Gordon Allport was an influential American psychologist who developed the trait theory of personality. Some of his key contributions included defining personality traits as neuropsychological structures that influence behavior across situations. Allport emphasized that while common traits exist, each individual has a unique personality composed of cardinal traits. He also described the development of personality from secondary to central traits and the importance of functional autonomy in mature personalities. Allport's trait theory provided an important framework for understanding individual differences in personality.

1. Gordon AllportGordon Allport
1897 - 19671897 - 1967

2. Gordon AllportGordon Allport
 Born in Indiana, grew up in ClevelandBorn in Indiana, grew up in Cleveland
 Attended Harvard – majored in EconomicsAttended Harvard – majored in Economics
and Philosophyand Philosophy
 Taught English and Sociology inTaught English and Sociology in
Constantinople, TurkeyConstantinople, Turkey
 Meeting with Freud was a turning pointMeeting with Freud was a turning point
 Ph.D. – in Psychology, 1922 – dissertationPh.D. – in Psychology, 1922 – dissertation
was the first to deal with “traits”was the first to deal with “traits”

3.  Taught first course in Personality atTaught first course in Personality at
Harvard (1924)Harvard (1924)
 Also wrote about prejudice and religionAlso wrote about prejudice and religion
 President of APA – 1939President of APA – 1939
 APA Distinguished Scientific ContributionAPA Distinguished Scientific Contribution
– 1964– 1964
 Considered the “Dean” of AmericanConsidered the “Dean” of American
Personality studyPersonality study

4. Definition of “Trait”Definition of “Trait”
 “…“…a neuro-psychic structure having thea neuro-psychic structure having the
capacity to render many stimulicapacity to render many stimuli
functionally equivalent and to initiate andfunctionally equivalent and to initiate and
guide equivalent (meaningfully consistent)guide equivalent (meaningfully consistent)
forms of adaptive and expressiveforms of adaptive and expressive
behavior.”behavior.”
 i.e., a trait is a predisposition to act in thei.e., a trait is a predisposition to act in the
same way in a wide range of situationssame way in a wide range of situations

5. Trait Approach to PersonalityTrait Approach to Personality
 Consistent reaction patterns of anConsistent reaction patterns of an
individual can be predicted from knowingindividual can be predicted from knowing
person’s personality traitsperson’s personality traits
 Trait:Trait: basic limited set of adjectivebasic limited set of adjective
dimensions which describe and scaledimensions which describe and scale
individualsindividuals
 18,000 adjectives (Allport)18,000 adjectives (Allport)

6. Of Traits and TraitOf Traits and Trait
 Get a piece of paper. Think of one personGet a piece of paper. Think of one person
who is the closest to you. Within 20 countswho is the closest to you. Within 20 counts
write as many adjectives as you can towrite as many adjectives as you can to
describe that person.describe that person.
 In another column within 20 counts as wellIn another column within 20 counts as well
write as many adjectives as you can towrite as many adjectives as you can to
describe yourself.describe yourself.
 Based on Allport’s theory of personalityBased on Allport’s theory of personality
the normal range is 5-10the normal range is 5-10

7. What is personality?What is personality?
 Definition:Definition:
 ““The dynamic organization within theThe dynamic organization within the
individual of those psychophysicalindividual of those psychophysical
systems that determine his characteristicsystems that determine his characteristic
behaviors and thoughts”-organizationbehaviors and thoughts”-organization
within an individualwithin an individual
 Each person has unique key qualitiesEach person has unique key qualities
 Emphasized traits-Freud emphasizedEmphasized traits-Freud emphasized
instinctual drivesinstinctual drives

8. Functionally Equivalent-Functionally Equivalent-
AllportAllport
 A trait is an internal structure that renders manyA trait is an internal structure that renders many
stimuli functionally equivalent and can guidestimuli functionally equivalent and can guide
equivalent forms of adaptive and expressiveequivalent forms of adaptive and expressive
behavior.behavior.
 Regularities in Thoughts, feelings & actions arise:Regularities in Thoughts, feelings & actions arise:
– because individual views many situations andbecause individual views many situations and
stimuli in same waystimuli in same way
– Many of individual’s behaviors are similar inMany of individual’s behaviors are similar in
meaning-functionally equivalentmeaning-functionally equivalent
 Consistencies=common traits & personalConsistencies=common traits & personal
dispositionsdispositions

