Trait Theory: Just List The Key Concepts Of Trait Theory

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Key Figures: Just list the key people associated with the theory Gordon Allport, Raymond B. Cattell, Hans Eysenc, & Lewis Goldberg Key Concepts of Personality Formation: Traits are personality dispositions to behave in a certain way, as expressed in the behavior of a person in a variety of circumstances. Traits are enduring characteristics that describes an individual’s behavior through a variety of situations. Two important factors regarding trait definition are distinction and consistency, (Cervone & Pervin, 2010; Davis & Palladino, 2004; VandenBos, 2007). Gordon Allport one of the strongest key figures of trait theory. He defines trait as the widespread and personalized decisive tendencies, consistent and unwavering modes of individual’s …show more content…

He considered that personality traits were divided mostly in 3: extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism. People categorized as extroverts are more outgoing than other people, and are led by internal stimuli as their own thoughts and moods; This feature is a continuum. Neuroticism is listed as emotional instability and involves traits like anxiety, guilt feelings, low self-esteem, and timidity. The psychotism consists of aggressiveness, impulsiveness, and lack of empathy traits, (Davis & Palladino, 2004; Moore, 2001). Lewis Goldberg - this psychologist is credited with having created the Big 5 Personality Traits: Open to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreebleness, and Neuroticism, (acronym OCEAN). The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI) is a psychological tool that emerged from this approach. This measure of assessment is still used today, (Cervone & Pervin, 2010; Davis & Palladino, …show more content…

People with this personality trait are self-defeating, anxious, and constantly worried about their appropriateness. These people are subject to temper fluctuations and negative emotions such as anger, antipathy, and guilt. They are also more likely to have irrational thoughts, and unable to control their impulses and effectively cope with their problems, (Davis & Palladino, 2004). The theory also emphasizes that genetics and environment also play a role in the development of disorders. Genetically, trait theorists suggest that some people are born with provisions to have personality disorders. Also it is considered that negative environment has an influence in developing these ailments, (Dombeck & Wells-Moran,

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