How many adjectives can you use to describe a person? Try it!

• How many adjectives can you use to describe a person?

• Try it!

The Essential-Trait Approach

• Odbert and Allport found over 4,500 adjectives that describe personality traits– 17,953 adjectives overall (but some were not traits)

• Are all of these really independent of each other?

• Essential Approach tries to find how many and which traits are essential

The Big Five:History

• Allport and Odbert (1936)– 17,953 trait terms

• Cattell (1943)– Factor analysis finds 35

clusters

• Fiske (1949)– Factor analysis results in 5

factors

• Tupes & Christal (1961)– Replicate Fiske

• Norman (1963) replicates Tupes & Christal, and writes a review about these “big five” traits– Surgency (extraversion)– Agreeableness– Conscientiousness– Emotional stability– Culture

Essential Trait

• Big-Five Inventory

E1, 11, 16, 26, 36 R 6, 21, 31

A7, 17, 22, 32, 42 R 2,12, 27, 37

C3, 13, 28, 33, 38 R 8, 18, 23, 43

N4, 14, 19, 29, 39 R 9, 24, 34

O5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 44 R 35, 41

R1 = 52 = 43 = 34 = 25 = 1

Agreeableness

Trust

Straightforwardness

Altruism

Compliance

Modesty

Tender-mindedness

Obi-Wan Kenobi -- This loyal, kind, and honorable young Jedi is a good man.

Emperor Palpatine -- An evil, power hungry tyrant, he is manipulative, evil, and ruthless.

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/obiwankenobi/

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/palpatine/

Extraversion

Warmth

Gregariousness

Assertiveness

Activity

Excitement seeking

Positive emotions

Lando Calrissian -- An energetic, sociable man. He is adventure seeking, talkative, and socially skilled.

Wampas -- reclusive creatures of the ice planet Hoth. They are rarely seen & generally shy, leading a solitary existence

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/landocalrissian/

http://www.starwars.com/databank/creature/wampa/

Conscientiousness

Competence

Order

Dutifulness

Achievement striving

Self-discipline

Deliberation

Admiral Ackbar -- This rebel Admiral is renowned for his great powers of organization, responsibility, and administrative abilities. He is individual who can be relied upon.

Han Solo -- This disheveled and scruffy smuggler leads a reckless and haphazard life, with little respect for rules and procedures.

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/admiralackbar/

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/hansolo/

Neuroticism

Anxiety

Angry hostility

Depression

Self-consciousness

Impulsiveness

Vulnerability

Princess Leia -- A confident & calm individual who does not crack under pressure (e.g.,. when being threatened by Lord Vader). She is brave and relaxed, even when in great danger (e.g., when disguising herself as a bounty hunter to gain access to Jabba the Hutt’s palace).

Tusken warriors -- These inhabitants of Tatooine are unpredictable, temperamental, and excitable, and known to be especially moody.

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/leiaorganasolo/

http://www.starwars.com/databank/species/tuskenraider/

Openness to Experience

Fantasy

Aesthetics

Feelings

Actions

Ideas

Values

Yoda -- This wise, philosophical, and thoughtful Jedi master challenges the establishment, encouraging his pupils to unlearn what they have learned and see the world in novel, creative ways.

C-3PO -- This droid versed in political protocol of thousands of cultures is governed by rules and prefers not to meddle with the ways and traditions of his hosts.

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/yoda/

http://www.starwars.com/databank/droid/c3po/

The Big Five

• Also known as the Five-Factor Model

• Extraversion• Agreeableness• Conscientiousness• Neuroticism• Openness to Experience

• OCEAN

Example

• Preadolscent girls and risk behavior– Markey, Markey, and Tinsley 2003

• Subjects were 60 girls– 5th grade mothers completed BFI and girls

pubertal development was assessed– 6th grade girls reported engagement in risky

behaviors• e.g., smoking, drinking, deep kissing, etc.

Results

Puberty .29

Extraversion .10

Agreeableness -.38

Conscientiousness -.42

Neuroticism .03

Openness -.04

Results

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

1 2 3

Openness to Experience

Ris

k B

ehav

ior

Early Puberty Risk = .44 (Open) + .54

Average Puberty Risk = -.01 (Open) + .41

Late PubertyRisk = -.25 (Open) + .28

Low Average High

Results

• Demonstrates predictive power of the Big-5

• Demonstrate show traits can interact with other elements (e.g., pubertal development) to create different behaviors

Using Traits to Understand Behavior

• Different approaches:

• The Single-Trait Approach

• The Many-Trait Approach

• The Essential-Trait Approach

• The Simultaneous-Trait Approach

The Simultaneous-Trait Approach

• Trait approaches tend to be “one-dimensional”

• They only consider one trait at a time

• “He is extraverted”• Pro: Simple and automatic• Con: Not all extraverts act the same


• An “extraverted” and “agreeable” person

• An “extraverted” and “disagreeable” person


• An “extraverted” and “agreeable” person– Warm

• An “extraverted” and “disagreeable” person– Controlling


• This approach examines how traits “blend” together within an individual

The Interpersonal Sphere

• Ask yourself:• High (+)• Moderate (0)• Low (-)

– How dominant are you?– How warm are you?

