Personality Psychology Lecture

Trait and Biological Perspectives

Trait Approach

• Uses factor analysis to identify traits composing personality.
• Hans Eysenck: Pioneered using factor analysis for personality.
  • Originally identified two dimensions: Extroversion vs. Introversion and Stability vs. Instability.
  • Later added a third dimension: Psychoticism vs. Self-Control (creativity and rule-breaking vs. conformity).

Big Five Personality Traits

• Most well-accepted trait theory.
• Five traits (OCEAN):
  • Openness to Experience
  • Conscientiousness
  • Extraversion
  • Agreeableness
  • Neuroticism
• Universality across cultures suggests an evolutionary or biological basis.

Biological Basis of Traits

• Extroversion vs. Introversion:
  • Extroverts: Little electrical brain activity at rest, seek stimulation.
  • Introverts: High cortical activity at rest, seek calm environments.
• Stability vs. Instability:
  • Linked to autonomic nervous system reactivity.
• Novelty Seeking (Openness to Experience): Related to dopamine levels.

Social Cognitive Theories

• Albert Bandura: Advocated for reciprocal determinism (interaction between individual, environment, and behavior).
• Self-Efficacy: Confidence in performing specific tasks.
  • Influenced by:
    • Past performance.
    • Vicarious experiences (observing others).
    • Verbal persuasion.
    • Arousal levels.

Personality Assessment

Psychodynamic Perspective

• Uses projective tests to uncover unconscious traits.
• Common Tests:
  • Rorschach Inkblot Test: Respondents describe what they see in inkblots.
  • Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Respondents tell stories about ambiguous images.

Objective Personality Scales

• Standardized, paper-and-pencil tests.
• Issues with truthfulness; good tests include validity scales to detect dishonesty.
• MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory):
  • Commonly used.
  • 567 true/false questions with built-in validity scales.
  • Used in clinical settings and by employers (e.g., military, police).