1. Modern Personality Theories
Line # 2 of the Graphic Organizer

2. Objectives Describe Personality tests (objective scales)
Who is Gordon Allport?
Describe factor analysis
List the Big 5 personality traits (Cattell)

3. Put people into “TYPES”
Greek ancient times looked to classify behavior and thought types…personalities
Angry ,irritable, hothead=choleric
Slow moving unemotional= phlegmatic
Modern exams little better indicators
Myers Briggs type indicator= businesses, economic, matchmaking, romantic realationships,(match.com) seminars- 2.5 million Americans a year
However little evidence it “works” (little evidence 5 weeks later same results; or key premise in relationships or work

4. Objective personality scales
chapter 2
Objective personality scales
Answer a series of questions about self
“I am easily embarrassed” True or False
“I like to go to parties” True or False
Assumes that you can accurately report
No right or wrong answers
From responses, develop picture of you called a personality profile

5. Types of Objective tests
Needs, values, interests, self-esteem
Standardized Questionnaires that require written responses
Typically include scales on which individuals rate themselves
Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory MMPI (personality disorders)
multidimensional personality questioner MPQ

6. Clustering traits Gordon Allport, psychologist in study of personality
1937 creates Trait Theory
Personal traits= different values for different people
Not equal weight or significant in peoples lives

7. Traits and trait theory
Trait- characteristic assumed to describe a person across many situations
Allport’s trait theory- Individual traits make people unique
2 types of traits

8. Central Traits Characteristic ways of behaving
Some people look at world as hostile, dangerous place OTOH some look at world fun and frolic
5-10 ways we behave, dealing with others and reacting to new situations

9. Secondary Traits The more changeable aspects of personality
Music preferences
Habits
Casual opinions

10. Factor analysis: 1 step further= Cattell
Statistical method for analyzing intercorrelations among various measures of scores
Clusters of measures or scores that are strongly correlated are assumed to measure the same underlying trait or ability

11. Raymond B. Cattell Studied traits using factor analysis
Like adding water to flour= causes material to form into little balls
Correlated items have some common underlying factor
F.E.= traits assertiveness, willingness to tell jokes in large groups, taking pleasure in meeting new people share common factor of extroversion

12. Cattell research
Measured humor, intelligence, creativity, dominance, emotional disorders
Identified 16 factors initially, then 6 repeatedly confirmed
Today debate 3-9 for inner core but most agree on big 5

13. The big 5 traits Supported by research Measured by Cattell
Questioners, life experience, observations

14. Big Five Openness vs. resistance Conscientiousness vs. impulsiveness
chapter 2
Big Five
Openness vs. resistance
Conscientiousness vs. impulsiveness
Extroversion vs. introversion
Agreeableness vs. antagonism
Neuroticism vs. emotional stability

15. Extroversion vs. introversion
Outgoing or shy
Traits like talkative or silent; sociable or reclusive
Look for limelight or inclined to stay in shadows

16. Neuroticism (negative emotionality) vs. emotional stability
Anxiety
Impulse control
Anger, guilt, contempt, resentment
Worriers, complainers, defeatists
Even when no major problems

17. Agreeableness vs. antagonism
Good-natured or irritable
Cooperative or abrasive
Secure or suspicious or jealous
Tendency to have friendly relationships or hostile ones

18. Conscientiousness vs. impulsiveness
Responsible or undependable
Persevering or quick to give up
Steadfast or fickle
Tidy or careless
Self-discipline or impulsive

19. Openness to experience vs. resistance to new experience
Curious, imaginative, questioning , creative
Conforming, unimaginative, predictable, uncomfortable with novelty

20. Summary Time
Personality tests
Allport- cluster
Cattell- big 5