PSYC 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Raymond Cattell, Gordon Allport, Trait Theory
Psychology 111 Notes 8/24/16
Psychology-the scientific study of human behavior and experience
Scientific method-actively seeks out truth, rather than accepts it from guesswork or
authority
• Beliefs are based on direct observation (publicly verifiable; repeatable)
• Actively encourages self-correction, rather than tries to make the facts fit an
established framework.
• Psychology did not become a scientific field until the late 19th Century.
About Psychology
*People act like informal scientists when it comes to developing beliefs about
themselves and others; they pay attention to their own behavior and the behavior
of others, their beliefs are linked to experience, and their beliefs can change with
new information.
• Some people think psychology requires more than common sense.
• People often do not understand why they do the things that they do.
• Common Sense misses on some surprising abilities.
• People often misperceive what is happening.
• Common sense doesnt help us understand phenomena which we dont
directly experience.
• Common sense isnt very helpful when it comes to solving physiological
problems
Study of Personality
Personality: A distinctive and relatively stable pattern of behaviors, thoughts, motives,
and emotions that characterizes an individual throughout life.
• Personality Trait: A part of ones personality; a particular and habitual way of
thinking and acting.
• Trait Theory: A theory about what basic traits appear in peoples personalities.
• According to Sheldon (1942), personality is related to a persons body shape.
• Endomorphic: Relaxed, sociable, affectionate, good natured
• Mesomorphic: Competitive, aggressive, energetic, athletic
• Ectomorphic: Intellectual, introverted, inhibited, self-conscious
Allport
• Gordon Allport found 18,000 words related to personality; 4,500 describing traits.
• Proposed that some traits are more widespread, influential than others-that there are
cardinal, central, and secondary traits.
• Cardinal Trait: Very powerful, but rare-a single characteristic that defines a persons
life.
• Central Traits: a general characteristic about a person; easily observed.
• Secondary Traits: Characteristics that show up only in specific circumstances.
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Trait Theories
Later trait theories:
• Described personality using few traits.
• Viewed each trait as a continuum.
• Viewed traits as largely inborn/stable.
Ex: Extraversion vs. Introversion
• Extravert: A kind of person who seeks stimulation and is sociable and impulsive
• Introvert: A kind of person who avoids stimulation and is low-key and cautious
Cattell’s 16 PF Theory
• Raymond Cattell used factor analysis to study traits and found that many personality-
related terms are related.
• Example: Conscientiousness is related to honesty, mindfulness, conforming, and
dutiful.
Five-Factor Theory: A model of personality that consists of five basic traits:
• Extroversion: outgoing, energetic, bold
• Agreeableness: good-natured, cooperative
• Conscientiousness: responsible, self-disciplined, well organized
• Neuroticism: Content, calm
• Openness: Curious, creative, imaginative
Strengths of Five-Factor Theory:
• The five factors have emerged in many studies of personality, including studies
conducted in other parts of the world.
• Easy to test, remember.
Evaluating Trait Theories
Two criticisms of trait theories:
1. Trait theories oversimplify human behavior (human complexity is reduced to a few
verbal labels.)
2. Trait theories cannot explain why behavior varies across situations or over time.
Influences on Personality
• Personality is correlated with biological relatedness and within different points in a
persons lifespan.
• Personality is most changeable in youth.
• Personality also varies somewhat with cohort and culture.
Social-Learning Theories
• Personality traits are not just inherited, they are also acquired as a result of
experience (i.e., social learning).
• Persons that grow up in the same household may have very different personalities.
• Siblings may be different because they have different genes or because of the
nonshared environment.
****Reciprocal determinism: NEED TO KNOW, NATURE VS. NURTURE!!!
• Life experiences snap our personality.
• However, our personality also determines our life experiences.
Trait Theory: theories of personality that focus on how personality results from specific
traits, like extraversion. Traits are inborn, dont change much. Different people have
different traits. Trait theories try to explain personality in as few traits as possible
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Theories of Personality
• Trait Theories: Describe individuals in terms of personality traits.
• Humanistic theories: Describe individuals in terms of internal motivations.
Humanistic Psychology
• People are viewed as inherently good, and as motivated to achieve their full potential.
• Personality is shaped by ones outlook and ones efforts to achieve full potential.
• Self-actualization: a state of being in which one is at peace with oneself and with
others; one has achieved a meaningful and satisfying life.
Self-Actualization
Characteristics (per Maslow):
• Spontaneous and natural; can find childlike delight at the ordinary.
• Independent in thought and action; needs privacy, but also has a few good friends
and feels connected to others.
• Becomes absorbed in mission(s) or cause(s)
Maslow’s Theory
• Self-Actualization
• Esteem
• Belongingness
• Safety
• Physiological
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Physiological: Most basic needs (e.g., food, air).
• Safety: Shelter, security
• Belongingness: Basic social needs
• Esteem: Respect from others; self-respect
• Self-actualization: To become a complete person.
Roger’s Theory
• Personality is shaped by the need for self-actualization, and positive regard from
others.
• Two types of positive regard:
• Unconditional positive regard: One receives unqualified love and acceptance
from others.
• Conditional positive regard: Love and acceptance from others is contingent
upon ones behavior.
• Only unconditional positive regard allows an individual to become a fully-
realized/self-actualized person.
Psychodynamic Theory
• Developed by Sigmund Freud during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Controversial because of emphasis on sex.
• Roschach Inkblot
Freuds Theory
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