The Psychology of the Person Chapter 7 Trait Approach Naomi Wagner, Ph.D Lecture Outlines Based on Burger, 8 th edition.

The Psychology of the PersonThe Psychology of the PersonChapter 7 Trait Approach Chapter 7 Trait Approach

Naomi Wagner, Ph.DNaomi Wagner, Ph.D

Lecture Outlines Lecture Outlines

Based on Burger, 8Based on Burger, 8thth edition edition

Personality as Trait Dimension Personality as Trait Dimension

The trait approach sees human characteristics The trait approach sees human characteristics as lying along a hypothetical continuum from as lying along a hypothetical continuum from less of the trait to more of the trait, and each less of the trait to more of the trait, and each person can be described in terms of his or her person can be described in terms of his or her standing on this continuum. standing on this continuum.

Extravert________________Introvert Extravert________________Introvert

The Normal Distribution The Normal Distribution

If we were to measure a large number of If we were to measure a large number of people along a trait, we will find that the people along a trait, we will find that the scores are normally distributed (you need scores are normally distributed (you need to understand this expression) to understand this expression)

The trait approach assumes that traits are The trait approach assumes that traits are stable over time in a person, and stable over time in a person, and consistent across situations.consistent across situations.

The Normal Distribution The Normal Distribution

Special Features of the Trait Approach Special Features of the Trait Approach

The trait approach is interested in predicting The trait approach is interested in predicting the typicalthe typical behavior of people who score behavior of people who score within a certain segment of the trait continuum- within a certain segment of the trait continuum- such a low in social anxiety, or high in social such a low in social anxiety, or high in social anxiety. anxiety. The approach enables to compare across The approach enables to compare across peoplepeople, such as low or high in anxiety., such as low or high in anxiety. The approach The approach does notdoes not attempt to predict the attempt to predict the behavior of a specific person. behavior of a specific person. It describes personality, but does not attempt It describes personality, but does not attempt to explain it the underlying mechanisms of to explain it the underlying mechanisms of traits.traits.

AllportAllport

Allport was the founder of the trait Allport was the founder of the trait approachapproachHe suggested two avenues to study He suggested two avenues to study personality:personality: The nomothetic– that looks at typical The nomothetic– that looks at typical behavior across people (e.g. how do behavior across people (e.g. how do anxious people typically behave)anxious people typically behave)The idiographic: the in-depth study of one The idiographic: the in-depth study of one person, such as in a case-study. person, such as in a case-study.

Nomothetic ApproachNomothetic ApproachComparison across people Comparison across people

How people typically behave in agiven How people typically behave in agiven situation situation

Central, Secondary, and Cardinal TraitsCentral, Secondary, and Cardinal TraitsAccording to AllportAccording to Allport

Central Traits: about 5 traits along which a Central Traits: about 5 traits along which a particular person can be describedparticular person can be describedSecondary traits: other, less “central” traits Secondary traits: other, less “central” traits in a particular individualin a particular individualCardinal trait: Just Cardinal trait: Just ONEONE trait that “takes trait that “takes over” , often related to psychopathology, over” , often related to psychopathology, for example, a person who is paranoid, a for example, a person who is paranoid, a tendency that is reflected in all aspects of tendency that is reflected in all aspects of his/her behavior. his/her behavior.

The Idiographic Approach The Idiographic Approach Studying ONE person in dpeth Studying ONE person in dpeth

The central traits of a given person are The central traits of a given person are relevant in this approach relevant in this approach

Henry MurrayHenry Murray

Described personality along “psychogenic Described personality along “psychogenic needs”, that can be regarded as traits, needs”, that can be regarded as traits, because they affect behavior.because they affect behavior.

Murray identified about 20 such needsMurray identified about 20 such needs

In an attempt to understand a person’s In an attempt to understand a person’s behavior, it is important to know how the behavior, it is important to know how the strength of the needs within the person, strength of the needs within the person, relative to one another relative to one another

The “Press” The “Press”

Murray maintained that an environmental Murray maintained that an environmental factor may give rise to a need in a personfactor may give rise to a need in a person

He labeled such factor “press”He labeled such factor “press”

For example- you may not be aware of For example- you may not be aware of your need for order, until you find yourself your need for order, until you find yourself in a very messy roomin a very messy room

Murray developed a projective test, the Murray developed a projective test, the TAT (Thematic Apperception test) TAT (Thematic Apperception test)

Murray (cont-d)Murray (cont-d)

An example of the relative strength: Let us An example of the relative strength: Let us say that you have a strong need to affiliate say that you have a strong need to affiliate (to be with other people), and also a (to be with other people), and also a strong need to achieve.strong need to achieve.You are invited to a party tonight, while You are invited to a party tonight, while tomorrow there is an important testtomorrow there is an important testYour decision whether to go to the party or Your decision whether to go to the party or study for the test reflects the relative study for the test reflects the relative strength of these 2 needs. strength of these 2 needs.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

What is going on in this picture?

TAT (cont-d)

What is going on in this picture?

TAT

What is going on in this picture?

