1. What is the nature of personality and how can it be assessed? From “Types” to “Traits” - Traits vs. States Personality typologies Personality tests to assess individual differences: - Unstructured (projective) tests - Structured (objective) tests

2. Personality: “…the unique pattern......of enduring psychological characteristics... …by which individuals can be compared…” “The same fire that melts the butter hardens the egg.” (Allport, 1965) Temperament: “…characteristic level of reactivity and energy.”

3. Reactive interactions Evocative interactions Proactive interactions Why doesn’t the same environment produce the same personality?

4. Categorical (Type) approach: Dimensional (Trait) approach: Distributional approach: “introverted”“extroverted” “introverted”“extroverted” “introverted”“extroverted”

5. Hippocrates’ type theory (5th cent. BC) Blood. Sanguine temperament: –cheerful and active Phlegm. Phlegmatic temperament: –apathetic and sluggish Black bile. Melancholy temperament: – sad and brooding Yellow bile. Choleric temperament: –irritable and excitable

6. William Sheldon’s somatotypes relating physique to temperament: Endomorphic type (fat, soft, round): –Viscerotonia Mesomorphic type (muscular, angular): –Somatotonia Ectomorphic type (thin, long, fragile): –Cerebrotonia

7. ABC EndomorphicMesomorphicEctomorphic

8. 1. Self-assertive 2. Overly fast in reacting 3. Insensitive to other’s feelings 4. Always wants affection and approval 5. Prefers to be alone 6. Slow to react 7. Self-conscious 8. Loves comfort 9. Takes risks Traits and Sheldon’s Predictions TraitSheldon’s prediction (B) (C) (B) (A) (C) (A) (C) (A) (B)

9. A Rorschach inkblot:

10. An illustration by Pruett Carter appearing in the September 1931 issue of Woman's Home Companion to illustrate a story by Margaret Deland (1931). Early development of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT):