BACKGROUND HISTORY OF GORDON ALPORT THEORY OF PERSONALITY

Gordon Allport was born in Montezuma, Indiana, on November 11, 1897. He was a pioneer
American psychologist who created the Gordon Allport Personality Theory. The first trait theory
was proposed by a Gordon Allport in 1936. He is known as one of the founders of personality
psychology. Gordon Allport (1937) defined personality as 'the dynamic organization within the
individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to the
environment'. Gordon Allport was the first to determine that: environment has a profound
influence on personality traits.

WHAT INSPIRED GORDON ALLPORT ?

Meeting Sigmund Freud had a significant influence on Allport, leading him to develop his own
approach to psychology. In an essay entitled "Pattern and Growth in Personality," Allport
recounted his experience of meeting psychiatrist Sigmund Freud. When he was 22, Allport
traveled to Vienna, Austria, to meet the famous psychoanalyst. After entering Freud's office, he
sat down nervously and told a story about a young boy he had seen on the train during his
travels to Vienna. The boy, Allport explained, was afraid of getting dirty and refused to sit
where a dirty-looking man had previously sat. Allport theorized that the child had acquired the
behavior from his mother, who appeared to be very domineering. Freud studied Allport for a
moment and then asked, "And was that little boy you?". Allport viewed the experience as an
attempt by Freud to turn a simple observation into an analysis of Allport's supposed
unconscious memory of his own childhood. The experience would later serve as a reminder
that psychoanalysis sometimes tended to dig too deeply. On the other hand, Allport believed
that behaviourism did not dig deeply enough. Instead, Allport chose to reject both
psychoanalysis and behaviorism and embraced his own unique approach to personality.

At this point in psychology history, behaviorism had become the dominant force in the United
States, and psychoanalysis remained a powerful influence. Allport's approach to human
psychology combined the empirical influence of behaviorists with the acknowledgment that
unconscious influences could also play a role in human behavior. Allport also believed that a
person's personality was determined at birth through biological means. He hypothesized that
an individual's experiences and environment played a role in shaping their personality.
According to Allport, an individual's personality is influenced by their childhood experiences,
present environment, and the interaction between the two concepts; this was a
groundbreaking hypothesis.
 ALLPORT'S TRAIT THEORY OF PERSONALITY
Allport is perhaps best known for his trait theory of personality. According to trait theorists, like
Gordon Allport, your personality is made up of the traits you possess. A trait is a personal
characteristic we have which stays generally the same overtime and is resistant to changing. He
began developing this theory by going through a dictionary and noting every term he found
that described a personality trait. After compiling a list of 4,504 different traits, he organized
them into three different trait categories, including: cardinal, central and secondary traits

CONCEPT OF ALLPORT'S THEORY

Trait theory of personality suggests that people have certain basic traits and it is the strength
and intensity of those traits that account for personality differences. A trait is a personality
characteristic that meets three criteria. Which are it must be consistent, stable, and vary from
person to person. Based on this definition, a trait can be thought of as a relatively stable
characteristic that causes individuals to behave in certain ways. Gordon Allport’s theory is
considered to be one of the more scientific theories which has put forward the concept of traits
in understanding personality. He takes the biological approach to an extent and mentions about
how children are born with reflexes and as they use the reflexes continuously, how in course of
time these reflexes become a habit and how habits by indulging in them continuously turn into
traits, which are relatively permanent entities in the individual and which are reflected in the
individual’s many behaviours in many different situations.

According to Allport traits constitute the basic unit of individual’s personality. He defined traits
as the predisposition to respond and react in the same or similar manner to stimuli in the
environment. According to him, there are two types of traits;

1. Common traits
2. Personal traits or dispositions.

Some of the important characteristics of traits are as given below:

 Traits are not theotheoretical structures or constructs but are real and found within the
individual.
 Traits guide and direct behaviour and enable the individual to behave in a particular
manner.
 Traits are verified empirically.
  Different traits are not absolutely independent of each other but have overlapping
functions.
 Stable traits can also change over time.

