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Personality theories in psychology
Personality theories in psychology
Which of the following is included in the five-factor model of personality (mcrae & costa, 1997)
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One of the major theoretical areas in the study of the personality is the trait perspective. It suggests that individual personalities are comprised of broad dispositions, and it identifies and measures the characteristics that they are made up of (Cherry). The trait perspective helps to identify a person’s personality type (Myers). This perspective focuses on the difference between individual personalities and the traits that shape them. A trait is a stable characteristic that causes an individual to behave a certain way. A person’s personality is made up of a special combination of various traits that are unique to each individual (Cherry). In 1936, psychologist Gordon Allport categorized all of the traits into three levers: cardinal traits, central traits, and secondary traits. He said that cardinal traits are traits that dominate an individual’s whole life, that central traits are general characteristics that form the basis of the personality, and that secondary traits are traits that refer to specific attitudes or preferences that only appear in certain situations (Cherry). After Allport, came along two psychologists, Raymond Cattell and Hans Eysenck, who each formulated their own theories regarding traits. Their theories have been the subjects of considerable research in the world of psychology. Cattell seemed to focus on far too many traits, while Eysenck seemed to focus on too few. As a result, psychologists have combined the two theories to make one satisfactory theory (Cherry), called “The Big Five Factors” (Myers). They are: conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness, and extraversion. These five factors merge to create the human personality (Cherry). Where people fall into these factors s... ... middle of paper ... ...ping them to be able to understand their patients and what it takes to help them to heal. Works Cited Cherry, Kendra. "Trait Theory of Personality." About.com Psychology. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. . Grohol, John M. "Personality Disorders and Personality Traits." Psych Central. 23 July 2003. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. . Hoermann, Simone, Corrine Zupanick, and Mark Dombeck. "DSM-IV-TR: The Ten Personality Disorders." Mental Health.net. 3 Jan. 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. . Myers, David G. "Chapter 11: Personality." Psychology in Everyday Life. 2nd Ed. New York, NY: Worth, 2009. 292-315. Print. Smith, Darvin. "PERSONALITY DISORDERS DSM-IV." Darv Smith Homepage. Web. 05 Feb. 2012. .