Trait Approach I.Introduction II.Common Characteristics III.Gordon Allport IV.Henry Murray V.Raymond Cattell VI.The Big Five Model VII.The Interpersonal Circumplex VIII.Modern Applications of the Trait Approach IX.Criticisms & Limitations X.Strengths

I. Introduction

II. Common Characteristics Focus on average behavior Less concerned with underlying mechanisms Less to say about personality change

III. Gordon Allport Nomothetic versus ideographic approaches to personality Central traits Secondary traits Cardinal traits The proprium

IV. Henry Murray Personology Psychogenic needs Some examples: – Achievement – Affiliation – Dominance – Nurturance – Play

V. Raymond Cattell Factor analysis The 16 Personality Factor Inventory

FactorContrast WarmthCold, selfishSupportive, comforting IntellectInstinctive, unstableCerebral, analytical Emotional StabilityIrritable, moodyLevel headed, calm AggressivenessModest, docileControlling, tough LivelinessSomber, restrainedWild, fun-loving DutifulnessUntraditional, rebelliousConforming, traditional Social AssertivenessShy, withdrawnUninhibited, bold SensitivityCoarse, toughTouchy, soft ParanoiaTrusting, easy-goingWary, suspicious AbstractnessPractical, regularStrange, imaginative IntroversionOpen friendlyPrivate, quiet AnxietyConfident, self-assuredFearful, self-doubting Open-mindednessSet-in-one’s-waysCurious, exploratory IndependenceOutgoing, socialLoner, craves solitude PerfectionismDisorganized, messyOrderly, thorough TensionRelaxed, coolStressed, unsatisfied

VI. The Big Five Approach TraitContrast O penness Down to earth Conventional, uncreative Prefer routine Imaginative Original, creative Prefer variety C onscientiousness Lazy Aimless Quitting Hardworking Ambitious Persevering E xtraversion Reserved Loner Quiet Affectionate Joiner Talkative A greeableness Antagonistic Ruthless Suspicious Acquiescent Softhearted Trusting N euroticism (emotional Stability Calm Even tempered Hardy Worrying Temperamental Vulnerable

VII. The Interpersonal Circumplex

Sample Scatter Plot

Correlation Matrix Trait Forceful Assertive Meek Timid Kind Agreeable Cold Cruel1.00

Interpersonal Dimensions Forceful Assertive Meek Timid Kind Agreeable Cold Cruel Hostile Friendly Dominant Submissive

Laws of Complementarity Dominance pulls submission Submission pulls dominance Friendliness pulls friendliness Hostility pulls hostility

Interpersonal Circumplex Types Hostile-Submissive Types: – Rebellious Distrustful Personality – Self-effacing Masochistic Personality Friendly-Submissive Types – Docile Dependent Personality – Cooperative Overconventional Personality

Interpersonal Circumplex Types Friendly-Dominant Types: – Responsible Hypernormal Personality – Managerial Autocratic Personality Hostile-Dominant Types – Competitive Narcissistic Personality – Aggressive Sadistic Personality

VIII. Modern Applications of the Trait Approach Type A Behavior The MMPI

MMPI Example of an “empirically derived” test Questions “earn” their way onto the final test by statistically differentiating different groups of people (people with and without depression, people with and without schizophrenia, people with and without alcohol problems, etc…)

Simulated MMPI Items

MMPI Clinical Scales

IX. Criticisms & Limitations

X. Strengths

The Biological Perspective I.Introduction II.Genetic Factors in Personality III.Eysenck’s Theory of Personality IV.Temperament V.Cerebral Activation Patterns VI.Evolutionary Personality Theory

I. Introduction

II. Genetic Factors in Personality

TraitGenetic (Heritability) Familial Environment Non-shared Environment Well-being Social Potency Achievement Social Closeness Stress Reaction Alienation Aggression Control Harm Avoidance Traditionalism Absorption Positive Emotionality Negative Emotionality Constraint (Tellegen et al., 1988)

III. Eysenck’s Theory of Personality

Eysenck’s Supertraits or Types Extraversion Neuroticism Psychoticism

Eysenck’s Hierarchical Model Extraversion ImpulsivenessSociability HR 1 HR 2 HR 3 SR 1 SR 2 SR 3 SR 4 ActivityLiveliness Excitability …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Eysenck’s Two-Factor Model

Extraversion & Mood Positive Mood Score

IV. Temperament

Buss & Plomin’s Temperament Factors Activity – Vigor, tempo Emotionality – Fear, anger, distress Sociability – Attention of others, share activities, interaction (Impulsivity)

Temperament and Genetics Degree of Correlation

V. Cerebral Activation Patterns

VI. Evolutionary Personality Theory

What if Charles Darwin had been a psychologist? “So, tell me about your mother…”

The Humanistic Approach I.Introduction II.The Personality Theory of Carl Rogers III.Modern Humanistic Concepts

I. Introduction

Roots of the Humanistic Movement Existential philosophy The ideas of Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow

Common Characteristics of Humanistic Theories An emphasis on personal responsibility Here and now focus Phenomenology Growth

II. The Personality Theory of Carl Rogers

Rogers’ Fully-Functioning Person Trust their feelings/Intuitions Experience feelings intensely & deeply Accept and express all feelings Less likely to conform to social roles Present focused Honest & open Open to and learn from experience Constantly developing & growing Oriented towards fully living life Show care and concern for others Creative

Key Definitions Self-Concept: An organized set of beliefs that you hold about yourself. (Who are you? Describe yourself.) Self-Esteem: One’s feelings of high or low self- worth (How do you feel about your self- concept?)

Basic Needs Self-consistency: The absence of major conflict between self-perceptions Congruence: Consistency between self- perceptions and experience

Anxiety & Defense Subception: the unconscious perception of incongruence Triggers defenses of distortion & denial

Self-Concept Incongruence Experience

Self-Concept Congruence & the Fully Functioning Person Experience

Conditional & Unconditional Positive Regard Additional needs: – Positive regard – Positive self-regard Conditional positive regard from parents creates “conditions of worth”

Conditions of Worth Personal standards that dictate when a person can feel OK about him/herself.

Sample Q-Sort Statements I am optimistic. I often feel guilty. I am intelligent. I express my emotions freely. I understand myself. I am lazy. I am generally happy. I am moody. I am ambitious I am an impulsive person. I get anxious easily. I make strong demands on myself. I get along easily with others. I often feel driven. I am self-reliant. I am responsible for my troubles.

The Q-Sort & Psychotherapeutic Change

III. Modern Humanistic Concepts

Self-Esteem & Failure (Brockner et al., 1987) Grade on Second Test

Social Attribute Ratings & Self-Esteem (Brown & Smart, 1991) Rating of Social Attributes

Do you want to compare your exam to another student’s? HighLow worse than you. better than you. Self-esteem Told this student did… “Sure!” “NO WAY!”“Let’s do it.” “Why Not.”

Self-Esteem & Western Culture Exposure in Asian-Canadians (APA, 1999)