{"id":1176,"date":"2023-03-31T17:37:26","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T17:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/trait-theorists\/"},"modified":"2023-06-29T14:34:04","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T14:34:04","slug":"trait-theorists","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/trait-theorists\/","title":{"raw":"Personality Traits: Learn It 1\u2014Trait Theorists","rendered":"Personality Traits: Learn It 1\u2014Trait Theorists"},"content":{"raw":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Describe early trait theories<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Understand the traits described by the Big Five personality theory<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Explain the person-situation debate<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Discuss how personality stays the same or changes over time<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section><section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\r\n<h3>trait theorists<\/h3>\r\nTrait theorists believe personality can be understood via the approach that all people have certain <strong>traits<\/strong>, or characteristic ways of behaving. Do you tend to be sociable or shy? Passive or aggressive? Optimistic or pessimistic? Moody or even-tempered? Early trait theorists tried to describe all human personality traits.\r\n\r\n<\/section><section class=\"textbox example\">For example, one trait theorist, Gordon Allport (Allport &amp; Odbert, 1936), found 4,500 words in the English language that could describe people. He organized these personality traits into three categories: cardinal traits, central traits, and secondary traits.\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Cardinal traits<\/strong>: a trait that dominates your entire personality, and hence your life\u2014such as Ebenezer Scrooge\u2019s greed and Mother Theresa\u2019s altruism. Cardinal traits are not very common: Few people have personalities dominated by a single trait. Instead, our personalities typically are composed of multiple traits.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Central traits<\/strong>: the traits that make up our personalities (such as loyal, kind, agreeable, friendly, sneaky, wild, and grouchy).<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Secondary traits<\/strong>: traits that are not quite as obvious or as consistent as central traits. They are present under specific circumstances and include preferences and attitudes. For example, one person gets angry when people try to tickle him; another can only sleep on the left side of the bed; and yet another always orders her salad dressing on the side. And you\u2014although not normally an anxious person\u2014feel nervous before making a speech in front of your English class.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/section>In an effort to make the list of traits more manageable, Raymond Cattell (1946, 1957) narrowed down the list to about 171 traits, then used that list to\u00a0identify 16 factors or dimensions of personality: warmth, reasoning, emotional stability, dominance, liveliness, rule-consciousness, social boldness, sensitivity, vigilance, abstractedness, privateness, apprehension, openness to change, self-reliance, perfectionism, and tension (Table 1).\r\n\r\nCattell developed a personality assessment based on these 16 factors, called the 16PF. Instead of a trait being present or absent, each dimension is scored over a continuum, from high to low. For example, your level of warmth describes how warm, caring, and nice to others you are. If you score low on this index, you tend to be more distant and cold. A high score on this index signifies you are supportive and comforting.\r\n<table summary=\"A three column table compares low scores and high scores for personality factors measured by the 16PF Questionnaire. From left to right, the columns are labeled \u201cFactor,\u201d Low Score,\u201d and \u201cHigh Score.\u201d The first row contains \u201cwarmth; reserved, detached; and outgoing, supportive.\u201d The second row contains \u201cintellect; concrete thinker; and analytical.\u201d The third row contains \u201cemotional stability; moody, irritable; and stable, calm.\u201d The fourth row contains \u201caggressiveness; docile, submissive; and controlling, dominant.\u201d The fifth row contains \u201cliveliness; somber, prudent; and adventurous, spontaneous.\u201d The sixth row contains \u201cdutifulness; unreliable; and conscientious.\u201d The seventh row contains \u201csocial assertiveness; shy, restrained; and uninhibited, bold.\u201d The eighth row contains \u201csensitivity; tough-minded; and sensitive, caring.\u201d The ninth row contains \u201cparanoia; trusting; and suspicious.\u201d The tenth row contains \u201cabstractness; conventional; and imaginative.\u201d The eleventh row contains \u201cintroversion; open, straightforward; and private, shrewd.\u201d The twelfth row contains \u201canxiety; confident; and apprehensive.\u201d The thirteenth row contains \u201copenmindedness; closeminded, traditional; and curious, experimental.\u201d The fourteenth row contains \u201cindependence; outgoing, social; and self-sufficient.\u201d The fifteenth row contains \u201cperfectionism; disorganized, casual; and organized, precise.\u201d The sixteenth row contains \u201ctension; relaxed; and stressed.