Introduction to Personality Trait Theory

Bellringer Choosing from the list provided, create a list of 7 character traits that describe your personality.

Pig Personality Test On a blank piece of paper draw a pig Don’t look at your neighbor’s pigs!! You have 3 minutes

How you ’ ve drawn your pig is a useful test of your personality traits

If the pig is drawn…. Toward to top of the paper, you are a positive, optimistic person Toward the middle of the paper, you are a realist Toward the bottom of the paper, you are a pessimist & have a tendency to be negative Facing left, you area traditional, friendly, & good at remembering dates, including birthdays Facing forward (or angled forward) you are direct, enjoy playing “ the devils advocate ”, & neither fear nor avoid discussions Facing right, you are innovative & active but do not have a strong sense of family, & you are not good at remembering dates.

With many details, you are analytical, cautious & distrustful With few details, you are emotional & naïve, care little for details, & are a risk taker With 4 legs showing, you are secure & stubborn, & you stick to your ideals. With less than 4 legs, you are insecure or you are going through a period of major change With large ears, you are a good listener. The larger the ears the better listener you are With a long tail, you have a good love life. The longer the tail the better it is!

Personality Although we are able to describe personality of people around us, defining what we mean by ‘personality’ is more difficult. Spend two minutes with the person next to you thinking about how you would define personality.

Personality Key Term Personality is the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that make an individual unique. It comes from within the individual and remains reasonably constant. Our personality is what makes and defines us as a person.

Temperament Temperament is the genetic component of personality. It refers to our inborn personality traits Temperament is present from early childhood; is determined by inborn (genetic) mechanism; and can adapt due to maturation (as we mature) and due to life experiences that go through.

Thomas, Chess and Birch (1977) AimTo discover whether ways of responding to the environment remains stable throughout their life. MethodThey studied 133 children from infancy to early adulthood. The children ’ s behaviour was observed and their parents were interviewed. The parents were asked about the child ’ s routine and its reaction to change. Results They found that children fell into three types: ‘ easy ’, ‘ difficult ’, or ‘ slow to warm up ’. The ‘ easy ’ children were happy, flexible and regular. The ‘ difficult ’ children were demanding, inflexible and cried a lot. The children that were ‘ slow to warm up ’ did not respond well to change or new experiences to begin with, but once they had adapted they were usually happy. ConclusionThese ways of responding to the environment stayed with the children as they developed. Thomas, chess and Birch therefore concluded that temperament was innate.

Look back at your bellringer. Share some of your traits with the person next to you.

Traits An action, attitude, or behavior that is recurring (is unchanging). EX: -Adaptability and compatibility are great and can help you get along with others. -Having the drive to keep going, and having compassion and understanding - Laziness, arrogance, and obnoxious

Trait Theory Identifies and measures the degree to which certain personality traits exist from individual to individual. One trait + another trait = Personality type

THE BIG

The “Big Five” Personality Traits Openness Conscientiousness Extraversion Agreeableness Neuroticism

Openness THE RESEARCH I have a rich vocabulary. I have a vivid imagination. I have excellent ideas. I am quick to understand things. I use difficult words. I am full of ideas. I am not interested in abstractions. (reversed) I do not have a good imagination. (reversed) I have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. THE PEOPLE HIGH: - more liberal views - Broad range of interests LOW: - traditional -more conservative views -Narrow range of interests

Conscientiousness THE RESEARCH I am always prepared. I pay attention to details. I get chores done right away. I like order. I follow a schedule. I am exacting in my work. I leave my belongings around. (reversed) I make a mess of things. (reversed) I often forget to put things back in their proper place. (reversed) THE PEOPLE HIGH: -High levels of self-discipline -Prefer planned behavior LOW: -Low levels of self-discipline -Prefer spontaneous behavior

Extraversion THE RESEARCH I am the life of the party. I don't mind being the center of attention. I feel comfortable around people. I start conversations. I talk to a lot of different people at parties. I don't talk a lot. (reversed) I think a lot before I speak or act. (reversed) I don't like to draw attention to myself. (reversed) I am quiet around strangers. (reversed)[35] THE PEOPLE HIGH: -Seem enthusiastic and full of energy -Energized by time with others LOW: -Seem quiet and less involved in social world -Energized by time alone

Agreeableness THE RESEARCH I am interested in people. I sympathize with others' feelings. I have a soft heart. I take time out for others. I feel others' emotions. I make people feel at ease. I am not really interested in others. (reversed) I insult people. (reversed) I am not interested in other people's problems. (reversed) I feel little concern for others. (reversed)[35] THE PEOPLE HIGH: -Value getting along with others -Helpful, willing to compromise LOW: -Place self-interest above getting along with others -Often uspicious of others and unfriendly

Neuroticism THE RESEARCH I am easily disturbed. I change my mood a lot. I get irritated easily. I get stressed out easily. I get upset easily. I have frequent mood swings. I worry about things. I am much more anxious than most people.[51] I am relaxed most of the time. (reversed) I seldom feel blue. (reversed)[35] THE PEOPLE HIGH: --interpret minor frustrations as difficult -Always worried or stressed LOW : -Less easily upset or emotionally reactive -Considered emotionally stable

Extraversion

Openness

Extraversion

Agreeableness

Neuroticism

Conscientiousness

Exit Ticket What is your personality type, according to the Big Five Inventory? Does this accurately describe you? Why or why not?