Modern Personality Theories

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Objectives

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

Secondary Traits

• The more changeable aspects of personality• Music preferences• Habits• Casual opinions

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

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

Cattell research

• 1965- 1973• 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

The big 5 traits

• Supported by research• Measured by Cattell• Questioners, life experience, observations

Big Five

Openness vs. resistance

Conscientiousness vs. impulsiveness

Extroversion vs. introversion

Agreeableness vs. antagonism

Neuroticism vs. emotional stability

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Extroversion vs. introversion

• Outgoing or shy• Traits like talkative or silent; sociable or

reclusive• Look for limelight or inclined to stay in

shadows

Neuroticism (negative emotionality) vs. emotional stability

• Anxiety• Impulse control• Anger, guilt, contempt, resentment • Worriers, complainers, defeatists • Even when no major problems

Agreeableness vs. antagonism

• Good-natured or irritable• Cooperative or abrasive• Secure or suspicious or jealous• Tendency to have friendly relationships or

hostile ones

Conscientiousness vs. impulsiveness

• Responsible or undependable• Persevering or quick to give up• Steadfast or fickle• Tidy or careless• Self-discipline or impulsive

Openness to experience vs. resistance to new experience

• Curious, imaginative, questioning , creative• Conforming, unimaginative, predictable,

uncomfortable with novelty

Summary Time

• Personality tests• Allport- cluster• Cattell- big 5