\u201d\"><caption>Table 1. Personality Factors Measured by the 16PF Questionnaire<\/caption>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">Factor<\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">Low Score<\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\">High Score<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Warmth<\/td>\r\n<td>Reserved, detached<\/td>\r\n<td>Outgoing, supportive<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Intellect<\/td>\r\n<td>Concrete thinker<\/td>\r\n<td>Analytical<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Emotional stability<\/td>\r\n<td>Moody, irritable<\/td>\r\n<td>Stable, calm<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Aggressiveness<\/td>\r\n<td>Docile, submissive<\/td>\r\n<td>Controlling, dominant<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Liveliness<\/td>\r\n<td>Somber, prudent<\/td>\r\n<td>Adventurous, spontaneous<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Dutifulness<\/td>\r\n<td>Unreliable<\/td>\r\n<td>Conscientious<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Social assertiveness<\/td>\r\n<td>Shy, restrained<\/td>\r\n<td>Uninhibited, bold<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Sensitivity<\/td>\r\n<td>Tough-minded<\/td>\r\n<td>Sensitive, caring<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Paranoia<\/td>\r\n<td>Trusting<\/td>\r\n<td>Suspicious<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Abstractness<\/td>\r\n<td>Conventional<\/td>\r\n<td>Imaginative<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Introversion<\/td>\r\n<td>Open, straightforward<\/td>\r\n<td>Private, shrewd<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Anxiety<\/td>\r\n<td>Confident<\/td>\r\n<td>Apprehensive<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Openmindedness<\/td>\r\n<td>Closeminded, traditional<\/td>\r\n<td>Curious, experimental<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Independence<\/td>\r\n<td>Outgoing, social<\/td>\r\n<td>Self-sufficient<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Perfectionism<\/td>\r\n<td>Disorganized, casual<\/td>\r\n<td>Organized, precise<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Tension<\/td>\r\n<td>Relaxed<\/td>\r\n<td>Stressed<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<section data-depth=\"1\"><section><section class=\"textbox linkToLearning\">Follow this link to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/openpsychometrics.org\/tests\/16PF.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an assessment based on Cattell\u2019s 16PF questionnaire<\/a> to see which personality traits dominate your personality.<\/section><\/section><\/section>","rendered":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\">\n<ul>\n<li>Describe early trait theories<\/li>\n<li>Understand the traits described by the Big Five personality theory<\/li>\n<li>Explain the person-situation debate<\/li>\n<li>Discuss how personality stays the same or changes over time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"textbox keyTakeaway\">\n<h3>trait theorists<\/h3>\n<p>Trait theorists believe personality can be understood via the approach that all people have certain <strong>traits<\/strong>, or characteristic ways of behaving. Do you tend to be sociable or shy? Passive or aggressive? Optimistic or pessimistic? Moody or even-tempered? Early trait theorists tried to describe all human personality traits.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"textbox example\">For example, one trait theorist, Gordon Allport (Allport &amp; Odbert, 1936), found 4,500 words in the English language that could describe people. He organized these personality traits into three categories: cardinal traits, central traits, and secondary traits.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Cardinal traits<\/strong>: a trait that dominates your entire personality, and hence your life\u2014such as Ebenezer Scrooge\u2019s greed and Mother Theresa\u2019s altruism. Cardinal traits are not very common: Few people have personalities dominated by a single trait. Instead, our personalities typically are composed of multiple traits.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Central traits<\/strong>: the traits that make up our personalities (such as loyal, kind, agreeable, friendly, sneaky, wild, and grouchy).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondary traits<\/strong>: traits that are not quite as obvious or as consistent as central traits. They are present under specific circumstances and include preferences and attitudes. For example, one person gets angry when people try to tickle him; another can only sleep on the left side of the bed; and yet another always orders her salad dressing on the side. And you\u2014although not normally an anxious person\u2014feel nervous before making a speech in front of your English class.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<p>In an effort to make the list of traits more manageable, Raymond Cattell (1946, 1957) narrowed down the list to about 171 traits, then used that list to\u00a0identify 16 factors or dimensions of personality: warmth, reasoning, emotional stability, dominance, liveliness, rule-consciousness, social boldness, sensitivity, vigilance, abstractedness, privateness, apprehension, openness to change, self-reliance, perfectionism, and tension (Table 1).<\/p>\n<p>Cattell developed a personality assessment based on these 16 factors, called the 16PF. Instead of a trait being present or absent, each dimension is scored over a continuum, from high to low. For example, your level of warmth describes how warm, caring, and nice to others you are. If you score low on this index, you tend to be more distant and cold. A high score on this index signifies you are supportive and comforting.