Trait Theory/BiologicalPersonality Perspectives Continued

You will see pictures of 3 different men.

On a piece of paper please respond to the following questions/prompts.

1. Choose a name for the person in the picture.

2. Create a list of 5 personality traits you think may be used to describe the man in the picture.

3. What kind of job might this man have?

Follow the directions!

Name and describe this man

Name and describe this man

Name and describe this man

1940s’s study of 4,000 college aged men

Developed a theory that there are three basic body types, or somatotypes

Endomorphic

Mesomorphic

Ectomorphic

Each associated with personality characteristics, representing a correlation between physique and temperament

According to this view human personality traits are underwritten, as it were, by human physical types.

Does this idea seem plausible?

Does body type dictate temperament?

To what extent does body type influence personality development, if at all?

William Sheldon-Somatotypes

William Sheldon-Somatotypes

William Sheldon-Somatotypes

William Sheldon- Somatotypes

Trait theory is focused on identifying and measuring these individual personality characteristics.

How many traits are there?

In the 1930’s there were 4,500 traits in 1990 it has been reduced to 5.

A trait can be thought of as a relatively stable characteristic that causes individuals to behave in certain ways.

Unlike other theories of personality, the trait approach is focused on differences between individuals.

Trait Theory

Allport categorized traits.

Cardinal◦ Traits that dominate

an individuals whole life.

◦ Consider the origins of the following terms Freudian, Don Juan,

Christ-like◦ rare and tend to

develop later in life.

Gordon Allport’s Trait TheoryCardinal, Central, & Secondary

Central Traits: The general characteristics that form the basic foundations of personality.

These central traits, while not as dominating as cardinal traits, are the major characteristics you might use to describe another person.

Terms such as intelligent, honest, shy and anxious are considered central traits.

Gordon Allport’s Trait TheoryCardinal, Central, & Secondary

Secondary Traits: Traits that are sometimes related to attitudes or preferences

Often appear only in certain situations or under specific circumstances.

Some examples would be getting anxious when speaking to a group or impatient while waiting in line.

Gordon Allport’s Trait TheoryCardinal, Central, & Secondary

(Neuroticism)

Although traits are stable tendencies to behave in certain ways, this stability does not necessarily apply across situations

PERSON – SITUATION INTERACTION What is more important? Innate tendencies… or situations?

Personality traits are both changeable and stable. ◦ Most change occurs before age 30

Conscientiousness ⇧ 20’s◦ Most stability occurs after age 30

Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness ⇓ Agreeableness ⇧

Genetic Factors may push and pull the development of certain traits, whose development may be helped or hindered by environmental factors.

Big 5 Model Raises 3 Issues

Big Five 5-Factor Model

Organizes all personality traits into 5 categories.

Five-Factor Model (Big 5) OCEAN Mnemonic device

Five-Factor Model (Big 5) OCEAN Mnemonic device

Five-Factor Model (Big 5) OCEAN Mnemonic device

Five-Factor Model (Big 5)OCEAN Mnemonic device

Five-Factor Model (Big 5)OCEAN Mnemonic Device

Social Cognitive Theory

Behavior includes a variety of actions, such as what we do and say.

Environmental influences include our social, political, and cultural influences as well as our particular learning experiences.

Cognitive factors include our beliefs, expectations, values, and social roles as well as our biological and genetic influences.

• 1960’s -70’s (Walter Mischel, Julian Rotter, Albert Bandura)• Emphasized a strong experimental approach

Julian Rotter Internal/external Handout How much control do we have over our

situations or rewards? Rotter’s findings indicate that a specific belief,

such as how much control you believe you have, influences how you perceive your world; and in turn, affects how you behave.

Locus of Control

Refers to not taking an immediate but less desirable reward and instead waiting and pursuing an object or completing a task that promises a better reward in the future.

Related to self control, impulsiveness, & will power

How long children can wait for marshmallows depended upon what they attended to.

◦ Imagined (15 minutes)◦ In front of them (6 minutes)

Delay of Gratification-Mischel

Should I take 1 marshmallow

now or wait and get 2 later?

Refers to the confidence in your ability to organize and execute a given course of action to solve a problem or accomplish a task

“I think that I am capable of getting a high grade in this course.” is a sign of strong self-efficacy

You judge your SE by combining 4 sources of info.

◦ You use previous experiences of successes & failures

◦ You compare your capabilities with those of others

◦ You listen to what others say about your capabilities

◦ You use feedback from your body to assess your strength, vulnerability, and capability.

Self Efficacy

Some people have a strong sense of self efficacy that applies to many situations. Others have a strong sense that only applies to a few areas. Having either high or low self efficacy can increase or decrease your performance and success in a variety of tasks and personal behaviors.

Personality development, growth, and change are influenced by 4 distinctively human cognitive processes◦ Highly developed language ability

Allows us to process and understand information that influences personality development

◦ Observational learning Watch, imitate, model

◦ Purposeful behavior Anticipate events, plan ahead, set goals

◦ Self-analysis Internal process that allows us to monitor our own thoughts

and actions

Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory