.

1. Traits
PSY60304

2. SCOPE
 What is a trait?
 Important traits
 taxonomies

3. What is a trait?
 Consistent , stable characteristics
 Disposition
 Enduring
 =intrinsic/internal intangible properties of person that causes behaviour

4. Important traits
 Lexical approach_>dictionary definition
 All important traits have been classified within language
 Synonym frequency
 Cross-culture universality->more cultures have a word for this trait
 Statistical: factor analysis
 Sample self-rate on list of traits factor analyse->id traits that highly linkedie
hardwork.productive, determined (high covariance)
 Theoretical approach:id important traits based on theory

5. Taxonomies
 Eysenck
 Cattel 16 Personality Factor Scale
 Circumplex
 Five Factor Model

7. Psychoticism Extraversion Neuroticism
Aggressive Sociable Anxious
Assertive Irresponsible Depressed
Egocentric Dominant Guilt Feelings
Unsympathetic Lack of reflection Low self-esteem
Manipulative Sensation-seeking Tense
Achievement-oriented Impulsive Moody
Dogmatic Risk-taking Hypochondriac
Masculine Expressive Lack of autonomy
Tough-minded Active Obsessive
(trans4mind, 2016)
Eysenck

12. Habitual act (HA)& Specific acts (SA)
 Sociable: (HA): chatting with strangers, going to restaurant with friends etc
 SA: went out with classmates yesterday after class; chat with MR Tong at LRT,he was
telling me about his wife

13. Biological basis
 Heritability:Genetic inheritance
 Physiology: CNS connection
 Introverts: CNS easy arousal ,more ANS processing/reactive
 Neurotics:High LABILITY of ANS
 Psychotism:high testosterone; low MAO(neurotransmitter inhibitor)

14. CATTEL 16 PF

17. Circumplex =circle (Leary & Wiggins)
 Lexical bases: important individual traits are in language
 Specifies r/ship among traits
 Interpersonal:dyadic interactions wth social (status) & emotional (love) effect for
both parties
 Character: moral,selfish,shy, honest
 Temperament:anxious, excitable, jovial
 Material:miserly, greedy, generous
 Mental: logical, clever
 Physical: skinny, fat

18. Interpersonal
 Adjacency: how close/related are each trait
 Bipolarity:opposite traits; -ve correlation ie dominant vs submissive
 Orthogonality:90Oangle to another trait; uncorrelated

20. BIG FIVE@FIVE FACTOR MODEL
 Single trait word items
 extraversion
 Agreeableness
 Conscientiousness
 Emotional stability
 openess

24. NEO-PI-R (Costa & Crae,1989)

28. References
 http://www.trans4mind.com/personality/EPQ.html