1. Common Traits:

According to Gordon Allport, within any particular culture, there are certain behaviours that are
commonly obtained as part of that culture and everyone in that culture recognises the same
and even can label them. Common traits can be considered abstractions which reflect social
values and social mores. These traits originate from social pressure on members to behave in a
particular manner. For example; the various ways we get married in our cultures, our different
cultural beliefs " not looking at an adult in his or her eyes while the adult is talking " ,our
different cultural rituals. Allport did not attach much importance to common traits as they are
only surface manifestations. In our culture, we commonly differentiate between introverts and
extroverts or modern and traditional behaviours. We also know what we mean by traditional or
modern, but a person from a different culture may not have heard about these terms in the
same way as we are thinking or visualizing. People that come from the same cultural
background will have similar characteristics in a number of situations, this is so because,
cultural factors play a very significant role in the development of personality.

Common traits are those that are shared by majority of the people in a culture, common traits
are more general . For example, people from different cultures may value different traits and
qualities. So, someone from a collectivist culture, which emphasizes group harmony and
conformity, might have different common traits than someone from an individualist culture,
which emphasizes independence and uniqueness. Also, acceptable gender roles in a particular
culture can also influence common traits. For example, studies have shown that women tend to
be higher in agreeableness and emotional stability, they are often socialized to be more socially
expressed and to value relationships, while men tend to be higher in openness and
extraversion, they are often socialized to be more independent and value achievements. Of
course, these are just general trends and there's a lot of individual variation. But it's possible
that gender socialization and societal expectations can influence the development of certain
common traits.

2. Personal Trait Or Dispositions

Allport was of the view that personal disposition is something unique to the individual and this
disposition makes him behave consistently in the same way in a number of situations that are
similar. He said that it is a generalised neuropsychic structure that is unique to the individual
concerned and this makes for the difference in the behaviours of many individuals even though
they may face the same situation. For example, in a TV programme when a sad scene is shown
one person cries, another turns the other way from the TV not wanting to see the scene, and
the third criticizes the scene as most unreasonable and unrealistic. These three different
reactions are typically due to the personal disposition of the three different individuals.
Personal trait or disposition is a relatively stable aspect of a person’s personality, they are those
that are unique to each individual, they are more specific and are deeper and more revealing of
a person’s true nature.

Allport categorized the personal dispositions into three groups.

1. Cardinal Traits

2. Central Traits

3. Secondary Traits

 Cardinal Traits;
These are central to the individual and these traits manifest themselves in almost all
situations and in the individual’s very personality. For instance if we take compassion
as a cardinal trait in one person, you will see that this compassion is manifested in
almost all aspects of the individual’s behaviour, as for instance, if he sees a child
begging, he will offer her some eatable or money. Such a person may also join many
NGOs that are dealing with orphans and destitutes so as to help these needy persons.
He would also write in newspapers and magazines about the conditions of such people
and call for help and assistance to be given to them. So his behaviour will be reflecting
this unique disposition of compassion in almost all aspects of his behaviour.

Cardinal traits are considered rare. Not every person has a cardinal trait. These traits can
overwhelm the other characteristics a person may have. Usually, a person has multiple traits
that make up their personality. For people with a cardinal trait, that personality trait will form
the majority of the individual's personality.When a person does have a cardinal trait, they may
be known for displaying that personality trait. They can often impact other people and how
other people perceive that person. Allport believed that not everyone has a cardinal trait and
that their existence is relatively rare. Instead, he believed most peoples' personalities are
shaped by multiple important traits versus one powerful and all-encompassing one.

A famous example of someone with a cardinal trait is Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi's cardinal trait
was his commitment to non-violence. This trait was so central to his personality that it
influenced all of his thoughts, feelings, and actions. Another example is Mother Teresa . In her
case, the trait was her unwavering compassion for others, especially the poor and sick. This trait
was so central to her personality that she devoted her entire life to serving others. She founded
the Missionaries of Charity, an order of nuns that cared for the sick and needy. She was also
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work.

