PSY-33 Lecture 5: Theories of Personality 5
Theories of Personality
Notes
Joseph Yang
● Research methods illustrated: factor analysis
○ Factor analysis is a statistical technique that mathematically identifies a
meaningful underlying structure among a set of variables.
○ Suppose some questions are related to each other, but not to other questions; then
we can say that we have identified a unique factor in participants’ responses to
these questions.
● The great nomothetic search for universal principles of personality
○ 3 super factors: Eysenck
■ Psychoticism, Extraversion and Neuroticism
● Psychoticism: aggressive, cold egocentric, impersonal, impulsive,
antisocial, unempathetic, creative, tough-minded
● Extraversion: sociable, lively, active, assertive, sensation seeking,
carefree, dominant, surgent, venturesome
● Neuroticism: anxious, depressed, guilt feelings, low self-esteem,
tense, irrational, shy, moody, emotional
○ 5 factors: The Big Five factor model
■ N: Neuroticism, Negative Affectivity, Nervousness (Factor IV)
● Anxiety, Anger hostility, Depression, Self-consciousness,
Impulsiveness, Vulnerability to stress
■ E: Extraversion, Energy, Enthusiasm (Factor I)
● Warmth, Gregariousness, Assertiveness, Activity, Excitement-
seeking, Positive emotions
■ O: Openness, Originality, Open-mindedness (Factor V)
● Fantasy, Aesthetics, Feelings, Actions, Ideas, Values
■ A: Agreeableness, Altruism, Affection (Factor II)
● Trust, Straightforwardness, Altruism, Compliance, Modesty,
Tendermindedness
■ C: Conscientiousness, Control, Constraint (Factor III)
● Competence, Order, Dutifulness, Achievement-striving, Self-
discipline, Deliberation
○ The General Personality Factor (GPF)
■ Includes all positive aspects of the five factors: Emotional stability,
Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Intellect
■ Includes Alpha
● The emotional stability to get along with others
○ Emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness
■ And Beta
● The flexibility to deal with change, challenges and demands
○ Extraversion and Openness to experience
○ HEXACO (6 factor model)
■ Includes Honesty-Humility as the 6th factor
Document Summary
Factor analysis is a statistical technique that mathematically identifies a. Suppose some questions are related to each other, but not to other questions; then meaningful underlying structure among a set of variables. we can say that we have identified a unique factor in participants" responses to these questions. The great nomothetic search for universal principles of personality. Psychoticism: aggressive, cold egocentric, impersonal, impulsive, antisocial, unempathetic, creative, tough-minded. Extraversion: sociable, lively, active, assertive, sensation seeking, carefree, dominant, surgent, venturesome. Neuroticism: anxious, depressed, guilt feelings, low self-esteem, tense, irrational, shy, moody, emotional. 5 factors: the big five factor model. N: neuroticism, negative affectivity, nervousness (factor iv) Warmth, gregariousness, assertiveness, activity, excitement- seeking, positive emotions. Competence, order, dutifulness, achievement-striving, self- discipline, deliberation. Includes all positive aspects of the five factors: emotional stability, The emotional stability to get along with others. The flexibility to deal with change, challenges and demands. What can you tell about someone from his/her living space? organized, neat, and uncluttered.
