Raymond Catell – he began his work by identifying certain

MODULE 1.2 obvious personality traits. He called these surface traits. He

then used his nomothetic research method approach to obtain
extensive data on large number of people. He was able to derive a list of 16
primary or source traits that he considered to be the center or core of personality. He listed
each of these traits as pair of polar opposites (16pf).

TRAIT THEORY
1.Catell used three different areas to observe and examine people, These are:
a. Person’s Life – also known as L data, taken from observations by other people.
b. Self reports – also known as Q data, it uses questionnaires and other techniques
designed to allow people make subjective descriptions of themselves.
c. Objective tests – also know as t data, it measures performances such as intelligence,
speed of responding and activities designed to challenge people’s maximum
performance.

2.Catell used an inductive method of gathering data, he began with no preconceived bias
concerning the number of traits and types while Eysenck used a deductive method that helped
him three identity factors. This is because he already had a preconceived hypothesis before he
started in his data gathering.

3. Catell divided traits into the following:

a. common traits – shared by many
b. unique traits – peculiar to one individual

Classification of traits:
a. temperament – how a person behaves
b. motivation – why one behaves
c. ability – how far or how fast one behaves
4. Catell used a multifaceted factors of 35 primary traits which are designed to measure
temperament traits. Of these factors, 23 are belongs to normal population and 12 for
pathological dimension. If we compare this this to Eysenck, he only used three personality
factors.

5.Catell focused on measuring large number of traits while Eyesenck concentratedd on types
that are factors regarding interrelated traits.

Traits generated through factor analysis maybe either unipolar or bipolar.

1. Unipolar traits – scaled from zero to large amount, examples are height, weight, I.Q. ,
etc..
 2. Bipolar traits – extend from one pole to another opposite pole with a midpoint.
Examples are introversion vs. extraversion, liberalism vs. conservatism, etc…

REVIEW

1. Raymond Catell used __________________ to study personality traits.

2. Raymond Catell studied personality that appears in _______________.
3. _________________ measures performances such as intelligence and activities
designed to challenge people’s maximum performances.
4. _____________________ are observations taken from other people.
5. _____________________ allows people to make subjective descriptions of themselves.
6. Even before data gathering, Catell already had a ________________ hypothesis.

MODULE 1.3

Hans Eysenck – He Disagreed with Allport and Catell , He believes that there are only three
major dimensions to personality.
1. Factor E (Extraversion –Intraversion)
-Sociable
-Lively
-Active
-Assertive
-Sensation-seeking
-Carefree
-Dominant
-Surgent
-Venturesome
2. Factor N (Neuroticism – Stability)
-Anxious
-Depressed
-Guilt Feelings
-Low Self-esteem
-Tense
 -Irrational
-Shy
-Moody
-Emotional
3. Factor P (Psychoticism-Super ego)
-Aggressive
-Cold
-Egocentric
-Impersonal
-Impulsive
-Antisocial
-Unempathic
-Creative
-Tough minded

Although Eyesenck’s trait theory seems bipolar, it is not. He believes that factors are unimodally
distributed which means each trait is totally independent from other traits whether same or
opposing. He identified four criteria for personality dimensions:

1. Psychometric Evidence – The criterion must be reliable and replicable.

2. Heritability – the factor must possess a genetic model, This criteria eliminates learned
characteristics.
3. Make sense from a theoretical view – Eysenck used a deductive method which begins
with a theory and then gathering of data that are logically consistent with the theory.
4. Must possess social relevance - factors may have a relationship with socially relevant
variables.

Because of certain trait theories, McCrae and Costa came up with the big five factor analysis,
the aim of FFM (five factor model) is to identify basic personality traits as reveled by factor
analysis.

OCEAN- this is the five factor trait theory by McCrae and Costa during 1983, This theory can
both predict and explain behavior. Unlike other trait theories, the focus of this theory is not to
generate testable hypotheses but to examine the stability and structure of the personality.

They believe in five core dimensions:

1. Openness to experience – creative and willing to try new things
2. Conscentiousness – reliable , responsible , thorough , dependable , hardworking.
3. Extraversion – outgoing , social active , talkative
4. Agreeableness – easy to get along with , pleasant , sympathetic , warm , cooperative.
5. Neuroticism – emotional stability
Costa and McCrae’s Five Factor Model of Personality
 High Scores Low Scores
Neuroticism anxious calm
temperamental even-tempered
self-pitying self-satisfied
self-conscious comfortable
emotional unemotional
vulnerable hardy
Extraversion affectionate reserved
joiner loner
talkative quiet
fun loving sober
active passive
passionate unfeeling
Openness imaginative down-to-earth
creative uncreative
original conventional
prefers variety prefers routine
curious uncurious
liberal conservative

At first there was only two important factors, N and E, then they discovered the third factor O.
The factor model added two A and C traits in 1992.

Agreeableness soft hearted ruthless

trusting suspicious
generous stingy
acquiescent antagonistic
lenient critical
good-nature irritable
Conscientiousness conscientious negligent
hardworking lazy
well-organized disorganized
punctual late
ambitious aimless
persevering quitting

If a person gets a high score at Neuroticism, that person will tend to be anxious,
temperamental, self-pitying, self-conscious, emotional, and vulnerable to stress- related
disorders. Those who score low on N are usually calm, even-tempered, self- satisfied, and
unemotional.

People who score high on extraversion tend to be affectionate, jovial, talkative, joiners, and
fun-loving. In contrast, low E scorers are likely to be reserved, quiet, loners, passive, and lacking
the ability to express strong emotion

Openness to experience distinguishes people who prefer variety from those who have a need
for closure and who gain comfort in their association with familiar people and things. People
who consistently seek out different and varied experiences would score high on openness to
experience. For example, they enjoy trying new menu items at a restaurant or they like
searching for new and exciting restaurants. In contrast, people who are not open to
experiences will stick with a familiar item, one they know they will enjoy. People high on
openness also tend to question traditional values, whereas those low on openness tend to
support traditional values and to pre- serve a fixed style of living. In summary, people high on
openness are generally creative, imaginative, curious, and liberal and have a preference for
variety. By contrast, those who score low on openness to experience are typically conventional,
down-to- earth, conservative, and lacking in curiosity.

The Agreeableness Scale distinguishes soft-hearted people from ruthless ones. People who
score in the direction of agreeableness tend to be trusting, generous, yielding, acceptant, and
good-natured. Those who score in the other direction are generally suspicious, stingy,
unfriendly, irritable, and critical of other people.

The fifth factor—conscientiousness—describes people who are ordered, controlled, organized,

ambitious, achievement focused, and self-disciplined. In general, people who score high on C
are hardworking, conscientious, punctual, and persevering. In contrast, people who score low
on conscientiousness tend to be disorganized, negligent, lazy, and aimless and are likely to give
up when a project becomes difficult. Together these dimensions make up the personality traits
of the five-factor model, often referred to as the “Big Five”