Gordon Allport's Trait Theory

Gordon Allport one of the strongest key figures of trait theory defines trait as the widespread and personalized decisive tendencies, consistent and unwavering modes of individual’s adjustments to his surroundings. According to Allport’s view there are four distinctive trait concepts: cardinal trait, central trait, functional autonomy, and secondary disposition. Cardinal trait indicates the disposition that is persistent and salient in the life of a person that virtually every act is attributable to its influence. Central trait is a nature to behave in a specific way in a variety of situations. Functional autonomy refers to an individual’s motivation that may become independent of its origins; in particular, these motives during adulthood might differ from the

motives from childhood. Secondary disposition refers to the provisions that people have to behave in a particular way that is pertinent to particular situations, (Cervone & Pervin, 2013).

Let us take for example Mother Teresa from Calcutta:
• Cardinal trait – she was altruistic. She from a young age she express concern for those in need. The disposition was present and persisted from childhood to adulthood.
• Central trait – She was compassionate, this trait was influence primarily after taking care of an ill dying person she found in the streets at the age of 36. As you can see she was more inclined to serve poor people after this incident.
• Secondary trait –she was empathetic. She was more empathetic helping those in need, but although she was a good person, she was less empathetic with those individuals who were not poor.
• Functional autonomy-Mother Teresa as a child was not poor. After her father died (a business man), she began a business selling clothes to help support her family. She became a nun at 18, (Vardey, 1995).

Personality is a term use to describe long-enduring patterns of thinking acting, and feelings; and it comprises traits, attitudes, behaviors, and coping mechanisms that are developed throughout the life of a person, mainly during childhood and adolescence.

Attitudes are relatively stable positive, negative or neutral person's evaluations that can vary in level of intensity, and has an affective, cognitive, and behavioral component, (Piotrowski, 2005). The main difference between attitudes and a trait is variability. To consider an element as a trait, there should be considered two elements: longitudinal stability and consistency across situations.

An example of an attitude could be the feeling towards abortion. A person could repudiate abortion as a birth control measure, while could favor it in cases of rape. An example of a trait could be honesty; a person who is honest that believes that taking $5 left unattended at work is wrong, and that would not lie in their taxes to obtain a refund to obtain a higher refund. In the first case the attitude, feelings and thoughts, toward an action are variable and contingent to the situation. In the second case, the tendency is the same regardless of the

situation.