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Using Personality Traits toUnderstand Behavior

For Personality Puzzle

4th edition Ch. 7

Personality PsychologySpring 2009

Approaches to Understanding

Single-trait approach

Many-trait approach

Essential-trait approach

Typological approach

The Single-Trait Approach

Authoritarianism California F scale

Conventionalism Authoritarian submission

Authoritarian aggression Anti-intraception Superstition and stereotypy Power and toughness Destructiveness and cynicism Projectivity Sexual repression

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Work and Social Behavior

Conscientiousness

Integrity at work (e.g., low absenteeism, honesty) Job performance (i.e., quality and quantity of work)

Success in college (better than SAT & HS GPA)

Purchase and maintenance of proper insurance (evenwhen they are at relatively low risk)

Longer life expectancy (they take care of themselves)

Work and Social Behavior

Self-monitoring

Other directness

Extraversion

Acting ability

The Many-Trait Approach

California Q-set (Block, 1961; 1978)

100 personality descriptions

Sorted into forced choice, symmetrical, and

normal distribution

Allow one hour to complete

Limited to use with those who understand theinstructions

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Q-Sort Step #1

Uncharacteristic Neutral Characteristic

To begin, read each Q-Set card and sort the cards into three broad categories(keep in mind you can switch cards around later if you need to).

Before moving on: Have you placed all of the cards into the three piles illustrated above?

Q-Sort Step #2

Uncharacteristic Neutral Characteristic

LessCharacteristic

MoreCharacteristic

Re-sort this pile first

Take the cards that are in the three broad categories, re-read the cards, and then re-sorteach pile into more refined categories (those in blue). Begin with the characteristic pile

(keep in mind you can switch cards around later if you need to).

Before moving on: Have you re-read and re-sorted all of thecharacteristic cards into two more refined piles?

Q-Sort Step #3

Uncharacteristic Neutral Characteristic

MoreUncharacteristic

LessUncharacteristic

LessCharacteristic

MoreCharacteristic

Re-sort this pile next

Next, re-sort the uncharacteristic pile(keep in mind you can switch cards around later if you need to).

Before moving on: Have you re-read and re-sorted all of theuncharacteristic cards into two more refined piles?

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Q-Sort Step #4

Uncharacteristic Neutral Characteristic

MoreUncharacteristic

LessUncharacteristic

Neutral, but maybemore uncharacteristic

Neutral, but maybemore Characteristic

LessCharacteristic

MoreCharacteristic

Re-sort this pile last

Next re-sort the neutral pile

(keep in mind you can switch cards around now or later if you need to).

Before moving on: Have you re-read and re-sorted all of theneutral cards into two more refined piles?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Uncharacteristic CharacteristicNeutral

The Many-Trait Approach

California Q-set

Delay of gratification

Gender differences

Ego control (under/over)

Ego resiliency

The nature of delay

Other behaviors

Drug abuse

Depression

Political orientation

Adolescent identity development

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The Essential-Trait Approach

Reducing the Many to a Few

The Lexical Hypothesis

The Five-Factor Model (Big 5)

Orthogonal

Cross-cultural consistency

Critiques

The Essential-Trait Approach

Neuroticism

The FiveThe Five--Factor Model (Big 5)Factor Model (Big 5)

Tense, anxious, nervous,

moody, worrying, touchy

The Essential-Trait Approach

Neuroticism

Extraversion

The FiveThe Five--Factor Model (Big 5)Factor Model (Big 5)

Talkative, assertive, energetic,

outgoing, dominant, enthusiastic,

sociable, spunky, adventurous

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The Essential-Trait Approach

Neuroticism

Openness toExperience

Extraversion

The FiveThe Five--Factor Model (Big 5)Factor Model (Big 5)

Wide interests, imaginative, intelligent,

insightful, curious, sophisticated

The Essential-Trait Approach

Agreeableness

Neuroticism

Openness toExperience

Extraversion

The FiveThe Five--Factor Model (Big 5)Factor Model (Big 5)

Sympathetic, kind, appreciative,

affectionate, soft-hearted, warm

The Essential-Trait Approach

Agreeableness

Neuroticism

Openness toExperience

ConscientiousnessExtraversion

The FiveThe Five--Factor Model (Big 5)Factor Model (Big 5)

Organized, thorough,

efficient, responsible

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The Essential-Trait Approach

Typological Approaches to Personality

Wow . . . I hope Imher type of guy

Hum . . . He seemsto be just my type!

Where do traits come from?

The question of development

Rank order stability

Answered by each of the paradigms