9. ““Traits” of TraitsTraits” of Traits
 A trait has more than nominal existenceA trait has more than nominal existence
 A trait is more generalized than a habitA trait is more generalized than a habit
 A trait is dynamic, or at least deterministicA trait is dynamic, or at least deterministic
of behaviorof behavior
 A trait’s existence may be establishedA trait’s existence may be established
empiricallyempirically
 A trait is only relatively independent ofA trait is only relatively independent of
other traitsother traits

10. ““Traits” of TraitsTraits” of Traits
 A trait is not synonymous with moral orA trait is not synonymous with moral or
social judgmentsocial judgment
 A trait may be viewed in light of either theA trait may be viewed in light of either the
personality that contains itpersonality that contains it oror itsits
distribution in the population at large.distribution in the population at large.
 Acts, or even habits, that are inconsistentActs, or even habits, that are inconsistent
with a trait are not proof of thewith a trait are not proof of the
nonexistence of the traitnonexistence of the trait

11. Common Traits-AllportCommon Traits-Allport
 Traits that people in a population shareTraits that people in a population share
due to common biological & culturaldue to common biological & cultural
heritage which are basic dimensionsheritage which are basic dimensions
 Allport discounted its value inAllport discounted its value in
understanding personality because heunderstanding personality because he
emphasized that while there are commonemphasized that while there are common
traits for a particular set of people each oftraits for a particular set of people each of
them have their own uniqueness.them have their own uniqueness.

12. Personal Dispositions -Personal Dispositions -
AllportAllport
 No two personalities are alikeNo two personalities are alike
 IdiographicIdiographic methods take into accountmethods take into account
each person’s uniqueness e.g.: interviews,each person’s uniqueness e.g.: interviews,
behavioral observations, Q-sorts, flexiblebehavioral observations, Q-sorts, flexible
self-reports-identifies the differencesself-reports-identifies the differences
between people-takes into account eachbetween people-takes into account each
persons personal dispositionpersons personal disposition

13. Cardinal Dispositions - AllportCardinal Dispositions - Allport
 Personal disposition which exertsPersonal disposition which exerts
overwhelming influence on behavioroverwhelming influence on behavior
 Ruling passions of lifeRuling passions of life
 Albert Schweitzer’s reverence for lifeAlbert Schweitzer’s reverence for life
 Ralph Nader’s passion for environmentRalph Nader’s passion for environment
 Tiger Wood’s passion for golfTiger Wood’s passion for golf

14. Central Dispositions - AllportCentral Dispositions - Allport
 Personality is organized around severalPersonality is organized around several
central dispositions which are qualities orcentral dispositions which are qualities or
characteristics which can succinctlycharacteristics which can succinctly
describe a persondescribe a person
 It is incomplete to just seek general lawsIt is incomplete to just seek general laws
for all personfor all person

15. Secondary DispositionsSecondary Dispositions
 Traits that are less conspicuous, lessTraits that are less conspicuous, less
generalized, less consistentgeneralized, less consistent
 Ex: preferences, attitudesEx: preferences, attitudes
 You have to know person very well toYou have to know person very well to
discern secondary dispositionsdiscern secondary dispositions

16. Proprium - AllportProprium - Allport
 Core of the personalityCore of the personality
 One’s own or one’s selfOne’s own or one’s self
 Under the layers of our human psyche isUnder the layers of our human psyche is
an irreducible core that defines who wean irreducible core that defines who we
areare

17. Propriate FunctionsPropriate Functions
1. Sense of Bodily Self – distinguishing self from1. Sense of Bodily Self – distinguishing self from
other objectsother objects
2. Sense of Self-Identity – recognition of self as a2. Sense of Self-Identity – recognition of self as a
distinct point of referencedistinct point of reference
3. Sense of Self-Esteem – feeling of pride from3. Sense of Self-Esteem – feeling of pride from
accomplishmentsaccomplishments
4. Sense of Self-Extension – other people and4. Sense of Self-Extension – other people and
possessions recognized as extentions of thepossessions recognized as extentions of the
selfself

18. Propriate FunctionsPropriate Functions
5. Self-Image – sense of how others view5. Self-Image – sense of how others view
him/herhim/her
6. Sense of Self as Rational Coper –6. Sense of Self as Rational Coper –
solving problems through rationalsolving problems through rational
thoughtthought
7. Propriate Striving – making long-term7. Propriate Striving – making long-term
plans and goals – a sense of purposeplans and goals – a sense of purpose

