PSYB30H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Factor Analysis, Neuroticism, Agreeableness
Document Summary
Psychologists hypothesize that traits (also called dispositions) are reasonably stable over time and at least somewhat consistent over situations. Traits as internal causal properties: internal = individuals carry their desires, needs, wants from one situation to the next. These desires and needs are presumed to be causal in the sense that they explain the behavior of the individuals who possess them. Internal desires influences her external behavior, presumably causing someone to behave in certain ways. Traits can lie dormant in the sense that the capacities remain present even when particular behaviors are not actually expressed. Traits in the sense of internal needs, drives, desires, and so on are presumed to exist, even in the absence of observable behavioral expressions. Traits as purely descriptive summaries: descriptive summaries = attributes of persons; they make no assumptions about internality or causality. O(cid:373)eo(cid:374)e"s e(cid:454)pressed (cid:271)eha(cid:448)iour, (cid:271)ut (cid:374)o assu(cid:373)ptio(cid:374)s as to what causes that behavior.
