2.  Trait theory – a model of personality that
seeks to identify the basic traits necessary to
describe personality.
 Traits – consistent personality characteristics
and behaviors displayed in different
situations.

3.  Developed by
Hyppocrates (460-
370 BC) as medical
theory
 I. Pavlov
researched how
dogs with different
temperaments
reacts to stimuli
 Sanguine
 Choleric
 Melancholic
 Phlegmatic

4.  Developed by R. Cattell (1965) using factors analysis
 List of all 16 traits:
• Warm
• Reasoning
• Emotional Stability
• Dominance
• Liveliness
• Rule-Consciousness
• Social Boldness
• Sensitivity
• Vigilance
• Abstractedness
• Privateness
• Apprehension
• Openness to Change
• Self-Reliance
• Perfectionism
• Tension

5.  This theory was also developed using factors
analysis.
 R. Cattell used inductive method, while H.
Eyesenck used deductive one.
 3 main personality traits: extraversion,
neuroticism and psychoticism.
 These 3 traits are largely unrelated.

8.  Five-factor personality inventory was created
in 1985 by P. T. Costa and R. R. McCare.
 Main 5 personality traits are Extraversion,
Neuroticism, Conscientiousness,
Agreebleness and Openness to experience.
 These 5 factors can be abbreviated as
OCEAN.
 Each of 5 factors has 6 subfactors called
facets.
 The Big Five is the most popular and
influential trait approach today.

9.  Extraversion means
energy, positive
emotions and the
tendency to seek
stimulation in the
company of others.

10.  Neuroticism is an
enduring tendency
to experience
negative
emotional states.
Neuroticism

11.  Conscientiousness
includes traits like
being organized
and planful.

12. Which room’s owner more likely has high
conscientiousness?
Which one of 6 facets of conscientiousness these
pictures represent?

13.  Agreebleness trait
distinguishes soft-
hearted people
from ruthless ones.

14.  Openness to experience
trait distinguishes
people who prefer
variety from whose who
prefer familiar and
traditional things.
Itincludes traits like
having wide interests
and being imaginative.

15.  Everyone has the same personality traits at
varying degree.
 There are many different trait theories, but
no one of them can encompass the whole
personality.
 Trait theories allow easy comparison
between individuals.
 Trait theories only describe personality –
they do not explain it.