Mini Quiz

• 1. The factor analytic technique is designed to

• a. identify individuals who are attempting to lie or sabotage a test.

• b. identify groups of test items that co-occur.

• c. identify items that are difficult to answer• d. analyze and score responses to

projective tests.

Mini Quiz

• 2. Steve is extremely deferential to his boss. He complies immediately with all orders and never questions the decisions his boss makes. In his role as plant supervisor, Steve enjoys giving orders to the people he supervises and he gets very angry if they questions those orders. Steve is probably

• a. Open to experiences• b. a low self-monitor.• c. an authoritarian personality. • d. an omega-zeta personality

Mini Quiz

• 3. A number between –1 and +1 that indexes the association between any two variables is called

• a. a significance level.

• b. the probability value.

• c. the variation index.

• d. a correlation coefficient.

Mini Quiz

• 4. If test scores go down as anxiety goes up, then

• a. test scores and anxiety are positively correlated.

• b. test scores and anxiety are negatively correlated.

• c. test scores and anxiety are unrelated.• d. None of the above

Mini Quiz

• This is mini quiz #

• A) 1

• B) 3

• C) 2

• D) both b and c

Using Traits to Understand Behavior

• Different approaches:

• The Single-Trait Approach

• The Many-Trait Approach

• The Essential-Trait Approach

• The Simultaneous-Trait Approach

Questionnaire

Say

• “I am going out now, I won’t be back all day. If anyone comes by, just tell them I’m not here”

• Happy

• Sad

• Mad

Self-Monitoring

• How much do “monitor” your social setting and alter your behaviors accordingly

• High SM – Monitor every situation– Look for cues how to act, alter behavior

• Low SM– Consistent behavior regardless of situation

Self-Monitoring

• Findings:

• Actors tend to be high self-monitors– Mental patients tend to be low

• High SM interview better for jobs• High SM more likely to lie to go on dates• Jokes with a laugh track• Masturbate more often (r = .50; only for women)

The Many-Trait Approach

• Examine many traits simultaneously to determine what type of person tends to perform certain behaviors

The Many-Trait Approach

• Commonly use the California Q-Sort– Forces you to compare traits to each other

• Rank order• Healthy• Wealthy• Wise

Findings of the Many-Trait Approach

• 64 undergraduates completed the SM scale

• Friends and family q-sorted the subjects

Self-Monitoring

• High SM

• Skilled in social techniques• Talkative• Self-dramatizing• Initiates humor• Verbally fluent• Expressive in face• Has social poise and presence

Self-Monitoring

• Low Self Monitors

• Distrustful• Perfectionist• Touchy and irritable• Anxious• Introspective• Independent

Findings of the Many-Trait Approach

• Drug use and adolescent health– Shedler & Block, 1990

• 101 subjects

• Age 11 – parents completed a q-sort

• Age 18 – Drug usage measured– Abstainers, experimenters, frequent users

Abst. Exp. Freq.

1. Prefers nonverbal methods of communication. 4.6 4.5 5.1*

3. Is warm and responsive. 5.3** 6.2 5.2**

6. Is helpful and cooperative. 7 7.2 6.5**

8. Tends to keep thoughts, feelings, or products to self.

5.6* 4.7 5.3

13. Characteristically pushes and tries to stretch limits.

3.0* 3.6 4.2

14. Is eager to please. 6 6.1 5.3**

21. Tries to be the center of attention. 3.1** 3.8 3.9

23. Is fearful and anxious. 4.5*** 3.3 4

25. Uses and responds to reason. 7.3** 6.6 6.5

26. Is physically active. 5.2** 5.9 5.7

  Abst. Exp. Freq.

27. Is visibly deviant from peers in physical appearance.

3.3 3 3.7**

28. Is vital, energetic, lively. 4.9** 5.9 5.2

30. Tends to arouse liking and acceptance in adults. 6.1 6.5 5.9*

34. Is restless and fidgety. 3.7*** 4.6 5.1

35. Is inhibited and constricted. 5.1** 3.9 4.4

37. Likes to compete; tests and compares self with others.

4.1** 4.5 4.6

39. Becomes rigidly repetitive or immobilized under stress.

4.2* 3.5 4.2*

40. Is curious, eager to learn, open to new experiences.

5.4*** 6.4 5.7*

41. Is persistent in activities; does not give up easily. 5.9 5.6 5.1*

42. Is an interesting, arresting child. 5.1** 5.8 5.1*

 Abst. Exp. Freq.

