Trait TheoryTrait TheoryPractically all personality theorists are concerned with traits.  Practically all personality theorists are concerned with traits.  After all, traits are what make us who we are; they are the After all, traits are what make us who we are; they are the relatively permanent aspects of each of us evidenced by the relatively permanent aspects of each of us evidenced by the consistency in our interactions.  Knowing this, what makes the consistency in our interactions.  Knowing this, what makes the trait approach to understanding personality different from the trait approach to understanding personality different from the other theories?other theories?  First of all, while most theories represent attempts at better First of all, while most theories represent attempts at better understanding the development of personality, trait theorists understanding the development of personality, trait theorists typically talk very little about development.  Second, predicting typically talk very little about development.  Second, predicting a person's behavior in a given situation is also not a concern for a person's behavior in a given situation is also not a concern for trait theorists.  Third, unlike many other theoretical orientations, trait theorists.  Third, unlike many other theoretical orientations, trait theorists are interested in the comparison of people trait theorists are interested in the comparison of people through based on not just aspects, but also degrees.  And through based on not just aspects, but also degrees.  And finally, and likely the biggest difference, trait theory does not finally, and likely the biggest difference, trait theory does not inherently provide a medium of personality change.inherently provide a medium of personality change.

  

Gordon AllportGordon AllportThe Functionally Autonomous Central TraitsThe Functionally Autonomous Central Traits  Gordon Allport was born in Indiana, the youngest of Gordon Allport was born in Indiana, the youngest of

four boys.  As a child he felt different from others, four boys.  As a child he felt different from others, both in his childhood play and his interests.  After both in his childhood play and his interests.  After high school followed his older brother Floyd through high school followed his older brother Floyd through the same educational path.  They went to the same the same educational path.  They went to the same undergraduate program, both attended Harvard for undergraduate program, both attended Harvard for graduate school, and both majored in psychology.  graduate school, and both majored in psychology.  Floyd made a name for himself in social psychology, Floyd made a name for himself in social psychology, but Gordon felt like an outsider in this arena. but Gordon felt like an outsider in this arena. 

  Gordon was interested in personality, and at the Gordon was interested in personality, and at the time, personality was not a formal sub-discipline of time, personality was not a formal sub-discipline of psychology and it certainly was not as fashionable psychology and it certainly was not as fashionable as social psychology.  It is likely that Gordon as social psychology.  It is likely that Gordon followed his brother through school in an attempt to followed his brother through school in an attempt to find himself.  He reported feeling different from find himself.  He reported feeling different from others, including his older brother.  This feeling, others, including his older brother.  This feeling, however, might have helped him succeed in his however, might have helped him succeed in his chosen profession.chosen profession.

Gordon AllportGordon Allport

He completed his doctorate, began studying He completed his doctorate, began studying personality.  It is said that he was the first personality.  It is said that he was the first professor to teach a college level course on professor to teach a college level course on personality theory, a course that today is required personality theory, a course that today is required by nearly all undergraduate psychology majors.by nearly all undergraduate psychology majors.Prior to graduation, Allport secured a meeting Prior to graduation, Allport secured a meeting with Sigmund Freud due to his writing on the with Sigmund Freud due to his writing on the unconscious and its effect on personality.  It was unconscious and its effect on personality.  It was during this meeting, after being probed by Freud during this meeting, after being probed by Freud for unconscious motives, that Allport wrote that for unconscious motives, that Allport wrote that psychologists should give full recognition to psychologists should give full recognition to manifest motives before delving into the manifest motives before delving into the unconscious.unconscious.

Henry MurrayHenry MurrayPsychogenic NeedsPsychogenic Needs

Henry Murray's history is anything but a Henry Murray's history is anything but a prerequisite for a career in psychology.  He prerequisite for a career in psychology.  He earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1915, a earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1915, a medical degree from Columbia in 1919 and then medical degree from Columbia in 1919 and then completed a doctorate in biochemistry from completed a doctorate in biochemistry from Cambridge nine years later.   Cambridge nine years later.   His start in psychology occurred after reading His start in psychology occurred after reading Jung and eventually arranging a meeting with Jung and eventually arranging a meeting with him.  During this meeting, Jung convinced Murray him.  During this meeting, Jung convinced Murray to study psychoanalysis, which he did at Harvard to study psychoanalysis, which he did at Harvard University.  After competing his training, Murray University.  After competing his training, Murray actually began teaching psychology and actually began teaching psychology and psychoanalytic theory at Harvard, and he psychoanalytic theory at Harvard, and he remained there for the rest of his professional remained there for the rest of his professional career.career.