 Central Traits:

These are considered as building blocks ofthe individual’s personality. When you describe
someone, you are likely to use words that refer to these central traits: honesty, friendly, timid,
aggressive, arrogant etc. According to Allport each individual has about 5 to 10 such cardinal
traits in them. One of these is indeed dominant while others do dominate but do not have the
over riding influence on the person’s behaviour. Through such traits one can define the
personality of the individual concerned. These central traits reveal the structure and
organisation of personality. Allport believed that central traits are much more common , If you
think of the major terms you might use to describe your overall character; then those are
probably your central traits.

 Secondary Traits:

These are not overwhelming like the cardinal traits but it can be reflected or seen in the various
preferences and attitudes of the individual concerned. These to an extent are specific to
situations, that is, for instance, a person becoming anxious while waiting to get a feedback from
a job he or she applied for. Secondary Traits are present only during certain situations and
should not be used as a basic for describing a person's personality. According to Allport,
secondary traits are the features that appear in a person under the influence of a given
situation. For example, someone who is very self-confident on a daily basis can become shy
under the influence of stress or a large audience.

THE PROPRIUM

Gordon Allport defined proprium as a person initialized, unified sense of self, which influences
how personality develops (Allport, 1955). According to Allport, proprium is the highest in the
personality structure which consists of all aspects of personality which bring about inward unity
and consistency in the personality of the individual. These aspects together in the proprium
govern the entire organisation of personality. The proprium contains within it dynamic and
manifests itself in almost all aspects of human behaviour.

Allport (1955) laid the groundwork for his psychology of personality using eight propriate
functions; or “aspects of personality that established inward unity”
 1. Sense of body
2. self-identity
3. self-esteem
4. Self-extension
5. Self-image
6. Rational coping
7. Propriate striving
8. Self as knower

1 Sense Of Body; develops in the first two years of life. We have one, we feel its closeness, its
warmth. It has boundaries that pain and injury, touch and movement, make us aware of. It
refers to how a person experiences and interprets their physical self. This trait includes things
like physical comfort, sensitivity to pain, and the ability to be aware of and control one's body.
A person with a strong sense of body is more aware of their physical needs and sensations and
is able to control and regulate them. On the other hand, someone with a weak sense of body
may be less aware of or in control of their physical self.

For example, when a pillow is given to a child he or she feels that it is part of one's own self, as
he experiences this over a period of time, when the pillow is taken away by the mother, he
realises that it is not part of his body. This idea of the sense of one’s own body develops as a
result of experiences that the child goes through in its interaction with the environment. Allport
had a favorite demonstration of this aspect of self: Imagine spitting saliva into a cup - and then
drinking it down! What’s the problem? It’s the same stuff you swallow all day long! But, of
course, it has gone out from your bodily self and become, thereby, foreign to you.
2. Self Identity ; Another aspect that develops during the first two years is what Allport called
as Self Identity. It refers to how a person, through acquiring views and understands themselves.
This includes things like their sense of self-worth, their sense of agency, and their sense of
continuity, see ourselves as individual entities, separate and different from others. We even
have a name! Will you be the same person when you wake up tomorrow? Of course -- we take
that continuity for granted.. Allport believed that self-identity is a dynamic and ongoing process
that develops over time. It is shaped by a person's experiences, relationships, and cultural
influences.

This self awareness leads to the recognition of oneself as having a past, present and a future.
The person is able to see himself as a separate entity who is separate from the father, from the
mother and various others in his environment. This differentiation of the self from the whole is
an important aspect of the development of self identity. Every individual has a name and a
family and this identity is entirely the individual’s

