Trait & Type Theories of Personality

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT FOR BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

Personality-DefinitionIt is a stable set of internal

characteristics and tendencies that determines the psychological behavior of people.

It is particular pattern of behavior and thinking that prevail across time and contexts and differentiates one person from another.

PERSONALITY THEORIES

Trait Theory Type TheoryPsychoanalytic TheorySocial learning TheoryHumanistic Approaches

Trait Theory

Trait theorists are primarily interested in the measurement of traits.

Trait is the habitual pattern of behavior, thought and emotions.

It is stable over time, differ among individuals and it influence behavior of human beings.

Gordan Allport’s trait theory

This Theory categorizes three trait levels

Cardinal traitsCentral traitsSecondary traits

Catell’s 16 personality factor questionnaireSurface traits:- characteristic, observable ways of behaving

Source traits:- underlying traits from which surface traits are derived; according to Cattell, there appear to be 16

16 Personality Factors Scale (16 PF):- Assesses source traits, and is often used to measure group differences between people of various occupations

Eysenck’s three dimensions of personalityIntroversion/ Extraversion:- involves

directing attention on inner experiencesNeuroticism/Emotional stability:- refers to

an individual’s tendency to become upset or emotional, while stability refers to the tendency to remain emotionally constant.

Psychoticism:- Individuals who are high on this trait tend to have difficulty dealing with reality.

5 factor theory of personalityIt represents the 5 core traits that

interact to form human personalityExtroversionAgreeablenessConscientiousnessEmotional stabilityOpenness to experience

Strengths of trait theoryObjectivity.Ease of Use and UnderstandingDeveloping Psychological TestsSpawning Theories Concerning the Fit Between Personality and Jobs

Identifying of Basic TraitsPointing Out that Traits are Reasonably Stable

Weakness of the trait theory Is Descriptive, Not Explanative Circular Explanations Situational Variability in Behavior Poor Predictor of Future Behavior Lead people to accept oversimplified

classifications, or worse offer advice, based on a superficial analysis of their personality

Applications of trait theorypersonality traits are desired for

success in the workplace.Can be used to lead to a career

choice.Form basis for personality

assessment devices

Type theoriesrefers to the psychological

classification of different types of people

Based on two pairs of psychological functions:

Perceiving functionsJudging functionsType A and Type B personality

theory by Meyer Friedman

Type AType A individuals can be described

as impatient, time-conscious, concerned about their status, highly competitive, ambitious, business-like, aggressive, having difficulty relaxing

Type A individuals are often described as "stress junkies."

Type B Type B individuals, in contrast, are

described as patient, relaxed, and easy-going under-achievers, generally lacking any sense of urgency. Because of these characteristics, Type B individuals are often described as apathetic and disengaged.

Strengths of the theoryclassify people into distinct

categoriessimple applicabilityperson-centered

Weakness of the theoryover-simplisticQuantitative nature

Applications for Personality TypesCareer GuidanceManaging EmployeesInter-personal RelationshipsEducationCounseling

Thank you Krishna.V.N S3 MBA Roll No:20 AIIM