Psychology 3051 Psychology 305A: Theories of Personality Lecture 3 1.

Psychology 305 1

Psychology 305A: Theories of Personality

Lecture 3

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As noted in the course syllabus, if you are interested in participating in a peer learning community for this course, please e-mail Amir (sepehryaa@alumni.ubc.ca) by the end of today.

Reminder

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Research Methods and the Trait Perspective

1. How are the reliability and validity of personality measures assessed? (continued)

2.What are traits?

3. What methods have been used to identify the traits that are most important in describing personality?

4. Has a comprehensive taxonomy of personality traits been developed?

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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

1. distinguish between face, predictive, convergent, and discriminant validity.

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2. distinguish between the lexical, statistical, and theoretical methods of trait psychology.

3. define the lexical hypothesis.

4. discuss the goals and methods of factor analysis.

5. describe the personality dimensions of Eysenck’s theory, Wiggins’ interpersonal circle, and the Five Factor Model (FFM).

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Refers to the degree to which a measure assesses the construct it is intended to measure.

• Validity (or construct validity)

A measure that is reliable may or may not be valid; a valid measure must be reliable.

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How are the reliability and validity of personality measures assessed? (continued)

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The validity of a measure may be established by demonstrating that it possesses one or more of the following forms of validity.

1. Face validity:

• Refers to the degree to which a measure appears to tap the construct under study.

• E.g., Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale.

All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failureOn the whole, I am satisfied with myself

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2. Predictive validity (or criterion validity):

• Refers to the degree to which a measure is able to predict the likelihood or extremity of a behaviour that is theoretically related to the construct under study.

• E.g., A self-esteem measure that is high in predictive validity should be able to predict: alcohol and drug use persistence in the face of failure number of sexual partners (i.e., sexual promiscuity)

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3. Convergent validity:

• Refers to the degree to which a measure correlates with measures that assess conceptually-related constructs

(i.e., constructs that are theoretically related to the construct of interest).

• E.g., A self-esteem measure that is high in convergent validity should be correlated with measures of: depression neuroticism positive affectivity

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4. Discriminant validity:

• Refers to the degree to which a measure does not correlate with measures that assess conceptually- unrelated constructs (i.e., constructs that are not

theoretically related to the construct of interest).

• E.g., A self-esteem measure that is high in discriminant validity should not be correlated with measures of: agreeableness need for cognition political attitudes (i.e., liberal vs. conservative)

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• Often, convergent and discriminant validity are examined simultaneously:

Dep Neur PosAff Agree NCogn Polatt

SE -.68 -.57 .63 .06 .09 -.02

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• According to the trait perspective, personality is best described as a constellation of traits (e.g., anxious, conscientious, outgoing).

Example: Peter is jealous. “Jealous” describes Peter’s behaviour.

• Traits are viewed as descriptive summaries of behaviour.

What are traits?

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What methods have been used to identify the traits that are most important in describing personality?

1. Lexical Method

Based on lexical hypothesis: “All important differences in personality are encoded in natural language.”

• Trait psychologists have used three methods to identify the traits that are most important in describing personality:

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Employs two criteria to identify the traits that are most important in describing personality:

(a) Synonym frequency (e.g., dominant vs. manipulative).

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(b) Cross-cultural universality (e.g., kind).

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2. Statistical Method

An atheoretical approach.

Typically, involves collecting observer ratings or self-reports with structured questionnaires.

The resulting data are analyzed using factor analysis.

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Factor analysis examines the correlations between all pairs of items and identifies groups of items that are highly correlated with one another.

Each group of items that is identified is thought to reflect a single dimension of personality.

Each dimension is interpreted and labeled by the researcher (a highly subjective process).

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Example:

A researcher administers a 9 item self-report questionnaire to 1000 participants and finds three groups of highly intercorrelated items:

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Groups of Intercorrelated Items

Label for Personality Dimension

Humorous, amusing, popular “Extraversion”

Hard-working, productive, determined

“Conscientiousness”

Imaginative, original, inventive “Openness”

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Thus, factor analysis allows the researcher to reduce a large number of personality traits to a small number of personality dimensions.

Each dimension is thought of as a superordinate trait that encompasses several narrowly defined traits.

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3. Theoretical Method

The traits that are most important in describing personality are identified on the basis of a pre-existing

theory.

Example: Psychoanalytic Theory Anal-expulsive personality type: Disorganized, hostile,

destructive.Anal-retentive personality type: Stubborn, stingy, orderly.

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Has a comprehensive taxonomy of personality traits been developed?

• Taxonomy: A classification system (e.g., Periodic Table of Elements).

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• Over the past century, dozens of taxonomies have been proposed for personality traits.

• Examples:

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1. Eysenck’s theory of personality

Illustrates the theoretical method.

Founded on the ideas of ancient philosophers.

Proposed three personality dimensions: Extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism.

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Personality Types Derived from Eysenck’s Theory

Emotionally Stable Emotionally Unstable

Introvert PassiveThoughtfulPeaceful AControlledReliableCalm

QuietPessimisticUnsociable BMoodyAnxiousReserved

Extravert SociableOutgoingTalkative CResponsiveEasygoingCarefree

ActiveOptimisticImpulsive DExcitableAggressiveRestless

A = Phlegmatic; B = Melancholic; C = Sanguine; D = Choleric

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2. Wiggins’ interpersonal circle

Illustrates the theoretical method.

Founded on the notion that interpersonal characteristics are most salient to the description of personality.

Proposed two personality dimensions: Dominance and love.

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Wiggins’ Interpersonal Circle

Warm-agreeable

Cold-hearted

Unassured-submissive

Assured-dominant

Aloof-introverted

Unassuming-ingenuous

Gregarious-extraverted

Arrogant-calculating

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Emerged from decades of research by dozens of independent groups of researchers.

Illustrates the lexical and statistical methods.

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3. The Five-Factor Model (FFM)

Has obtained greater consensus than any other trait theory to date.

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The 5 dimensions of the FFM are:

• Extraversion

Reflects engagement with the social world.

Examples: assertive, talkative, gregarious vs. inhibited, quiet, shy.

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• Agreeableness

Reflects a concern with cooperation and social harmony.

Examples: kind, sympathetic, understanding vs. cold, cruel, harsh.

• Conscientiousness

Reflects planning, persistence, purposeful striving, and impulse control.

Examples: meticulous, organized, practical vs. careless, disorderly, sloppy.

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• Neuroticism

Reflects a tendency to experience negative and unstable emotions.

Examples: calm, optimistic, stable vs. anxious, emotional, insecure.

• Openness to Experience

Reflects an open and creative cognitive style.

Examples: artistic, intellectual, philosophical vs. uncreative, unimaginative, unreflective.

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Research Methods and the Trait Perspective

1. How are the reliability and validity of personality measures assessed? (continued)

2.What are traits?

3. What methods have been used to identify the traits that are most important in describing personality?

4. Has a comprehensive taxonomy of personality traits been developed?

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