2. TRAIT PERSPECTIVE OF PERSONALITY
The trait theory of personality suggests that
people have certain basic traits and it is the
strength and intensity of those traits that account
for personality differences. The trait approach to
personality is one of the major theoretical areas
in the study of personality.
There are four trait theories of personality:
Allport's trait theory, Cattell's 16-factor
personality model, Eysenck's three-dimensional
3. What Is a Trait?
A trait is a personality characteristic that meets
three criteria: it must be consistent, stable, and
vary from person to person. Based on this
definition, a trait can be thought of as a
relatively stable characteristic that causes
individuals to behave in certain ways.
The combination and interaction of various traits
form a personality that is unique to each person.
Trait theory is focused on identifying and
4. Allport’s Trait Theory
The first trait theory was proposed by a psychologist
named Gordon Allport in 1936. Allport developed
dictionary contained more than 4,000 words
describing different personality traits. He
categorized these traits into three levels:
Cardinal Traits
Allport suggested that cardinal traits are rare and
dominating, usually developing later in life. They
tend to define a person to such an extent that their
names become synonymous with their personality.
5. Central Traits
These general characteristics form basic
personality foundations. While central traits are
not as dominating as cardinal traits, they
describe the major characteristics you might use
to describe another person. Descriptions such as
"intelligent," "honest," "shy," and "anxious" are
considered central traits.
6. Secondary Traits
Secondary traits are sometimes related
to attitudes or preferences. They often appear
only in certain situations or under specific
circumstances. Some examples include public
speaking anxiety or impatience while waiting in
line
7. Cattell’s 16-Factor Personality Model
Trait theorist Raymond Cattell reduced the number of
main personality traits from Allport’s initial list
of over 4,000 down to 171. He did so primarily by
eliminating uncommon traits and combining common
characteristics.
Next, Cattell rated a large sample of individuals for
these 171 different traits. Using a statistical
technique known as factor analysis, he then
identified closely related terms and eventually
8. According to Cattell, these 16 traits are the
source of all human personalities. He also
developed one of the most widely used personality
assessments. the 16 Personality Factor
Questionnaire.
Eysenck’s 3 Dimensions of Personality
British psychologist Hans Eysenck developed a
model of personality based on just three universal
traits.
9. Introversion/Extraversion
Introversion involves directing attention to
inner experiences, while extraversion relates to
focusing attention outward, onto other people and
the environment. A person high in introversion
might be quiet and reserved, while an individual
high in extraversion (often spelled
"extroversion") might be sociable and outgoing.
10. Neuroticism/Emotional Stability
This dimension of Eysenck’s trait theory is
related to moodiness versus even-temperedness.
Neuroticism refers to an individual’s tendency to
become upset or emotional, while stability refers
to the tendency to remain emotionally constant.
11. Psychoticism
Later, after studying individuals suffering from
mental illness, Eysenck added a personality
dimension he called psychoticism to his trait
theory. Individuals who are high on this trait
tend to have difficulty dealing with reality and
may be antisocial, hostile, non-empathetic, and
manipulative
12. Five-Factor Model of Personality
Both Cattell’s and Eysenck’s theories have been the
subject of considerable research. This has led some
theorists to believe that Cattell focused on too
many traits. As a result, a new trait theory often
referred to as the "Big Five" theory emerged.
This five-factor model of personality represents
five core traits that interact to form human
personality. While researchers often disagree about
13. The following are described most commonly:
•Agreeableness: level of cooperation and caring for
others
•Conscientiousness: level of thoughtfulness and
structure
•Extraversion: level of socialness and emotional
expressiveness
•Neuroticism: level of mood stability and emotional
14. Criticisms of Trait Theory
Most psychologists agree that people can be
described based on their personality traits. Yet,
Some of the most common criticisms of trait theory
center on the fact that traits are often poor
predictors of behavior. While an individual may
score high on assessments of a specific trait, they
may not always behave that way in every situation.
Another problem is that trait theories do not
address how or why individual differences in
