COURSE NOTES: Personality

denotes a term that you should know how to define, and to recognize and give examples. denotes an important person. You should remember this person's name and what (s)he has done. denotes an important research finding. denotes an issue that you should be able to discuss or explain.

Chapter 8: 

Cattell and the Big Five: Factor Analytic Trait Theories

Factor Analysis

correlation coefficient: a measure of the association between two variables, in which 0 indicates no association, and +1 or –1 a strong association (positive or negative)

• correlation of +.68 between extraversion test score and number of times a person talks in class
• correlation of -.25 between anxiety and self-rated confidence

Scatterplots Illustrating Positive and Negative Correlations [graph presented in lecture]

The 16 Factor Theory: Cattell

Personality:  Prediction of Behavior

traits: permit prediction

Measurement

• Personality Tests
  • 16PF
  • Clinical Scales
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Emotions
  • etc.
• Beyond Personality Tests
  • Three Sources of Data
  • Q-data: questionnaire data (16PF, etc.)
  • T-data: objective test data (reaction time, etc.)
  • L-data: life record data (tickets, etc.)

Because Personality is Complex: A Multivariate Approach

Surface Traits and Source Traits

• surface traits: traits as defined simply at the level of observable behavior
• source traits: basic, underlying personality traits

Measurement of Source Traits: The 16PF

• multiple choice
• derived from factor analysis
• profile: the pattern of a person's scores on several parts of a personality test (such as the 16 scales of the 16PF, as diagrammed on page 230 of the Cloninger text)

16 Source Traits Measured by the 16PF

• Warmth
• Reasoning
• Emotional Stability
• Dominance
• Liveliness
• Rule-Consciousness
• Social Boldness
• Sensitivity
• Vigilance
• Abstractedness
• Privateness
• Apprehension
• Openness to Change
• Self-Reliance
• Perfectionism
• Tension

Five Second-Order Factors

• extraversion
• anxiety
• tough-mindedness
• independence
• self-control

Psychological Adjustment

• neurosis
• psychosis

Three Types of Traits

1. Ability Traits
   • fluid intelligence
   • crystallized intelligence
   • "Fluid intelligence" tests avoid abilities, such as vocabulary, that obviously depend on learning. Instead, they use alternative tests, such as putting pictures into the proper order to make a story.
   • Theoretically, experience influences only crystallized intelligence. (Evidence is that it influences fluid intelligence also.)
2. Temperament Traits
   • style and tempo of behavior
   • biological influence
3. Dynamic Traits
   • ergs: dynamic, constitutional source traits anger, fear, sex, etc.
   • metaergs: environmental-mold (learned) dynamic source traits
   • sentiments & attitudes
   • subsidiation
   • the dynamic lattice
   • confluence learning

Predicting Behavior

The Specification Equation

• example of a specification equation [lecture supplement]

Nomothetic and Idiographic Approaches: R-Technique and P-Technique

• R-technique
  • nomothetic
  • studies groups
• P-technique
  • idiographic
  • studies individuals

Syntality

• group (e.g., national) differences in personality
• extraversion and superego strength of U. S. students, compared to British

Determinants of Personality: Heredity and Environment

constitutional traits

environmental-mold traits

multiple abstract variance analysis (MAVA)

heritability: the extent to which a trait is influenced by genetics

The Role of Theory in Cattell's Empirical Approach

Cattell said, "I have always felt justifiably suspicious of theory built too much ahead of data."

The Five Factor Theory: McCrae and Costa

Extraversion

• sociable
• fun-loving
• affectionate
• friendly
• talkative

Agreeableness

• forgiving
• lenient
• sympathetic
• agreeable
• softhearted

Neuroticism

• worried
• insecure
• self-conscious
• temperamental

Conscientiousness

• careful
• well-organized
• punctual
• ambitious
• persevering

Openness

• original
• imaginative
• daring
• has broad interests
• aesthetically sensitive
• needs variety
• liberal in values

More About These Five Factors

EXTRAVERSION facets

• Warmth
• Gregariousness
• Assertiveness
• Activity
• Excitement Seeking
• Positive Emotions

AGREEABLENESS facets

• Trust
• Straightforwardness
• Altruism
• Compliance
• Modesty
• Tender-Mindedness

NEUROTICISM facets

• Anxiety
• Hostility
• Depression
• Self-Consciousness
• Impulsiveness
• Vulnerability

OPENNESS facets

• Fantasy
• Aesthetics
• Feelings
• Actions
• Ideas
• Values

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS facets

• Competence
• Order
• Dutifulness
• Achievement Striving
• Self-Discipline
• Deliberation

Heritability of the 5 factors (according to Loehlin, 1992, p. 67)

• .36 extraversion
• .28 agreeableness
• .31 neuroticism
• .28 conscientiousness
• .46 openness

http://www.stanford.edu/~cattell/rbcmain.htm

http://www.stanford.edu/~cattell/rbcphoto.htm

http://admin.vmi.edu/ir/16pf.htm

http://www.ferris.edu/isar/whitney/whitnmeh.htm

http://www.stanford.edu/~cattell/rbcachie.htm

http://www.grc.nia.nih.gov/branches/lpc/pcosta.htm

http://www.grc.nia.nih.gov/branches/lpc/rmccrae.htm

http://ipip.ori.org/ipip/

http://www.ipat.com

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