Henry MurrayHenry Murray

Although considered a trait theorist, Murray's Although considered a trait theorist, Murray's medical background, combined with his analytical medical background, combined with his analytical training give a unique flair to his research and training give a unique flair to his research and writing.  This is probably most evident in his writing.  This is probably most evident in his development of the Thematic Apperception Test development of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), a personality test designed to determine (TAT), a personality test designed to determine personality themes as well as unconscious personality themes as well as unconscious motivation.motivation.

He was focused on basic needs in personality He was focused on basic needs in personality which he called psychogenic needs.  He believed which he called psychogenic needs.  He believed these needs were largely at the unconscious these needs were largely at the unconscious level.  After researching this area, he narrowed level.  After researching this area, he narrowed these needs down to 27, although the list and these needs down to 27, although the list and names vary depending on the time frame and the names vary depending on the time frame and the author. author. 

Murray’s Psychogenic NeedsMurray’s Psychogenic Needs

Description of NeedDescription of Need– Abasement Abasement To surrender and accept punishmentTo surrender and accept punishment– Achievement Achievement To overcome obstacles and succeedTo overcome obstacles and succeed– Acquisition Acquisition (Conservance) To obtain possessions(Conservance) To obtain possessions– Affiliation Affiliation To make associations and friendshipsTo make associations and friendships– Aggression Aggression To injure othersTo injure others– Autonomy Autonomy To resist others and stand strongTo resist others and stand strong– Blame avoidance Blame avoidance To avoid blame and obey the rulesTo avoid blame and obey the rules– ConstructionConstruction o build or create o build or create

Murray’s Psychogenic NeedsMurray’s Psychogenic Needs– Contrariance Contrariance To be uniqueTo be unique– Counteraction Counteraction To defend honorTo defend honor– Defendance Defendance To justify actionsTo justify actions– Deference Deference To follow a superior, to serveTo follow a superior, to serve– DominanceDominance (Power) To control and lead others (Power) To control and lead others– Exhibition Exhibition To attract attentionTo attract attention– Exposition Exposition To provide information, educateTo provide information, educate– Harm avoidance Harm avoidance To avoid painTo avoid pain– Infavoidance Infavoidance To avoid failure, shame, or to To avoid failure, shame, or to

conceal a weaknessconceal a weakness– Nurturance Nurturance To protect the helplessTo protect the helpless– Order Order To arrange, organize, and be preciseTo arrange, organize, and be precise

Murray’s Psychogenic NeedsMurray’s Psychogenic Needs

– Play Play To relieve tension, have fun, or relaxTo relieve tension, have fun, or relax– Recognition Recognition To gain approval and social To gain approval and social

statusstatus– Rejection Rejection To exclude anotherTo exclude another– Sentience Sentience To enjoy sensuous impressionsTo enjoy sensuous impressions– SexSex (Erotic) To form and enjoy an erotic  (Erotic) To form and enjoy an erotic

relationshiprelationship– Similance Similance To empathizeTo empathize– Succorance Succorance To seek protection or sympathyTo seek protection or sympathy– Understanding Understanding (Cognizance) To analyze and (Cognizance) To analyze and

experience, to seek knowledgeexperience, to seek knowledge

Murray’s Psychogenic NeedsMurray’s Psychogenic Needs

Murray contended that environmental forces Murray contended that environmental forces played a significant role in the exhibition of the played a significant role in the exhibition of the psychogenic needs.  He called the forces "psychogenic needs.  He called the forces "presspress," ," referring to the pressure they put on us that referring to the pressure they put on us that forces us to act.  He further argued for a forces us to act.  He further argued for a difference between the real environmental forces, difference between the real environmental forces, alpha pressalpha press, and those that are merely perceived, , and those that are merely perceived, beta pressbeta press..