19. Self-as-KnowerSelf-as-Knower
Transcends and synthesizes all theTranscends and synthesizes all the
propriate functions – the subjective selfpropriate functions – the subjective self
The unique human capacity for self-The unique human capacity for self-
recognition and self-consciousnessrecognition and self-consciousness

20. Functional AutonomyFunctional Autonomy
 Traits which have become independentTraits which have become independent
of their origins in childhoodof their origins in childhood
 Childhood might be root of the trait orChildhood might be root of the trait or
tendency but do not continue to influencetendency but do not continue to influence
the tendency in adulthoodthe tendency in adulthood
 It is not necessary to unearth whereIt is not necessary to unearth where
tendency or trait which dominates atendency or trait which dominates a
person’s life originated in order to helpperson’s life originated in order to help
person deal with the troubling tendencyperson deal with the troubling tendency

21. Perseverative Functional AutonomyPerseverative Functional Autonomy
Refers to feedback mechanisms in theRefers to feedback mechanisms in the
nervous system that are governed bynervous system that are governed by
simple neurological principles.simple neurological principles.
Become neurologically self-maintaining overBecome neurologically self-maintaining over
time and help keep the organism “on-time and help keep the organism “on-
track”track”
Inclinations for people to satisfy their drivesInclinations for people to satisfy their drives
in familiar and routine waysin familiar and routine ways

22. Propriate Functional AutonomyPropriate Functional Autonomy
The person’s acquired interests, values,The person’s acquired interests, values,
attitudes & intentionsattitudes & intentions
The master system of motivation thatThe master system of motivation that
imparts consistency to the person’simparts consistency to the person’s
striving for a congruent self-image and astriving for a congruent self-image and a
higher level of maturity and growthhigher level of maturity and growth

23. The Mature PersonalityThe Mature Personality
Functionally AutonomousFunctionally Autonomous
Motivated by conscious processesMotivated by conscious processes
6 Attributes:6 Attributes:
1. A widely extended sense of self1. A widely extended sense of self
2. Capacity for warm social interactions2. Capacity for warm social interactions
3. Demonstrates emotional security and3. Demonstrates emotional security and
self-acceptaceself-acceptace

24. The Mature Personality (cont.)The Mature Personality (cont.)
4. Demonstrates realistic perception, skills4. Demonstrates realistic perception, skills
and assignments (sees things as theyand assignments (sees things as they
really are)really are)
5. Demonstrates self-insight and humor5. Demonstrates self-insight and humor
6. Has a unifying philosophy of life (may be6. Has a unifying philosophy of life (may be
religion, or anything that gives meaningreligion, or anything that gives meaning
to one’s life)to one’s life)

25. Concept of HumanityConcept of Humanity
 Free Choice over DeterminismFree Choice over Determinism
 Optimism over PessimismOptimism over Pessimism
 Conscious over UnconsciousConscious over Unconscious
 Social Influence over BiologySocial Influence over Biology
 Uniqueness over SimilarityUniqueness over Similarity

26. Implication of Allport’s theory onImplication of Allport’s theory on
personalitypersonality
 Allport’s theory on personality is very wellAllport’s theory on personality is very well
defined ascribing a set of trait the stagesdefined ascribing a set of trait the stages
of development of a person.of development of a person.
 The traits we exhibit are not “primal urges”The traits we exhibit are not “primal urges”
we cannot control but is a reflection of ourwe cannot control but is a reflection of our
development as humans.development as humans.

27. Religion and PersonalityReligion and Personality
 Does religion help in determiningDoes religion help in determining
personality?personality?
 According to Allport, religionAccording to Allport, religion impactsimpacts
personality. It helps determine whether ourpersonality. It helps determine whether our
personality is centred on self or on others.personality is centred on self or on others.

28. Religion and PersonalityReligion and Personality
 Attending mass for the purpose of seekingAttending mass for the purpose of seeking
out social companions and projection aout social companions and projection a
sense of “normalcy” so that you can besense of “normalcy” so that you can be
accepted in society is a hallmark of lack ofaccepted in society is a hallmark of lack of
maturity.maturity.

29. Critique of AllportCritique of Allport
 Allport’s Theory Is:Allport’s Theory Is:
– High on Parsimony and InternalHigh on Parsimony and Internal
ConsistencyConsistency
– Moderate on Generating Research andModerate on Generating Research and
Guiding ActionGuiding Action
– Low on Falsifiability and OrganizingLow on Falsifiability and Organizing
KnowledgeKnowledge