3. Self Esteem (2 To 4 Years Of Age); This aspect develops in the individual around the age of
two to four years. The child is able to move around now and is able to accomplish many things
that he never used to in the past due to the non maturation of many of the organ systems. As
the child is growing and many of his organs are maturing he is able to make many movements
both refined and non refined and is able to reach his goals, as for instance to fetch a toy from
another corner of the room etc. As the child experiences many achievements and
accomplishments he feels good about himself, becomes more confident and tries to do things
like climbing the stairs and reaching the rooms on the first floor etc. He is able to control also
many of his reflexes in terms of controlling his bowel and bladder. All these are appreciated by
the caregivers and the child feels good about himself and thus develops a good concept about
himself that he is capable and is appreciated. Thus he develops self esteem which is positive.
On the other hand if the experiences were in the negative direction the self esteem would also
have been negative.
4. Self Extension: (4 To 6 Years); which states that even though some things are not inside my
physical body they are still very much a part of one’s life. There are many things in the
environment which are supplementary and complementary to the growth and development of
the individual. The individual is able to understand that Mr. X and Ms. Y are his parents. They
are his own. He lives in a place which again is his own, he has a room in which he studies and
does a lot of things including listening to music etc. and these are all his own. Thus there is an
extension of self here into many things in the environment which all are identified with himself.
Some people as they grow up may even identify themselves with being a sportsman, an athlete
or a swimmer etc. Some belong to a group or a clan or a gang and identify themselves with the
same. Some identify themselves with an occupation such as being a psychologist or a doctor or
a lawyer. Thus there is self extension into many aspects of the environment.

According to Allport, self-extension is the process by which a person expands their sense of self
by taking in others and their environment. Allport believed that people have a natural desire to
extend their identities and connect with others. This can happen in a number of ways, including
through relationships, shared experiences, and common interests. For example, a person might
feel connected to their family, friends, or community through shared experiences and interests.
As they develop these connections, they expand their sense of self and feel a greater sense of
belonging.

5. Self Image ( 4 To 6 Years); This is "my reflection " that is what others see. Therefore, it is the
impression I would like others to form of me. Self image means, the self of the person as others
see it. It is a mirroring of one’s image by others. The impression that the individual makes on
others by looks, clothes,behaviour etc. In addition other aspects of self that are important
include the social esteem or status one enjoys in the society and in the social circle . It also
includes the person’s sexual identity. Many times the ideal self and self image may not be the
same. In some cases others may consider the individual as resembling someone in looks and
behaviour, but the person concerned may consider his self image as different. Thus there could
be a discrepancy in the self image and what others think about the person.

6. Rational Coping (6-12 Years); As the individual grows up and his personality develops he is
able to have higher cognitive functioning with increase in his thinking abilities, decision making
and memory capacities. These in turn help the individual to make decisions on many matters
related to that age level. The person is able to now think rationally on many issues and is able
to understand the pros and cons and takes relatively more appropriate decisions as compared
to the earlier age levels. With rational coping, a person assesses the situation objectively and
tries to find a solution that is based on facts and evidence. They may also try to learn from the
situation and find ways to prevent it from happening again.

7. Propriate Striving (12 - adolescent); which Allport believed to be the core problem for the
adolescent. It is the selection of the occupation or other life goal, the adolescent knows that
their future must follow a plan. Every individual has to finally take charge of his or her life. The
individual has to be responsible for his thinking, actions and behaviours. After the varied
experience in life the individual is able to look back on his goals, achievements and
accomplishments, and then say now is the time he would try to spend on activities that gives
him internal satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment. Propriate striving is a term used by Allport
to describe the drive to achieve one's goals. He believed that people are motivated by a desire
to achieve something that is personally meaningful to them. Allport called this goal a
"proprium", which is Latin for "one's own". A propriate striving can be anything from a career
goal to a personal goal. It's something that a person is passionate about and strives to achieve.
For example, someone might have a propriate striving to become a doctor or to help others in
need.

8. Self As A Knower ( Adulthood); In this final stage, the self is seen as a knower who can be
aware of and surpass the other seven modes. When one goes through all the stages, one
appears to use many or even all of the functions in everyday tasks and experiences. The "self as
a knower" is a concept in Allport's theory that refers to the way that people view and
understand themselves. Allport believed that the self is not a fixed entity, but rather a dynamic
and ever-changing process. The self as a knower is the part of the self that allows people to
observe and understand their own experiences. It is what allows people to learn from their
experiences and make sense of their lives. Allport believed that the self as a knower is
constantly growing and evolving throughout a person's lifetime.
Dynamics Of Personality

Here, Gordon Allport talked about the factors underlying the functioning of an individuals
personality. In Allport’s theory he has put forward three basic concepts as underlying dynamics
of personality and these are (i) Functional Autonomy (ii) Conscious and Unconscious Motivation
(iii) Psychological Maturity.

