PSYC 2740 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Horoscope, Conscientiousness, Barnum Effect

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2740
• Professor: Stephen Lewis

Document Summary

Theoretical issues: meaningful individual differences, stability over time, traits are consistent over time, but manifestation of trait may vary, rank order - with a change of a given trait, a relative difference remains between individuals, consistency across situations. Includes the studies of abilities, aptitudes, and intelligence. Second assumption made by all trait theories is that there is a degree of consistency in personality over time. Rank order: if all people show a decrease in a particular trait at the same rate over time, they might still maintain the same rank order relative to each other. Situationism: if behaviour differs from situation to situation, then it must be situational differences, not underlying personality traits, that determine behaviour. Theoretical issues: meaningful individual differences, stability over time, consistency across situations. Traits are consistent over time but, manifestation of trait may vary. Ranks with a change in a given trait, a relative difference remains between individual (people maintain the same rank over time)