Personality Development AcrossAdulthood

Lecture 11/17/04

Trait Perspectives

Through the ages we have used an infinite number of traits to describe ourselves and one another.

How would you describe yourself? How would you describe your friends?

Part of our everyday existence involves describing ourselves in terms of traits.

Trait Theories

Trait theories state that personality consists of broad dispositions, called traits, that tend to lead to characteristic responses.

Theorists sometimes differ on which traits make up personality, BUT they all agree that traits are the fundamental building blocks of personality.

Gordon Allport (1897-1967)

Gordon Allport believed that each individual has a unique set of personality traits.

He argued that if a person’s traits could be determined, it would be possible to predict the individual’s behavior in various circumstances.

He went through the dictionary and identified 4,500 personality traits.

Allport II

Cardinal traits: The most powerful and pervasive, when they are present they can dominate an individual’s personality. Few people are characterized by just one trait Examples: Hitler, Mother Teresa

Central traits: Limited number of traits (6-12) that are usually adequate to describe most people’s personalities. Example: An individual may be described as friendly,

calm, kind, humorous Secondary traits: Limited in frequency and least important

in understanding an individual’s personality. Include an individuals attitudes and preferences (e.g.,

food, music)

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae)

Emotional stability (Neuroticism)

Extraversion

Openness to experience

Agreeableness

Conscientiousness

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae)

Emotional stability (Neuroticism): calm or anxious Secure or insecure Self-satisfied or self-pitying

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae)

Extraversion: Sociable or retiring Fun-loving or somber Affectionate or reserved

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae)

Openness to experience: Imaginative or practical Interested in variety or routine Independent or conforming

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae)

Agreeableness: Softhearted or ruthless Trusting or suspicious Helpful or uncooperative

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae)

Conscientiousness: Organized or disorganized Careful or careless Disciplined or impulsive

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae) II

These factors appear in personality profiles in different cultures (Canada, Finland, Poland, China, Japan, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, South Korea).

After the age of 30, these factors are stable over time.

These factors play a role in predicting physical and mental health.

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae) III

Criticisms May need to include other factors such as

excellent-ordinaryevil-decent

Situationism: Personality often varies considerably from one context to another

Trait-Situation: Trait and situation variables are both necessary to understand personality

The Big 5 Factors (Costa & McCrae) IV

Different cohorts may show changes in personality over time even if there are no age-related changes in personality. Growing up in a particular historical time period. Universal & maturational changes in adult

personality are proposed based on cross sectional data of varying cultures during the same historical time period but different micro & macro cultural influences.

Well-Being, Affect, & QOLRyff (2001)

Ryff (1989) proposed 6 key dimensions of psychological well-being: Self-acceptance Positive relations with others Environmental mastery Autonomy Meaning in life, goals and direction Personal growth

Well-Being, Affect, & QOLRyff (2001)

Ryff (1989) proposed 6 key dimensions of psychological well-being: Self-acceptance (little age diff) Positive relations with others (little age diff) Environmental mastery (increases with age) Autonomy (increases with age) Meaning in life, goals and direction (decreases

with age - ??? – measurement issue???) Personal growth (decreases with age)

Q maturation or cohort diffs?

Goals, Projects, & Adult Life TasksRyff (2001)

Social engagement and community service predicts life satisfaction, controlling for health & SS, among other variables (gifted; longitudinal; Harlow & Cantor).

The maintenance of life goals contributes to health and well-being among 65 to 75-yr-olds (Holahan).

Goal efficacy is associated with happiness; goal integrity is associated with meaning (McGregor & Little).

Sense of personal control can be stabilized in the face of losses through accommodating goals (Brandtstädter)

Self Development and Self-EvaluationRyff (2001)

Self development occurs as a result of critical events or crisis (Diehl, 1999).

Positive social comparisons may be particularly beneficial to the well-being of those in poor health.

Older women with flexible self-concepts show greater longitudinal gains in well-being following life transition (relocation) in comparison with those with more inflexible self-definitions.

Questions

Do you share concern about construct redundancy?

Socioeconomic hierarchies? Cultural influences?

Which methodological issues give you the most pause in personality and lifespan development?