Raymond Cattell's Structure-Based System Theory of Personality

1. Raymond Cattell’s
Structure-Based Systems Theory
Presented by:
Martin Vince C. Cruz
MAP105 – Advanced Theories of Personality

2. Biographical
Sketch
(1905-1998)
 Born: 1905 in Staffordshire, England
 1914 – World War I.
 The war had an impact on him
 Bachelor’s – University of London (1924) –
Chemistry & Physics
 Ph.D – University of London (1929) –
Psychology
 Studied under Charles Spearman
 1937 – Honorary Doctorate of Science and
an associate to Thorndike
 Psychology could be studied objectively
and quantitatively
 Died: February 2, 1998

3. What is Personality?
Personality is that which permits a prediction of what a person will do in a given situation.
𝑅 = 𝑓 𝑃, 𝑆
Traits assists us in the understanding of structure and function of personality
“A response is a
function of the
person and the
stimuli”
Predetermined
by experimentsLess well-known
factor that needs to
be further studied

4. What are Traits?
 These are the relatively permanent reaction tendencies that are the basic
structural functions of the personality.
 Common Traits: possessed by everyone to a certain degree
 Unique Traits: possessed by one or a few
 Ability Traits: determines how efficiently we will work toward a goal
 Temperament Traits: general style of responding
 Dynamic Traits: driving forces of our behavior
 Ergs: basic units of motivations
 Sentiments: environmental-mold source traits motivating behavior
 Attitudes: specific tendencies and actions
 Dynamic Lattice: the complex organization of dynamic traits
 Subsidiation: the process where certain dynamic traits are dependent on other traits

5. Dynamic Lattice

6. What are Traits?
 Surface Traits: correlate with one another but do not constitute a factor
 Source Traits: unitary, stable, permanent
 Constitutional Traits: has biological origins, but not necessarily innate
 Environmental-mold Traits: obtained from the influences of social and physical
environments

7. Factor Analysis
Step 1: Specific observations and quantification
Step 2: Determination of correlation coefficients and intercorrelations
Step 3: Derivation of factors into small amounts
Factor Loading – correlation of scores with the factors
2 Factor Analytic Techniques
 R-technique – testing large group of participants a variety of personality tests
and intercorrelate their scores
 P-technique – discover the unique trait structure of a single individual

8. Factor Rotations
 ORTHOGONAL (VARIMAX)
 Used by the proponents of the Five-Factor
Theory
 As the scores on the x-variable increases, the
y-value may have any value
 Minimal covariation
 OBLIQUE (OBLIMIN)
 Used by Cattell
 Allows covariation and correlation between
factors

9. Example of a Factor Analytic Study
Output

10. Results of Cattell’s Factor Analytic
Study:
The Sixteen Source Traits:
Factor Low-Scores High-Scorers
A (Warmth) Reserved Outgoing
B(Intelligence) Less Intelligent More Intelligent
C(Emotional
Stability)
Low Ego
Strength
High Ego
Strength
E(Dominance) Humble Assertive
F(Liveliness) Sober Happy-go-lucky
G(Rule
Consciousness)
Lack of internal
standard
Strong
conscience
H (Social
Boldness)
Shy Adventuresome
I (Sensitivity) Tender-minded Tough-minded
Factor Low-Scorers High Scorers
L (Vigilance) Suspicious Trustiing
M
(Abstractedness)
Practical Imaginative
N (Privateness) Forthright Shrewd
O (Apprehension) Self-assured Apprehensive
Q1 (Openness to
Change)
Conservative Experimental
Q2 (Self-Reliance) Self-
sufficient
Group-
dependent
Q3 (Perfectionism) Controlled Casual
Q4 (Tension) Tense Relaxed

11. 16 Source Traits and the Second-Order
Factors
FACTORS
SOURCE TRAITS I – Extraversion (x Introversion)
A+ F+ H+ N- Q2- Introvert Socially Inhibited Extrovert Socially Bold
II – Anxiety (x Stability)
C- L+ O+ Q4+ Low Anxiety Emotionally stable
High Anxiety Emotionally
reactive
III – Though Mindedness (x Openness)
A- I- M- Q1- Receptive Open Minded Intuitive Inflexible Firm Low Empathy
IV – Independence (x Accommodation)
E+ H+ L+ Q1+ Accommodated Submissive Self-sacrificing
Independent Persuasive Focused
on the future
V – Self-control (x Lack of inhibition)
F- G+ M- Q3+ Vigilant Impulsive Controlled Inhibited

12. Econetic Model
 Human behavior is a result of complex and subtle interplay between traits
and situations.
 Cattell constructed a taxonomy of situations or environments.

13. Dynamic Calculus
𝑅 = (𝑏1 𝐴1+ 𝑏2 𝐴2… + 𝑏 𝑛 𝐴 𝑛) + (𝑏1 𝐵1+ 𝑏2 𝐵2… +
𝑏 𝑛 𝐵𝑛) + (𝑏1 𝐶1+ 𝑏2 𝐶2… + 𝑏 𝑛 𝐶 𝑛) + (𝑏1 𝐾1+ 𝑏2 𝐾2… +
𝑏 𝑛 𝐾 𝑛)
where:
R = response of the individual in a given situation
A = source traits
B = states and moods
C = social and cultural meanings
K = unspecified factors
b = weights

14. Heredity and Environmental Influences
 Conducted among twin pairs or siblings
 Intelligence is inherited
 Emotional responses are learned
 Parents have a significant influence
 Supported Adler’s theory on birth order, especially of the oldest (high in ego
strength & dominance)

15. Stages of Development
Stage Age Characteristic
Infancy Birth – 6yrs of age Highly influenced by parents and siblings;
development of social attitudes
Childhood 6 yrs – 14 yrs Move toward independence & identification
with peers
Adolescence 14 yrs – 23 yrs Troublesome and stressful
Maturity 23 yrs – 50 yrs Productivity; less flexibility; changes in
interests and attitudes
Late
Maturity
50 yrs – 65 yrs Development in response to the changes
Old Age 65 onward Adjustments based on the losses

16. Abnormal Behavior
 Neurosis
 Manifested by clients who come to a clinic due to emotional difficulties
 May be due to various antecedent factors: familial confilict, inconsistent
discipline, insufficient affection, high moral standards, genetically below average
emotional stability.
 Psychosis
 The lost of contact with reality and the need for hospitalization to protect oneself
and others.
 Lacks ego strength, pessimistic, seclusive, subdued, shy, aloof, introverted and
conceited, and motivated by sexual and aggressive urges.

17. Assessment in Cattell’s Theory
• Life Records
• Ratings from observed dataL-Data
• Questionnaires
• Subjects rate themselvesQ-Data
• Personality Tests
• “objective” as it is resistant to fakingT-Data

18. Rating Cattell’s Theory
Generates Research 5
5
3
1
2Falsifiable
Organize and Explain
Offer practical solutions
Internally Consistent
Parsimonious 1

19. Cattell’s View of Human Nature
FREE WILL DETERMINISM
CONSCIOUS UNCONSCIOUS
OPTIMISM PESSIMISM
TELEOLOGY CAUSALITY
NATURE NURTURE
UNIQUENESS UNIVERSALITY

20. “
”
Thank you for listening 
Keep safe and God Bless 