis Received his PhD in psychology at the University of London in 1940 Published Dimensions of Personality in 1947 One of the most prolific and controversial psychologists in the world Died in 1997 at age 81

Basics of Factor Analysis Correlation coefficient Factor analysis Factors Factor loadings Unipolar and bipolar traits Eysenck  orthogonal rotation Cattell  oblique rotation

Cattell’s Trait Theory Cattell’s Method Used inductive method to gather data Used three different media of observation L data Q data T data Divided traits into common and unique traits His approach yielded 35 primary or first-order traits

Eysenck’s Factor Theory Criteria for Identifying Factors Psychometric evidence Heritability Must make sense from a theoretical point of view Must possess social relevance Hierarchy of Behavior Organization (from lowest to highest) Specific acts or cognitions Habitual acts or cognitions Traits Types or superfactors

Dimensions of Personality Three General Superfactors Extraversion Neuroticism Psychoticism

Biological Basis of Personality Three fourths of personality dimensions can be accounted for by heredity Found these factors to exist cross-culturally Stability of traits over time Twin research suggests strong similarities on these dimensions

Critique of Trait and Factor Theories Trait and Factor Theories are: Very High on Generating Research and Parsimony High on Organizing Knowledge Moderate on Falsifiability Moderate to Low as a Guide for Practitioners and Internal Consistency

Concept of Humanity Eysenck is not concerned with concepts of determinism versus free choice, optimism versus pessimism, and causality versus teleology Biology over Social Influence Conscious over Unconscious Uniqueness over Similarity

Theories of Personality McCrae and Costa’s Five Factor Trait Theory

Outline The Big Five: Taxonomy or Theory? Biographies of Robert R. McCrae and Paul T. Costa, Jr. In Search of the Big Five Evolution of the Five-Factor Theory Related Research Critique of Trait and Factor Theories Concept of Humanity

Overview of Factor and Trait Theories Utilize Factor Analytic Methods to Determine How Many Traits or Dispositions Disagreement on How Many Personality Traits Cattell: Many Factors McCrae and Costa: Five Factors

The Big Five: Taxonomy or Theory? Taxonomies are not theories The Five-Factor Model began as an attempt to identify basic personality traits as revealed by factor analysis Evolved into a taxonomy The model then became a theory It can predict and explain behavior

Biographies of Robert R. McCrae and Paul T. Costa, Jr. Robert McCrae was born in Maryville, Missouri in 1949 Youngest of three children Completed PhD in psychology at Boston University, where he was referred to Paul Costa Began collaborating in 1976 Costa was born in Franklin, New Hampshire in 1942 He received his PhD in human development from the University of Chicago in 1970 The collaboration between McCrae and Costa has been fruitful, producing over 200 joint publications

In Search of the Big Five Five Factors Found Costa and McCrae utilized every major personality inventory and came up with a five-factor solution Most personality psychologists have opted for this model Cross-cultural Demonstrate stability over time Description of the Five Factors Extraversion Neuroticism Openness Agreeableness Conscientiousness

Evolution of the Five-Factor Theory Units of the Five-Factor Theory Core Components of Personality Basic tendencies Characteristic adaptations Self-concept Peripheral Components Biological bases Objective biography External Influences Basic Postulates Postulates for Basic Tendencies Postulates for Characteristic Adaptations

Related Research Personality and Culture Traits and Academics McCrae (2002) Poortinga et al. (2000) Traits and Academics Noftle & Robins (2007) Traits and Emotion McNiel & Fleeson (2009) Robinson & Clore (2007)

Critique of Trait and Factor Theories Trait and Factor Theories are: Very High on Generating Research and Parsimony High on Organizing Knowledge Moderate on Falsifiability Moderate to Low as a Guide for Practitioners and Internal Consistency

Concept of Humanity McCrae and Costa are not concerned with concepts of determinism versus free choice, optimism versus pessimism, and causality versus teleology Biology over Social Influence Conscious over Unconscious Uniqueness over Similarity