Interpersonal Circumplex

WarmCold

- 0 +


Dominant

Submissive

+

0

-


WarmCold

Dominant

Submissive


Warmth +Warmth -

Dom

inance +D

ominance -

Cold-Hearted

Arrogant-Calculating

Assured-Dominant

Gregarious-Extraverted

Warm-Agreeable

Unassuming-Ingenuous

Unassured-Submissive

Aloof-Introverted

Extrav

ersion

Agreeableness

Participants

n = 184 (50% female; 50% male)

Age M = 19.62

Range 17 to 29 years old

Markey & Funder, 2002

Behaviors Relevant to Agency and Communion

• Each participant interacted in three different situations with an opposite sex stranger

Unstructured Cooperative Competitive

Coding Behaviors

• For each interaction, 64 social behaviors were coded by four different judges

• e.g., “Speaks quickly”

“Displays ambition”

“Offers advice”

Warm-Agreeable

• Seems to enjoy the interaction• Seems to like the other person• Expresses warmth• Behaves in a cheerful manner • Makes or approaches physical

contact


• Exhibits social skills• Interviews their partner• Is talkative• Engages in constant eye contact• Initiates humor

Assured-Dominant

• Tries to control the interaction• Dominates the interaction• Shows a wide range of interests• Appears relaxed and comfortable• Volunteers a large amount of

information about self


• Exhibits condescending behaviors

• Speaks in a loud voice• Speaks quickly• Talks at rather than with partner

Cold-Hearted

• Expresses criticism• Keeps partner at a distance• Acts irritated• Speaks sarcastically • Tries to undermine, sabotage, or

obstruct

Aloof-Introverted

• Reserved and unexpressive• Seems detached from the

interaction• Shows physical signs of tension• Exhibits awkward interpersonal

style• Expresses insecurity (overly

sensitive)


• Expresses guilt• Behaves in a fearful or timid

manner• Expresses self pity or feelings of

victimization


• Laughs frequently• Seeks reassurance from others• Smiles frequently• Expresses agreement frequently

• Applying the Interpersonal Circumplex to predict important childhood events

Markey, Markey, & Tinsley, 2004

Affiliation +Affiliation -

Control +

Control -

Cold-Hearted

(DE)


(BC)

Assured-Dominant

(PA)


(NO)

Warm-Agreeable

(LM)


(JK)Unassured-Submissive

(HI)

Aloof-Introverted

(FG)

Method

• Participates

– 117 preadolescent children • 52 girls, and 65 boys

– All were in the 4th grade (M = 9.88).

• Each child was videotaped interacting with his or her parent(s).

Coding Behaviors

• Children were coded using the Interpersonal Circumplex


Control +

Control -

Cold-Hearted

(DE)


(BC)

Assured-Dominant

(PA)


(NO)

Warm-Agreeable

(LM)



(HI)

Aloof-Introverted

(FG)

Method

• One year after study 1 children were asked to complete the Risk Behavior Assessment

• 94 completed the assessment (M = 10.87 years)

Method

• Asked if they had participated in the following behaviors

• Smoked a cigarette (9% had)

• Consumed alcohol (22% had)

“Risky” Child


• Note: the IC measures 2 FFM traits

• By using only 2 traits you can actually measure 8 personality characteristics

– This number can actually be even larger!


Control +

Control -

Cold-Hearted

(DE)


(BC)

Assured-Dominant

(PA)


(NO)

Warm-Agreeable

(LM)



(HI)

Aloof-Introverted

(FG)


By using only 2 traits you can actually measure 8 personality characteristics


Control +

Control -

Cold-Hearted

(DE)


(BC)

Assured-Dominant

(PA)


(NO)

Warm-Agreeable

(LM)



(HI)

Aloof-Introverted

(FG)

What if another dimension is added?

• What if we add another dimension to the IC?

– Consider 3 dimensions simultaneously

Markey & Markey, 2006

What is the best dimension to add?

Warmth +Warmth -

Dom

inance +D

ominance -

Cold-Hearted


Assured-Dominant


Warm-Agreeable



Aloof-Introverted


• Extraversion and Agreeableness

• Conscientious

– Contains interpersonal information– Together EAC are the “largest” factors of the

FFM• “The Big 3”


• Ask yourself:• High (+)• Moderate (0)• Low (-)

– How dominant are you?– How warm are you?– How conscientious are you?

A three-dimensional approach to personality

• How might conscientiousness “blend” with dominance and warmth?

Conscientiousness and Dominance0e

0e

Driven-Determined

. UnconscientiousConscientiousness

Do

mina

nce

Assured-Dominant


Passive-Indifferent

Conscientious .

