The Trait Theory

What is the trait approach to personality?

• A trait The typical way a person perceives, feels, believes or acts.

• Example: introverted, thinker, feeler, uptight• The trait approach says a personality is the

sum of all the traits.• Problem: traits are situational, not permanent.

What is Myers-Briggs personality type?

• There are 16 different personality types.

• Example: ESFJ – Extroverted, Sensor, Feeler, Judger

• Virtually all trait models, and even ancient Greek philosophy, include extraversion vs. introversion as a central dimension of human personality. Another prominent trait that is found in nearly all models is Neuroticism, or emotional instability.

Five Factor Model (modern)

• Tests our personality by measuring a person’s level of extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability-instability, and openness to experience.

• Similar to the Meyers-Briggs.• Are 5 traits enough?

Extraversion: This trait includes characteristics such as excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness and high amounts of emotional expressiveness.

Agreeableness: This personality dimension includes attributes such as trust, altruism, kindness, affection, and other prosocial behaviors.

Conscientiousness: Common features of this dimension include high levels of thoughtfulness, with good impulse control and goal-directed behaviors. Those high in conscientiousness tend to be organized and mindful of details.

Neuroticism: Individuals high in this trait tend to experience emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness, irritability, and sadness.

Openness: This trait features characteristics such as imagination and insight, and those high in this trait also tend to have a broad range of interests.

The MMPI

• The most common test today is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

• Assesses “abnormal” personality tendencies rather than traits

• Empircally derived – meaning the creators selected the items that differentiate one person from another (they tested a lot of question items and use the most discriminatory – in a good way -- items)

Hippocrates

• Believed our personality is based on 4 “humours” or bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, cholera, black bile)

Testing the Traits

• Self-report tests are questionnaires. Used by humanists and others. Used more commonly than projective. They rely on honesty. Ex: Five factor, MMPI, like the Myers-Briggs.