And how can you figure out yours?
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Just how many personality traits are there, anyways?
For example, Gordon Allport suggested that there were more than 4,000 different personality traits.
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Hans Eysenck, however, proposed that there were just three.
Many experts today suggest that the answer lies somewhere in between.
How Many Personality Traits Exist?
The trait theory of personality suggests that personality is composed of a number of broad traits.
But just how many different personality traits are there?
The following are some of the estimates and theories put forth by different experts.
Allport grouped these traits into three different categories: cardinal traits, central traits, and secondary traits.
You might find it helpful to consider your central and secondary traits.
Which traits do you think dominate your own personality?
Cattell: 16 Traits
Later, psychologistRaymond Cattellnarrowed this expansive list down to 16.
He believed that these underlying traits were what influenced the behaviors that are referred to as personality.
His list of 16 factors included apprehension, emotional stability, openness to change, self-reliance, and sensitivity.
The 16PF Personality Questionnaire is an assessment based on the 16 traits that Cattell identified.
It is still widely used today as a tool in couples therapy, career counseling, and employee selection.
If you want to learn more, consider taking afree version of the 16PF Questionnaire.
(Remember, this isn’t a mental health test or diagnostic tool!).
Eysenck: 3 Traits
PsychologistHans Eysenckbelieved that Cattell’s system still included too many similar traits.
So he narrowed down the list of traits even further, suggesting that there were just three.
Often referred to as “the Big 5,” this theory suggests there are five broad personality dimensions.
It is important to remember that each of these dimensions represents a continuum.
It is where people fall on the continuum for each dimension that helps make up their unique personality.
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Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.J Res Pers.
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