<\/p>\n<table summary=\"A three column table compares low scores and high scores for personality factors measured by the 16PF Questionnaire. From left to right, the columns are labeled \u201cFactor,\u201d Low Score,\u201d and \u201cHigh Score.\u201d The first row contains \u201cwarmth; reserved, detached; and outgoing, supportive.\u201d The second row contains \u201cintellect; concrete thinker; and analytical.\u201d The third row contains \u201cemotional stability; moody, irritable; and stable, calm.\u201d The fourth row contains \u201caggressiveness; docile, submissive; and controlling, dominant.\u201d The fifth row contains \u201cliveliness; somber, prudent; and adventurous, spontaneous.\u201d The sixth row contains \u201cdutifulness; unreliable; and conscientious.\u201d The seventh row contains \u201csocial assertiveness; shy, restrained; and uninhibited, bold.\u201d The eighth row contains \u201csensitivity; tough-minded; and sensitive, caring.\u201d The ninth row contains \u201cparanoia; trusting; and suspicious.\u201d The tenth row contains \u201cabstractness; conventional; and imaginative.\u201d The eleventh row contains \u201cintroversion; open, straightforward; and private, shrewd.\u201d The twelfth row contains \u201canxiety; confident; and apprehensive.\u201d The thirteenth row contains \u201copenmindedness; closeminded, traditional; and curious, experimental.\u201d The fourteenth row contains \u201cindependence; outgoing, social; and self-sufficient.\u201d The fifteenth row contains \u201cperfectionism; disorganized, casual; and organized, precise.\u201d The sixteenth row contains \u201ctension; relaxed; and stressed.\u201d\">\n<caption>Table 1. Personality Factors Measured by the 16PF Questionnaire<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Factor<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Low Score<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">High Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Warmth<\/td>\n<td>Reserved, detached<\/td>\n<td>Outgoing, supportive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Intellect<\/td>\n<td>Concrete thinker<\/td>\n<td>Analytical<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Emotional stability<\/td>\n<td>Moody, irritable<\/td>\n<td>Stable, calm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aggressiveness<\/td>\n<td>Docile, submissive<\/td>\n<td>Controlling, dominant<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Liveliness<\/td>\n<td>Somber, prudent<\/td>\n<td>Adventurous, spontaneous<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Dutifulness<\/td>\n<td>Unreliable<\/td>\n<td>Conscientious<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Social assertiveness<\/td>\n<td>Shy, restrained<\/td>\n<td>Uninhibited, bold<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sensitivity<\/td>\n<td>Tough-minded<\/td>\n<td>Sensitive, caring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Paranoia<\/td>\n<td>Trusting<\/td>\n<td>Suspicious<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Abstractness<\/td>\n<td>Conventional<\/td>\n<td>Imaginative<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Introversion<\/td>\n<td>Open, straightforward<\/td>\n<td>Private, shrewd<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Anxiety<\/td>\n<td>Confident<\/td>\n<td>Apprehensive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Openmindedness<\/td>\n<td>Closeminded, traditional<\/td>\n<td>Curious, experimental<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Independence<\/td>\n<td>Outgoing, social<\/td>\n<td>Self-sufficient<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Perfectionism<\/td>\n<td>Disorganized, casual<\/td>\n<td>Organized, precise<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Tension<\/td>\n<td>Relaxed<\/td>\n<td>Stressed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<section data-depth=\"1\">\n<section>\n<section class=\"textbox linkToLearning\">Follow this link to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/openpsychometrics.org\/tests\/16PF.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an assessment based on Cattell\u2019s 16PF questionnaire<\/a> to see which personality traits dominate your personality.<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":19,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Trait Theorists\",\"author\":\"OpenStax College\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/11-7-trait-theorists\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":1158,"module-header":"learn_it","content_attributions":[{"type":"cc","description":"Trait Theorists","author":"OpenStax College","organization":"","url":"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/11-7-trait-theorists","project":"","license":"cc-by","license_terms":"Download for free at https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/psychology-2e\/pages\/1-introduction"}],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1176"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3826,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1176\/revisions\/3826"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/1158"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1176\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1176"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1176"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}