How do traits determine our differences?
The trait approach to personality is one of the major theoretical areas inthe study of personality.
Trait theory suggests that individual personalities are composed of broad dispositions.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Keep reading to learn how traits are defined and the different trait theories of personality that have been proposed.
The way psychologists have thought about personality, including how they define traits, has evolved over time.
The combination and interaction of various traits form a personality that is unique to each person.
Trait theory is focused on identifying and measuring these individual personality characteristics.
If someone asked you to describe a close friend’s personality, what kind of things would you say?
All of these represent personality traits.
Allports Trait Theory
The first trait theory was proposed by psychologistGordon Allportin 1936.
Allport found that one English-language dictionary contained more than 4,000 words describingdifferent personality traits.
He categorized these traits into three levels: cardinal, central, and secondary.
Cardinal Traits
Allport suggested thatcardinal traitsare 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.
Examples include descriptive terms such as Machiavellian, narcissistic, Don Juan, and Christ-like.
Central Traits
These general characteristics form basic personality foundations.
Secondary Traits
Secondary traits are sometimes related to attitudes or preferences.
They often appear only in certain situations or under specific circumstances.
Some examples includepublic speaking anxietyor impatience while waiting in line.
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.
Among them are dominance, perfectionism, reasoning, and self-reliance.
According to Cattell, these 16 traits are the source of all human personalities.
He also developed one of the most widely usedpersonality assessments, the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire.
Neuroticism/Emotional Stability
This dimension of Eysencks trait theory is related to moodiness versus being even-tempered.
Five-Factor Model of Personality
Both Cattells and Eysencks theories have been the subject of considerable research.
As a result, a new trait theory often referred to as the “Big Five” theory emerged.
Yet, theorists continue to debate the number of basic traits that make up human personality.
Another problem is that trait theories do not address how or why individual differences in personality develop or emerge.
Final Thoughts
The study of personality and what shapes and influences each person is fascinating.
Those who study this field have varying opinions.
What is most important to understand is that everyone has different personality traits.
Also,our traits can change over timeand be shaped by our experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
This theory states that leaders have certain traits that non-leaders don’t possess.
The identification of a trait can vary from one researcher to the next.
This makes traits difficult to measure when applying this theory.
The trait theory of personality offers people a way to conceptualize different aspects of personality.
This can allow researchers to explore different traits, including how they interact with and impact behavior.
2018;86(1):5-11. doi:10.1111/jopy.12335
Worthy LD, Lavigne T, Romero F.Trait theory.Culture and Psychology.
Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.J Res Personal.
2015;56:8292. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.10.009
Bunnett ER.16PF, Correlates of.
In:Wiley Encyclop Personal Indiv Diff.
2018;32(3):151166. doi:10.1002/per.2134
Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E.Whole trait theory.J Res Personal.
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs.
Allport GW.Personality: A Psychological Interpretation.
Cattell RB.Personality: A Systematic Theoretical and Factual Study, 1st ed.
doi:10.1037/10773-000
Eysenck HJ.The Structure of Human Personality.
McCrae RR, Costa PT.Personality trait structure as a human universal.Am Psychol.