Functional Autonomy; Allport did not believe in looking too much into a person’s past in order
to understand his present. This belief is most strongly evident in the concept of functional
autonomy: Your motives today are independent (autonomous) of their origins. In other words
the means employed for the attainment of a goal are now themselves goal. For example, a
person develops and inculcate discipline and hardwork in his life to become rich and famous.
But even after becoming rich and famous he continues to live with discipline and hardwork.
Actually discipline and hardwork are no longer the means for being rich and famous but they
have replaced the goal of being rich and famous in that discipline and hard work by themselves
are goals. What is now is more important tha what was in the past or what is going to be in the
future. A person may have been persuaded by parents to become a lawyer , but as the
individual practiced law, it was so interesting and so satisfying, that there was no need for the
parents persuasion any more, being a lawyer and practicing law by itself has become a goal for
this individual. The shys of becoming a lawyer or why you like the lawyer profession have all n o
meaning now, what is important is that you are a lawyer now and practicing law. Allport offered
the example of a tree, it is obvious that the tree development can be traced to it's seed. Yet
when the tree is fully grown, the seed is no longer required as a source of nourishment. The
tree is now self determing, no longer functionally related to it's seed.

Types Of Functional Autonomy

There are two types of functional autonomy;

1. Perseverative functional autonomy

2. Propriate functional autonomy.

 Perseverative Functional Autonomy ; This refers to various behaviours in which a

person continues to indulge, it is concerned with such behaviours as addiction and
repetitive physical actions. The behaviour continue to preserve on their own, without
any external reward, although the action once served a purpose but no longer do so. To
give an example, a person develops the habit of drinking alcohol because he was having
a problem and was tense and wanted to relieve the tension. In course of time this habit
of drinking continues even though there may be no more tensions and drinking really
serves no purpose.Similarly a person must have been told by his doctor to play tennis in
 the evenings for 2 hours so as to reduce weight and cholesterol. As time pass by even
though the person’s weight has reduced and the cholesterol content also come down to
normal, the person continues to go for tennis for two hours every day
 Propriate Functional Autonomy; on the other hand refers to the values that the person
holds. This comes about as a result of socialisation and childrearing practices in which
parents incorporate values of honesty, hard work, diligence, generosity, compassion etc.
in children through both rewards and punishment. The children internalise the values as
they want to be appreciated and rewarded and also want to avoid punishment. Thus
these behaviours become internalised as value systems in the individual. Such persons
when they do anything against these values that he or she holds, feel guilty and thus go
back to their values as they hold them. This process of these behaviours becoming a
value of an individual is called by Allport as Proporiate functional autonomy

Proporiate functional autonomy is controlled by three principles and these are;

I. Principle Of Organising
II. Principle Of Mastery And Competence
III. Principle Of Propriate Patterning.
 Principle Of Organising: Here the organising refers to the organising of one’s energy
into different activities. According to Propriate functional autonomy, the energy is
organised into many novel and creative activities which are productive and not in
activities which are non productive.
 Principle Of Mastery And Competence; refers to the person’s efforts to satisfy his needs
at a higher cognitive levels and higher levels of satisfaction. He therefore not only
masters and competently deals with various situations, he also continues to refine and
enrich whatever he is doing. This gives satisfaction to the individual at the highest level.
This is another important principle of propriate functional autonomy.
 Principle Of Propriate Patterning: Self is most important in the proprium of an
individual. This self consists of all perceptual and cognitive processes of the individual’s
higher level cognitive functions. In other words the various cognitive functions are
organised around this self. Since every behaviour cannot be explained by functional
autonomy principles many of these patterning if understood can explain a person’s
behaviour.

CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS MOTIVATION

More than any other personality theorist, Allport emphasized the importance of conscious
motivation. Healthy adults are generally aware of what they are doing and their reasons for
doing it. One of Allport’s stories is always mentioned in his biographies: When he was 22, he
traveled to Vienna. He had arranged to meet with the great Sigmund Freud! When he arrived
in Freud’s office, Freud simply sat and waited for Gordon to begin. After a little bit, Gordon
could no longer stand the silence, and he blurted out an observation he had made on his way to
meet Freud. He mentioned that he had seen a little boy on the bus who was very upset at
having to sit where a dirty old man had sat previously. Freud, instead of taking it as a simple
observation, took it to be an expressionof some deep, unconscious process in Gordon’s mind,
and said “And was that little boy you?” whereas Freud would assume an underlying
unconscious meaning to the story of the little boy on the tram, Allport (1967) insisted that his
motivation was quite conscious, he thought this was likely something he had learned from his
mother, a very neat and apparently rather domineering type. "This experience taught me that
depth psychology, for all its merits, may plunge too deep, and that psychologists would do well
to give full recognition to manifest motives before probing the unconscious" (Allport, 1967, p.
8).

However, Allport (1961) did not ignore the existence or even the importance of unconscious
processes. He recognized the fact that some motivation is driven by hidden impulses and
sublimated drives. He believed for example, that most compulsive behaviors are automatic
repetitions, usually self-defeating, and motivated by unconscious tendencies. They often
originate in childhood and retain a childish flavor into adult years. For example, some people
may have unresolved conflicts or traumas from their past, i.e being robbed, that cause anxiety
or stress in the present, which can make them indulge in compulsive behaviors, which are
repetitive, ritualistic actions that a person feels they must perform in order to reduce anxiety or
stress. These behaviors are not usually enjoyable, but they provide temporary relief from
anxiety. Checking the door lock multiple times before leaving the house and before going to
bed, avoiding situations and places that might trigger anxiety

PSYCHOLOGICAL MATURITY

G. Allport believed that maturation of an individual is an on-going process lasting all his/her life.
He made a distinction between a mature and immature or a neurotic person.

Mature personalities behave independently and are motivated by conscious processes. Unlike
them, the immature individuals as a rule are unconsciously motivated by childhood drives.
Thus, Gordon Allport concluded that psychologically, mature personality is characterized by
six traits outlined below.

1. Specific, Enduring Extensions Of Self, i.e. Involvement; A mature person has an extended
sense of self. Mature individuals can look at themselves from outside. They actively participate
in labor( productive work), family and social relationships( friends, neighbours, coworkers),
have hobbies, and are interested in political and religious matters, if it'simportant to them. Such
types of activities require the involvement of the true self of the person and genuine
dedication.

2. Dependable Techniques For Warm Relating To Others; A mature individual is capable of

relating warmly to others and establishing healthy social relation. There are two types of warm
interpersonal relationship according to Gordon Allport, the first is love, while the other is
compassion . The love manifest when the individual is capable of deeply loving his/her family
members and close friends, meanwhile compassion is demonstrated in the ability of a person to
be tolerant in dealing with people which allows them to be very respectful and appreciative of
individual differences in behavior and thought.

3. Emotional Security And Self-Acceptance; Mature individuals have a positive perception of

themselves and thus are capable of tolerantly dealing with frustration or annoyance as well as
their own mistakes, without blaming themselves or overreacting, they know they are not
perfect and they are capable of making mistakes. They are able to overcome stressful situations
and their own negative emotions (e.g. depressive state, fears, (anger or sense of guilt) so that
to avoid hindering the wellbeing of surrounding people, they are able to control their negative
emotions without having to take it out on another person. For instance, using department a
type of defence mechanism where a person direct's strong negative emotions and frustrations
toward a person or that doesn’t feel threatening.

4. Habits Of Realistic Perception (as opposed to defensiveness); A mature person has realistic
perception of life, experience, claims.

Life: Realistic perception of life refers to a person's ability to view the world around them in a
way that is accurate and objective. This can involve things like accepting the good and bad
aspects of life, taking responsibility for one's own actions, and acknowledging that the world is
not always going to be exactly as we want it to be. People with a realistic perception of life are
usually more balanced and content with their lives, since they are not constantly expecting
perfection or trying to control the world around them.