Cautious-Gaurded

Reckless-Rash

Conscientiousness and Warmth0e

0e

Warmth

Co

nscin

etiou

sness

Unconscientious

Conscientious

Warm-Agreeable

Dependable-Helpful

Stolid-Stern

Unreliable-Disloyal

Cold-. Hearted

Sensitive-Tender

A three-dimensional approach to personality

• Combining these three circles creates the Interpersonal Sphere (IPS).0e

0e

Extraversion

Do

mina

nce Warmth

Agree

able

ness


Warm-Agreeable



Aloof-Introverted

Cold-Hearted


Assured-Dominant

0e

0e

Warmth

Co

nscin

etiou

sness

Unconscientious

Conscientious

Warm-Agreeable

Dependable-Helpful

Sesitive-Tender

Stolid-Stern

Unreliable-Disloyal

Cold-. Hearted

0e

0e

Driven-Determined

. UnconscientiousConscientiousness

Do

mina

nce

Assured-Dominant


Passive-Indifferent

Conscientious .

Cautious-Gaurded

Reckless-Rash

+ + =

Markey & Markey (2006). European Journal of Personality.

Conclusion

• Personality is a unique “blend” of traits

• Like chemistry’s periodic table– Elements do not exist in a vacuum– Combine together!

• H20, NH3, CO2, etc.

Using Traits to Understand Behavior

• Different approaches:

• The Single-Trait Approach

• The Many-Trait Approach

• The Essential-Trait Approach

• The Simultaneous-Trait Approach

Question

• Where did your personality come from?

• Random

• Environment

• Genetics

“Twin Study”

Dizygotic (DZ)

“Fraternal”

No more genetically related than siblings

Monozygotic (MZ)

“identical”

Genetically identical

“Twin Study” Example

Give 100 MZ pairs a measure of Extraversion

Calculate a correlation

r = .50

Give 100 DZ pairs a measure of Extraversion

Calculate a correlationr = .30

Twin Study

• Why is MZ > DZ?

• Heritability Coefficient– The proportion of behavioral variance that can be

explained by genetic variance

• (MZr – DZr) x 2• (.50 - .30) x 2 = .40• Heritability of Extraversion = 40%

Behavior Genetics

• Note: Doesn’t really study behavior or genetics directly

• Typical Heritability of personality traits is around 40%

Behavior Genetics

• Genes matter!

• Heritability are almost always greater than zero

• Not all of personality is determined by the environment or random chance

Genes and Environment

• Environment can affect heritability

• Example:– Height and food intake


• Genes work though the environment to affect behavior


Genes gave him bad eyesight


Wearing glasses caused him to be teased and rejected by the opposite sex


Due to these interaction he becomes introverted

Note: Introversion due in part to genes, but only came about through environment


• Diathesis-Stress Model

• A genetic predisposition can cause a person to develop maladaptive behaviors in stressful situations

Diathesis-Stress

GeneticPredisposition

No GeneticPredisposition



Diathesis-Stress





Stressful Event Occurs No Stressful Event Occurs

Diathesis-Stress

Disorder No Disorder No Disorder No Disorder

Behavior Genetics

• Limitations

• All humans are highly similar to each other– Share 90% of genes

• BG is only looking at differences in the remaining 10%

Behavior Genetics

• Limitations

• Saying “A father shares 50% of his genes with his daughter” really means

• “A father shares 50% of the genetic material that varies across individuals with his daughter”

• Heritability Coefficient– The proportion of behavioral variance that can be

explained by genetic variance

Behavior Genetics

• Why do you have two feet? – Environment?– Genes?

• Heritability of arms would be zero!

Behavior Genetics

• Thus, if there is no variation due to genetic influences heritability will be zero

Question

• Where did your personality come from?

• Random

• Environment

• Genetics

Behavior Genetics

• Genes matter!

• Heritability are almost always greater than zero

• Not all of personality is determined by the environment or random chance

Behavior Genetics

• Limitations

• All humans are highly similar to each other– Share 90% of genes

• BG is only looking at differences in the remaining 10%

Behavior Genetics

• Thus, if there is no variation due to genetic influences heritability will be zero

• Why would some elements of our personality and body not vary across people?

• Important for survival!

Evolution

• Applied to human behavior:

• Behaviors are present because in the evolutionary history of human species, these behaviors were helpful or necessary for survival.– Survive– Reproduce

Evolution

• Examines the shared 90% of genes

• Asks: How a behavior pattern could have been adaptive during the development of the human species

Evolution

• Not forward thinking– e.g., giraffes neck

• Don’t want to consciously do this (we are wired)– Its not about what you consciously want, its

about what you ultimately try to do!

But I don’t want to have kids!

• You would not be here if SOMEONE didn’t have children.

• What caused them to reproduce?

• Sexual urges (do you think you would be here otherwise?)

• Your sexual urges are based on an inherited instinct

• Even if you don’t WANT to reproduce, your sexual urges make it more likely that you WILL have children

• Other examples: pornography, etc.

Evolution

• Morality and evolution

• Naturalistic Fallacy• If it is natural it is good• e.g., you and kids

• Political objections are irrelevant from a scientific standpoint

Evolution

• Works at the level of the GENE, not the individual

• “You” really are not even important (or any animal) in an evolutionary framework it is all about the GENES!– “The Selfish Gene”

Documents

How many adjectives can you use to describe a person? Try it!