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Trait Perspective

The Trait Perspective explains personality through fundamental traits, classifying individuals based on characteristic patterns of behavior. This approach does not delve into the origins of traits but focuses on describing and categorizing them. Historical systems like the Ancient Greek humors and modern theories such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Big Five personality traits provide insights into human behavior. Various assessment methods gauge personality traits, although they only predict average behaviors rather than specific actions in unique situations. Discover how traits shape us across contexts.

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Trait Perspective

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  1. Trait Perspective

  2. Trait Perspective • Describe personality in terms of fundamental traits • Not trying to explain why these traits exist, only describe them and classify them

  3. Trait Perspective • Trait = a characteristic pattern of behavior or a disposition to feel and act • e.g. introvert, outgoing, cheerful, anxious, … • How do we describe and classify traits? • According to “types” • Many different systems have been used

  4. Classifying Traits • Ancient Greeks: according to the four body humors - Melancholic (depressed) - Sanguine (cheerful) - Phlegmatic (unemotional) - Choleric (irritable) • Sheldon’s Body Types: - Mesomorph - Ectomorph - Endomorph

  5. Ancient Greek “Humors”

  6. Sheldon’s Body Types

  7. Classifying traits • Myers-Briggs Types: • Classifies personality according to four dichotomies (opposites) Extrovert Introvert Sensing Intuition Thinking Feeling JudgmentPerception • How do we know which systems is the best?

  8. Classifying Traits • Factor Analysis: statistical procedure to identify clusters of behavior that are related, and reflect a basic trait • e.g. outgoing people tend to say they like excitement and practical jokes, and dislike quiet reading • Trait = extraversion

  9. Eysenck Personality Questionnaire:

  10. Classifying Traits • The Big Five: • Slightly expanded set of factors that is still considered the standard in describing personality • Emotional Stability • Extraversion • Openness • Agreeableness • Conscientiousness

  11. THE BIG FIVE

  12. Classifying Traits • More recent research has revealed: • Characteristics of the Big 5: • More stable in adulthood • 50% hereditary • Cross-Cultural • Can be used to predict behavior

  13. Assessing Traits • Personality Inventories: long questionnaires where people respond (T/F) to items designed to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors • Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) • Compared responses to hundred of questions between normal and disordered people • Retained any statements that differed from normal • e.g. “Nothing in the newspaper interests me except the comics”  indicative of depression

  14. Evaluating the Trait Perspective • Person-Situation Controversy: • Remember: Is our behavior influenced by our personal disposition, or situational context? • Do personality traits persist over time and across situations? • Time: Personality trait scores correlated well over time • Children (0.31), Collegians (0.54), 30-Year olds (0.54), Over 70 (0.74) YES • Situation: little correlation between behavior in one situation and the next. NO

  15. Assessing the Trait Perspective • Therefore, scores on personality tests only mildly predict behavior • Example: If one test determines you are an extrovert, it does not predict how you will act in each social situation • But, we can use personality tests to predict the average of our traits. • The best indicator = people who know us well!

  16. Online Personality Test • This test is based on Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs Myers typological approach to personality: • http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm

  17. Lemon Test • Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

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