Experience; Realistic perception of experience refers to a person's ability to perceive and

interpret their own experiences in an objective and accurate way. This can involve things like
acknowledging both the positive and negative aspects of an experience, and being able to
separate their own emotions from the facts of the situation. For example, a person with a
realistic perception of experience might be able to look at a past relationship and see both the
good and bad parts of it. They would also be able to understand their own role in the
relationship, rather than blaming everything on their partner.

Claims; Realistic perception of claims refers to the ability to critically evaluate claims, such as
scientific or political claims, and determine whether they are likely to be true or false. This
involves evaluating the evidence that is provided to support the claim, as well as considering
other factors like the source of the claim and the context in which it is made.

Psychologically healthy people are accurate in their perception of events avoiding continual
distortion of reality

5. Problem-centeredness, And The Development Of Problem-solving Skills; Problem-solving

skills are the ability to identify a problem, generate possible solutions, and evaluate which
solution is the best. For instance, A situation whereby a person is deciding which university to
attend. They would first identify the problem (making a university decision), then generate
possible solutions (listing different universities), and then evaluate the pros and cons of each
solution. For example, one university might have a great program in their field of interest, but it
is very expensive. Another college might be more affordable, but it is not as well-known. The
person would need to weigh the pros and cons of each option before making a decision.

6. Self-objectification; Gordon Allport called it self-objectification meaning that mature

individuals have clear-cut idea about their own strengths and weaknesses. insight into one’s
own behavior, the ability to laugh at oneself,

ADVANTAGES OF GORDON ALPORTS THEORY OF PERSONALITY

Certainly, here are some advantages of Gordon Allport's theory of personality, along with brief
1. Individual Uniqueness: Allport emphasizes the uniqueness of individuals, acknowledging that
each person has a distinctive combination of traits, experiences, and qualities. This recognition
allows for a more personalized and nuanced understanding of personality. For Example:
Consider two individuals who both score high on extraversion, but one expresses it through
outgoing behavior in social situations, while the other prefers smaller gatherings. Allport's
emphasis on individual uniqueness allows for appreciating these distinct manifestations of the
same trait.
2. Trait Theory: Allport's theory is a trait theory, providing a systematic framework for
categorizing and studying fundamental personality traits. This approach offers a structured way
to analyze and compare individual differences in behavior. For Example: a highly conscientious
person may excel in organized and structured tasks, while someone low on this trait might
prefer more flexible and spontaneous activities.
3. Dynamic Concept of Personality: Allport's theory considers personality as dynamic and
evolving over time. It recognizes that individuals can change and adapt, incorporating the
impact of both internal and external factors on personality development. For Example: An
individual who was once shy and reserved might become more outgoing and sociable over time
due to new life experiences. Allport's theory recognizes the dynamic nature of personality,
acknowledging that it can change and evolve.

4. Holistic Perspective: Allport's theory takes a holistic approach by considering various aspects
of personality, including traits, motives, and self-awareness. This comprehensive viewpoint
allows for a more thorough understanding of human behavior. For Example: Understanding an
individual involves considering traits, motives, and selfawareness, providing a holistic view of
behavior.

DISADVANTAGES/LIMITATIONS OF GORDON ALLPORT'S THEORY OF

PERSONALITY.
Gordon Allport's trait theory of personality has made significantly contributions to our
understanding of personality, but it also comes with some disadvantages and limitations:
1. Limitations In Addressing Mental Health: The theory primarily focuses on normal personality
development and doesn't adequately address the complexities of mental health issues and
personality disorders (Feist & Feist, 2016).
2. Focus On Individual Uniqueness Can Be Limiting: Although Allport celebrates individuality,
the emphasis on unique trait combinations can make it difficult to develop generalizable
principles of personality functioning applicable across populations (Buss, 1987).
3. Lack Of Emphasis On Unconscious Processes: The theory primarily focuses on conscious
motivations and traits. However, modern psychology acknowledges the role of unconscious
desires and biases that can significantly influence behavior (Mischel, 2004).
4. Limited Role Of Situational Factors: While Allport acknowledges "functional autonomy"
(traits guiding behavior in specific situations), the theory can downplay the significant influence
of immediate context and external factors on behavior (John et al., 2008).
5. Potential Cultural Bias: The theory stems from Western cultural perspectives and might not
be universally

IMPORTANCE OF THE THEORY

1. Trait Theory: Allport's theory is fundamental to trait theory in personality psychology. He
proposed that traits are the basic units of personality. Allport categorized traits into three
levels: cardinal traits (dominant traits that influence all aspects of an individual's life), central
traits (general characteristics that form the basic foundations of personality), and secondary
traits (more specific traits that are influenced by the situation).