45. Tends to withdraw and disengage when under stress.

5.0* 4.2 5.2**

47. Has high standards of performance for self. 6.1 5.9 5.1**

52. Is physically cautious. 5.1*** 4 4.5

54. Has rapid shifts in mood; is emotionally labile. 3.5 3.4 4.2**

59. Is neat and orderly in dress and behavior. 6.5*** 5.5 5.2

60. Becomes anxious in unpredictable environment. 4.9** 4 4.8*

62. Is obedient and compliant. 6.5* 5.8 5.6

63. Has a rapid personal tempo; reacts and moves quickly.

4.2** 5 4.6

64. Is calm and relaxed, easy-going. 5.0* 5.6 5.2

The Many-Trait Approach

• Note: What this study is not saying– To interpret the meaning of these traits need

to also interpret the context of the study

• How many adjectives can you use to describe a person?

• Try it!

The Essential-Trait Approach

• Odbert and Allport found over 4,500 adjectives that describe personality traits– 17,953 adjectives overall (but some were not traits)

• Are all of these really independent of each other?

• Essential Approach tries to find how many and which traits are essential

The Big Five:History

• Allport and Odbert (1936)– 17,953 trait terms

• Cattell (1943)– Factor analysis finds 35

clusters

• Fiske (1949)– Factor analysis results in 5

factors

• Tupes & Christal (1961)– Replicate Fiske

• Norman (1963) replicates Tupes & Christal, and writes a review about these “big five” traits– Surgency (extraversion)– Agreeableness– Conscientiousness– Emotional stability– Culture

Essential Trait

• Big-Five Inventory

E1, 11, 16, 26, 36 R 6, 21, 31

A7, 17, 22, 32, 42 R 2,12, 27, 37

C3, 13, 28, 33, 38 R 8, 18, 23, 43

N4, 14, 19, 29, 39 R 9, 24, 34

O5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 44 R 35, 41

R1 = 52 = 43 = 34 = 25 = 1

Agreeableness

Trust

Straightforwardness

Altruism

Compliance

Modesty

Tender-mindedness

Obi-Wan Kenobi -- This loyal, kind, and honorable young Jedi is a good man.   

Emperor Palpatine -- An evil, power hungry tyrant, he is manipulative, evil, and ruthless.

Extraversion

Warmth

Gregariousness

Assertiveness

Activity

Excitement seeking

Positive emotions

Lando Calrissian -- An energetic, sociable man. He is adventure seeking, talkative, and socially skilled.   

Wampas -- reclusive creatures of the ice planet Hoth. They are rarely seen & generally shy, leading a solitary existence

Conscientiousness

Competence

Order

Dutifulness

Achievement striving

Self-discipline

Deliberation

Admiral Ackbar -- This rebel Admiral is renowned for his great powers of organization, responsibility, and administrative abilities. He is individual who can be relied upon.   

Han Solo -- This disheveled and scruffy smuggler leads a reckless and haphazard life, with little respect for rules and procedures.

Neuroticism

Anxiety

Angry hostility

Depression

Self-consciousness

Impulsiveness

Vulnerability

Princess Leia -- A confident & calm individual who does not crack under pressure (e.g.,. when being threatened by Lord Vader). She is brave and relaxed, even when in great danger (e.g., when disguising herself as a bounty hunter to gain access to Jabba the Hutt’s palace).   

Tusken warriors -- These inhabitants of Tatooine are unpredictable, temperamental, and excitable, and known to be especially moody.

Openness to Experience

Fantasy

Aesthetics

Feelings

Actions

Ideas

Values

Yoda -- This wise, philosophical, and thoughtful Jedi master challenges the establishment, encouraging his pupils to unlearn what they have learned and see the world in novel, creative ways.   

C-3PO -- This droid versed in political protocol of thousands of cultures is governed by rules and prefers not to meddle with the ways and traditions of his hosts.

The Big Five

• Also known as the Five-Factor Model

• Extraversion• Agreeableness• Conscientiousness• Neuroticism• Openness to Experience

• OCEAN

Example

• Preadolscent girls and risk behavior– Markey, Markey, and Tinsley 2003

• Subjects were 160 girls– 5th grade mothers completed BFI and girls

pubertal development was assessed– 6th grade girls reported engagement in risky

behaviors• e.g., smoking, drinking, deep kissing, etc.

Results

Puberty .29

Extraversion .10

Agreeableness -.38

Conscientiousness -.42

Neuroticism .03

Openness -.04

Results

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

1 2 3

Openness to Experience

Ris

k B

ehav

ior

Early Puberty Risk = .44 (Open) + .54

Average Puberty Risk = -.01 (Open) + .41

Late PubertyRisk = -.25 (Open) + .28

Low Average High

Results

• Demonstrates predictive power of the Big-5

• Demonstrate show traits can interact with other elements (e.g., pubertal development) to create different behaviors