Cattell and Factor Analysis

Raymond Cattell used the statistical technique of Raymond Cattell used the statistical technique of factor analysis to identify the “basic structure” of factor analysis to identify the “basic structure” of personalitypersonalityFactor Analysis is a procedure looking for Factor Analysis is a procedure looking for correlations among various measures (in this correlations among various measures (in this case- personality tests) case- personality tests) For example, each person is given 10 different For example, each person is given 10 different tests, and the procedure identifies which tests tests, and the procedure identifies which tests “go together”, that is, the yield similar high “go together”, that is, the yield similar high scores, suggesting a common underlying scores, suggesting a common underlying “factor” “factor” Cattell identified 16 basic traits, “source traits”Cattell identified 16 basic traits, “source traits”

Factor Analysis and the Big FiveFactor Analysis and the Big FiveIn Search of the “Structure” of PersonalityIn Search of the “Structure” of Personality

Extraversion (vs. Introversion)Extraversion (vs. Introversion)

Neuroticism (emotional stability-instability)Neuroticism (emotional stability-instability)

Conscientiousness: disciplined and goal-Conscientiousness: disciplined and goal-directeddirected

Agreeableness: Being kind and warm to Agreeableness: Being kind and warm to othersothers

Openness: Intellectual curiosity, Openness: Intellectual curiosity, imaginationimagination

Big Five Studies Big Five Studies

The same 5 dimensions have been The same 5 dimensions have been identified in other cultures, other identified in other cultures, other languageslanguagesWhen people describe their friends, they When people describe their friends, they are using these dimensionsare using these dimensionsStudies suggested to refer to the Studies suggested to refer to the dimensions as 5 plus-minus 2dimensions as 5 plus-minus 2Factor Analysis depends on the data being Factor Analysis depends on the data being inserted into the procedure.inserted into the procedure.

Criticism of the trait approachCriticism of the trait approach

An enduring controversy in personality An enduring controversy in personality concerns the relative importance of traits concerns the relative importance of traits compared to situational determinants of compared to situational determinants of behavior. behavior. Critics charge that traits do not predict behavior Critics charge that traits do not predict behavior well well Critics also charge that there is little evidence for Critics also charge that there is little evidence for cross-situational consistency.cross-situational consistency.Traits explain only about 10% of differences Traits explain only about 10% of differences among people.among people.

In Defense of Traits In Defense of Traits

Trait advocates answer that if traits and Trait advocates answer that if traits and behaviors are measured correctly, a behaviors are measured correctly, a significant relationship can be found.significant relationship can be found.

They suggest to aggregate (pull together) They suggest to aggregate (pull together) several behavioral measures of a traitseveral behavioral measures of a trait

In addition, advocates maintain that the In addition, advocates maintain that the amount of behavioral variance explained amount of behavioral variance explained by traits is considerable and important. by traits is considerable and important.

Defense (cont-d) Defense (cont-d)

Aggregating data- that is, looking at the Aggregating data- that is, looking at the person’s behavior across time and situations person’s behavior across time and situations provides support for the trait assumption of provides support for the trait assumption of consistency.consistency.It is also important to identify traits that are It is also important to identify traits that are relevantrelevant for the person in order to assess for the person in order to assess consistency along time and across situations.consistency along time and across situations.Though traits are responsible for only 10% of Though traits are responsible for only 10% of the variance among people, this 10% is the variance among people, this 10% is relevant when decisions need to be make relevant when decisions need to be make based on comparisons between people.based on comparisons between people.

In the WorkplaceIn the Workplace

ConscientiousnessConscientiousness was found to be the was found to be the personality dimensions preferred in personality dimensions preferred in employment settings employment settings

Assessment: Self-Report Inventories Assessment: Self-Report Inventories The MMPI The MMPI

The MMPI was originally developed in the The MMPI was originally developed in the 1940’s to aid in making psychiatric 1940’s to aid in making psychiatric diagnosisdiagnosisIt had undergone several revisions and it It had undergone several revisions and it is now the most widely-used personality is now the most widely-used personality self-report inventory. self-report inventory. It has 10 clinical scales and 4 validity It has 10 clinical scales and 4 validity scales.scales.Validity scale to identify “faking”Validity scale to identify “faking”

Problems with Self-Report Inventories Problems with Self-Report Inventories

Faking Good: Wanting to present oneself Faking Good: Wanting to present oneself in a better lightin a better lightFaking bad: Wanting to present oneself in Faking bad: Wanting to present oneself in a worth light (to be deemed incompetent to a worth light (to be deemed incompetent to stand trial, for example)stand trial, for example)CarelessnessCarelessnessSabotage Sabotage Response Tendencies, such as social Response Tendencies, such as social desirability or acquiescence desirability or acquiescence

Current Status of Trait Approach Current Status of Trait Approach

Though originally the trait approach was not Though originally the trait approach was not concerned with the underlying mechanisms, concerned with the underlying mechanisms, Allport suggested that “one day” the biological Allport suggested that “one day” the biological basis of traits will be identified, and this is the basis of traits will be identified, and this is the current statuscurrent statusThe trait approach has generated a great deal of The trait approach has generated a great deal of research research It enables the comparisons across people (e.g. It enables the comparisons across people (e.g. when you want to identify the best candidate for when you want to identify the best candidate for a job) a job) It is NOT translated into psychotherapy. It is NOT translated into psychotherapy.