According to the Gordon Allport Trait Theory, central traits work together to shape a person's
personality. Instead of having one dominant trait, a person will have multiple smaller traits; the
continuum of personality traits comes into play. A person may be more honest than another
person.

2. Individual Differences: Allport emphasized the uniqueness of individuals. His theory focuses
on the idea that every person is different and that personality is not just a result of common
traits shared by many people, but rather a unique combination of traits that distinguishes one
individual from another.

He hypothesized that an individual's experiences and environment played a role in shaping

their personality. According to Allport, an individual's personality is influenced by their
childhood experiences, present environment, and the interaction between the two concepts;
this was a groundbreaking hypothesis.

3. Personality Development: Allport suggested that personality is not fixed and can change
over time. He believed that individuals are continuously shaped by their experiences and
interactions, which influence the development of their personalities. This approach highlights
the dynamic nature of personality.

He believed that personality is shaped by a person's childhood experiences, current

environment, and the interaction between those two concepts. According to the Gordon
Allport Trait Theory, central traits work together to shape a person's personality.

4. Positive Psychology: Allport's theory has been influential in the development of positive
psychology. By focusing on individual strengths and positive aspects of personality, Allport's
work contributed to a shift in psychology towards promoting mental health and well-being
rather than just treating pathology.

5. Empirical Research: Allport's work laid the foundation for empirical research in personality
psychology. His theory has inspired numerous studies exploring the structure of personality, the
significance of traits in predicting behavior, and the impact of individual differences on various
outcomes.
 CRITICISMS OF GORDON ALLPORT'S TRAIT THEORY OF PERSONALITY
One of the criticisms of this theory is that, this theory does not explain the development or how
these traits were developed or its dispositions due to it is based on statistics. It also does not
apply to all situations; That is, People have different traits to varying degrees.

Secondly, Another criticism of Gordon Allport's trait theory is that, this theory focuses on the
fact that traits are often poor predictors of behaviour. For example, Even when a person scores
highly on evaluations of a specific trait, they may not always behave in that manner in every
situation.

Thirdly, this theory does not explain how or why individuals differ in their personality. It also
shows how or why individual personality differences emerge.

Having said this, In addition Gordon Allport has provided us with a very objective view of
studying personality and his approach was very different compared to other theorists present
at that time.

SUMMARY
Gordon Allport, having been known over the years as one of the founding fathers of personality
psychology, defined personality as “the dynamic organization within the individual of those
psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to the environment”. Which
simply translates that personality is the way each person's mind and body work together to
help them adapt to the world around them. It's like a unique system that helps you handle
different situations in your life. Allport was the first to determine that the environment has a
profound influence on personality traits.
From Allport's story, he believed that behaviourism did not dig deeply enough. Instead, Allport chose to
reject both psychoanalysis and behaviorism and embraced his own unique approach to personality.
Allport's approach to human psychology combined the empirical influence of behaviorists with the
acknowledgment that unconscious influences could also play a role in human behavior; meaning that;
Gordon Allport's way of understanding how people think and behave involved using observations and
evidence, like behaviorists do. But he also believed that there are hidden or unconscious factors that
affect our actions, not just what we do on the surface. So, his approach looked at both what we do and
what's going on inside our minds.

Allport also believed that a person's personality was determined at birth through biological means; he
believed that a person's personality was not solely determined at birth through biological means.
Instead, he emphasized the importance of both genetic predispositions and environmental influences in
shaping personality over time. Allport's theory focused on the dynamic interaction between innate
qualities and external experiences in forming an individual's personality, rather than attributing
personality solely to biological factors present at birth.

His theory also helped in understanding personality traits, which he placed under three categories; The
Cardinal Trait, The Central Trait and The Secondary Trait.