View of Human
Criticisms
Nature
Allport had a basically
optimistic and hopeful
view of human nature. He
rejected the
psychoanalytic and
behavioral views of
humanity as being too
deterministic and too
mechanistic. He believed
that our fates and our
traits are not determined
by
Allport's view of
humanity is more
teleological than causal.
Personality, to some
extent, is influenced by
past experiences, but the
behaviors that make us
human are those that are
motivated by our
expectations of the future.
In other words, we are
healthy individuals to the
extent that we set and
seek future purposes and
aspirations. Each of us is
different from others not
so much because we have
different basic drives, but
because we have different
self-erected goals and
intentions.
Key concepts of Trait Compare/contrast with the big five personality traits of Mc Crae
theory & Costa
the theory that an
individual's personality
traits or personal Gordon Allport has
Allport outlined three distinct categories of traits (source, central, secondary) frequently been criticized
dispositions are key to
which he referred to as personal dispositions, and common traits which were for advocating the use of
understanding the idiographic studies but
traits everyone shared.
uniqueness and undertaking only one such
consistency of his or her study himself. 
behavior.
Allport's theory of
personality emphasizes
Cardinal traits: Allport the uniqueness of the
suggested that cardinal individual and the internal
His work was expanded upon by McCrae & Costa, who confirmed the model's
traits are rare, and cognitive and motivational
dominate, usually validity and provided the model used today: conscientiousness,
processes that influence
developing later in life. agreeableness, neuroticism, openness to experience, and extraversion. The
behavior. ... Allport (1937)
They tend to define a model became known as the “Big Five” and has seen received much
believes that personality is
person to such an extent attention.
that their names become biologically determined at
synonymous with their birth, and shaped by a
personality. person's environmental
experience.
Allport held an optimistic
view of humanity,
maintaining that people have
at least limited freedom.
Human beings are goal
oriented, proactive, and
motivated by a variety of
forces, most of which are
within their realm of
consciousness. Early
childhood experiences are of
relatively minor importance
and are significant only to
the extent that they exist in
the present. Both differences
and similarities among
people are important, but
individual differences and
uniqueness receive far
greater emphasis in Allport
psychology.
Central traits: These
general characteristics
form basic personality
foundations. While
central traits are not as
dominating as cardinal
traits, they describe the
major characteristics you
might use to describe
another person. Terms
such as "intelligent,"
"honest," "shy," and
"anxious" are considered
central traits.

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Secondary traits: Secondary

traits are sometimes related
to attitudes or preferences.
They often appear only in
certain situations or under
specific circumstances. Some
examples include public
speaking anxiety, or
impatience while waiting in
line.
Key Terms and Concepts

• Allport was eclectic- in his

acceptance of ideas from a
variety of sources.

• He defined personality as
the dynamic organization
within the individual of
those psychophysical system
s that determine a person s
behavior and thought.
• Psychologically healthy
people are motivated largely
by conscious processes; have
an extended sense of self;
relate warmly to others;
accept themselves for who
they are; have a realistic
perception of the world; and
possess insight, humor, and
a unifying philosophy of life.

• Allport advocated a
proactive position, one that
emphasized the notion that
people have a large measure
of conscious control over
their lives.

• Common traits are general

characteristics held in
common by many people.
They may be useful for
comparing one group of
people with another.

• Individual traits (personal

dispositions) are peculiar to
the individual and have the
capacity to render different
stimuli functionally
equivalent and to mitiate and
guide behavior.
• Three levels of personal
dispositions are (T) cardinal
dispositions, which only a
few people possess and
which are so conspicuous
that they cannot be hidden;
(2) central dispositions, the 5
to 10 individual traits that
make a person unique; and
(3) secondary dispositions,
which are less
distinguishable but far more
numerous than central
dispositions.

• Personal dispositions that

initiate actions are called
motivational traits.

• Personal dispositions that

guide actions are called
stylistic traits.

• The proprium refers to
those behaviors and personal
dispositions that are warm
and central to our lives and
that we regard as peculiarly
our own.
• Functional autonomy refers
to motives that are self-
sustaining and independent
from the motives that were
originally responsible for a
behavior.
• Perseverative functional
autonomy refers to those
habits and behaviors that are
not part of one's proprium.
• Propriate functional
autonomy includes all those
self-sustaining motivations
that are related to the
proprium.

• Allport used morphogenic

procedures, such as diaries
and letters, which stress
patterns of behavior within a
single individual.