1. Introduction to Advanced Topics in Personality: The Trait Approach

2. Type theories: the precursors of trait theories
The four temperament types: Galen, Hippocrates
The three somatotypes: Kretschmer, Sheldon

3. The four temperament types, according to the ancient Greeks
Sanguine corresponds to the fluid of blood. A person who is sanguine is generally optimistic, cheerful, even-tempered, confident, rational, popular, and fun-loving.
Choleric corresponds to the fluid of yellow bile. A person who is choleric is a doer and a leader. Many great charismatic, military and political figures were cholerics. On the negative side, they are easily angered or bad tempered.
Melancholic corresponds to the fluid of black bile. A person who is a thoughtful ponderer has a melancholic disposition. Often kind and considerate, melancholics can be highly creative—as in poets and artists—but also can become overly obsessed on the tragedy and cruelty in the world, thus becoming depressed.
Phlegmatic corresponds to the fluid of phlegm. A phlegmatic person is calm and unemotional. Although phlegmatics are generally self-content and kind, their shy personality can often inhibit enthusiasm in others and make themselves lazy and resistant to change.

5. Type theories: the precursors of trait theories
The four temperament types: Galen, Hippocrates
The three somatotypes: Kretschmer, Sheldon

6. The three prototypic somatotypes: ectomorphic, endomorphic, and mesomorphic

7. Personality as trait dimensions
Trait: a dimension of personality used to characterize people according to the degree to which they manifest a particular characteristic.
Assumption 1: personality characteristics are relatively stable over time.
Assumption 2: personality characteristics are relatively stable across situations.
Important question: To what extent does nature (our genetic makeup) or nurture (our experience and learning history) contribute to a given trait?

8. An example of a trait dimension

9. Personality as trait dimensions
Trait: a dimension of personality used to characterize people according to the degree to which they manifest a particular characteristic.
Assumption 1: personality characteristics are relatively stable over time.
Assumption 2: personality characteristics are relatively stable across situations.
Important question: To what extent does nature (our genetic makeup) or nurture (our experience and learning history) contribute to a given trait?

10. Traits are hierarchically structured (trait, patterns of behavior, specific surface behaviors)

11. The Big Five personality factors
Characteristics
Extraversion
Sociable versus retiring, fun-loving versus sober, assertive versus reserved
Agreeableness
Softhearted versus ruthless, trusting versus suspicious, helpful versus uncooperative
Conscientiousness
Well-organized versus disorganized, careful versus careless, self-disciplined versus weak-willed
Neuroticism
Worried versus calm, insecure versus secure, self-pitying versus self-satisfied
Openness
Imaginative versus down-to-earth, preference for variety versus preference for routine, independent versus conforming

12. Historical identification of the Big Five personality dimensions
Investigator(s)
Factor I
Factor 2
Factor 3
Factor 4
Factor 5
Fiske (1949)
Confident self-expression
Social adaptability
Conformity
Emotional control
Inquiring intellect
Tupes & Christal (1961)
Surgency
Agreeableness
Dependability
Emotional stability
Culture
Norman (1963)
Conscientiousness
Borgatta (1964)
Assertiveness
Likeability
Task interest
Emotionality
Intelligence
Digman & Take-moto-Chock (1981)
Extraversion
Friendly compliance
Will to achieve
Ego strength (Anxiety)
Intellect
Goldberg (1981, 1989)
McCrae & Costa (1985)
Neuroticism
Openness to experience
Conley (1985)
Social extraversion
Impulse control
Intellectual interests
Botwin & Buss (1989)
Dominant-assured
Intellectance-culture
Peabody & Goldberg (1989)
Power
Love
Work
Affect

13. Human universals
W We all smile when happy, mourn the los loss of a child, negotiate a place in a so social setting with specific traditional rol roles. We all eat, experience hunger, lea learn which foods are acceptable,
connect eating with social occasions, an and use food-related activities as
basic metaphors for aspects of life.

14. The nomothetic versus the idiographic approach
Nomothetic: How do people at one end of a trait dimension differ from people at the other end?
Major strength: allows us to discover general laws of personality
Secondary strength: allows us to learn a great deal about the personalities of individual persons
Idiographic: What kind of personality does Lindsay Lohan have? (psychobiography, case study)
Major strength: insights into the distinctive features of Lindsay’s personality and how she got to be that way
Major weaknesses: inefficiency and the inability to use this approach to derive general laws of personality

15. An example of a trait dimension

19. Important questions
How do we know that personality traits really exist?
How can we measure personality traits?
What are the main traits that make up our personalities?
How does personality change throughout the life span?
Is personality shaped more by genes or by environments?
How did personality evolve in our early ancestors?
Are there “disorders” of personality?
What is the role of personality in aspects of life such as relationships, work, health, the law, and life satisfaction?