1. Trait Theories

2. Trait Theories of Personality
Trait: a characteristic pattern of behavior, or a disposition to feel and act, as assessed by self-report inventories and peer reports.
Trait theories - endeavor to describe the characteristics that make up human personality. They don’t try to explain behavior, only describe it.

3. Trait Theories of Personality
Surface traits:
aspects of personality that can easily be seen by other people in the outward actions of a person.
Source traits:
the more basic traits that underlie the surface traits, forming the core of personality.
Example: Introversion - dimension of personality in which people tend to withdraw from excessive stimulation.

4. Trait Theories of Personality
Gordon Allport first developed a list of about 200 traits and believed that these traits were part of the nervous system.
It was later reduced to between 16 and 23 with a computer method called factor analysis.

6. Factor Analysis Factor analysis Eysenck and Eysenck
Extroversion versus introversion
Emotional stability versus instability
Eysenck Personality Questionnaire
Jane Goodall
(introvert)
Katy
Perry
(extrovert)

7. Exploring Traits Factor Analysis

8. Exploring Traits Factor Analysis

9. Exploring Traits Factor Analysis

10. Exploring Traits Factor Analysis

11. Exploring Traits Factor Analysis

12. Exploring Traits Trait Describes rather than explains
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

14. Assessing Traits

15. Assessing Traits Personality inventory
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
Empirically derived test
Objective test
Lie scale

16. The Big Five Factors

17. The Big Five Factors The Big Five Conscientiousness Agreeableness
Neuroticism
Emotional stability vs instability
Openness
Extraversion

34. Evaluating Trait Theories

35. Where else are traits used?
You have a strong need for other people to like you and for them to admire you. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself. You have a great deal of unused energy which you have not turned to your advantage. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. Your adolescent adjustment has presented some problems for you.
Disciplined and controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure inside. At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations.
You pride yourself on being an independent thinker and do not accept other opinions without satisfactory proof. You have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extraverted, affable, and sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be pretty unrealistic.

36. How accurate are Astrologers?
Can we discern people’s traits from the alignment of the stars and planets at the time of their birth? From their handwriting? How is it that Astrologers are eerily accurate?
1. Aries: March 21–April 19
2. Taurus: April 20–May 20
3. Gemini: May 21–June 21
4. Cancer: June 22–July 22
5. Leo: July 23–August 22
6. Virgo: August 23–September 22
7. Libra: September 23–October 22
8. Scorpio: October 23–November 21
9. Sagittarius: November 22–December 21
10. Capricorn: December 22–January 19
11. Aquarius: January 20–February 18
12. Pisces: February 19–March 20

38. How accurate are Astrologers?
Can we discern people’s traits from the alignment of the stars and planets at the time of their birth?
How is it that Astrologers are eerily accurate?
What about from a person’s handwriting?

39. How accurate are Astrologers?
Ever hear of the Barnum effect?

40. The Person-Situation Controversy
Are traits consistent?
Can traits predict behavior?