The 27 needs and the forces that press them The 27 needs and the forces that press them have stood up to research.  Three of these, have stood up to research.  Three of these, especially, have been the focus of study: the especially, have been the focus of study: the need for Power, Affiliation, and Achievement.  need for Power, Affiliation, and Achievement.  

Murray’s Psychogenic NeedsMurray’s Psychogenic NeedsPower, Affiliation, and AchievementPower, Affiliation, and Achievement

Three of Murray's Psychogenic Needs have been the focus Three of Murray's Psychogenic Needs have been the focus of considerable research: The Need for Power (nPow), of considerable research: The Need for Power (nPow), Affiliation (nAff) and Achievement (nAch). Affiliation (nAff) and Achievement (nAch). The need for Power refers to the desire or need to impact The need for Power refers to the desire or need to impact other people, to control or be in a position of influence.  other people, to control or be in a position of influence.  Careers that involve these aspects are better suited for Careers that involve these aspects are better suited for high nPow people, such as teachers, psychologists, high nPow people, such as teachers, psychologists, journalists, and supervisors.  They don't necessarily make journalists, and supervisors.  They don't necessarily make the best leaders though.  Research has found that those the best leaders though.  Research has found that those with high nPow are more likely to rate an employee higher with high nPow are more likely to rate an employee higher if that employee has a tendency to schmooz or flatter the if that employee has a tendency to schmooz or flatter the subject where those with low or moderate nPow rate subject where those with low or moderate nPow rate employees the same.  In this sense, those with high nPow employees the same.  In this sense, those with high nPow would do well if they also had traits of self-control and would do well if they also had traits of self-control and objectivityobjectivity

Murray’s Psychogenic NeedsMurray’s Psychogenic Needs

The need for affiliation has a long history of research, and studies show that those with a high nAff often have a larger social circle.  They spend more time interacting with other such as talking on the phone and writing letters, and they are more likely to be members of social groups or clubs.  Those with high nAff are also more likely to get lonely than those low in nAff, so their need for affiliation may be related to their sense of self and their desire for external stimulation. Those with a high need for achievement (nAch) demonstrate a consistent concern about meeting obligations and accomplishing tasks.  They are, however, more focused on internal motivation rather than external rewards.  For example, those high in nAch are more likely to value intelligence and personal achievement over recognition and praise.

 

Murray’s Psychogenic NeedsMurray’s Psychogenic Needs

There are also cultural and gender differences among these There are also cultural and gender differences among these three needs.  For example, the United States is higher on three needs.  For example, the United States is higher on ratings of nAch than other countries whose focus is more on ratings of nAch than other countries whose focus is more on relationships and nAff.  Men and women also demonstrate relationships and nAff.  Men and women also demonstrate their needs in different manners.  Men with high nPow tend their needs in different manners.  Men with high nPow tend to be more risk takers and act out more readily while to be more risk takers and act out more readily while women tend to be more active in volunteer women tend to be more active in volunteer activities.  Combined with other personality aspects of activities.  Combined with other personality aspects of traits, such as introversion/extroversion, the needs may traits, such as introversion/extroversion, the needs may also show themselves in very different manners.  Introverts also show themselves in very different manners.  Introverts may demonstrate their high nAff through small groups and may demonstrate their high nAff through small groups and intellectual pursuits, while extroverts evidence this same intellectual pursuits, while extroverts evidence this same need through large gatherings and louder parties.  However need through large gatherings and louder parties.  However they come out, these three needs have shown a consistent they come out, these three needs have shown a consistent pattern in research, perhaps even more so related to pattern in research, perhaps even more so related to humanistic theory than in trait theory itself.humanistic theory than in trait theory itself.    

Raymond CattellRaymond Cattell  

Raymond B. Cattell entered the field of psychology almost Raymond B. Cattell entered the field of psychology almost against his own better judgment.  After working in a against his own better judgment.  After working in a hospital during World War I, he decided that understanding hospital during World War I, he decided that understanding human behavior and interaction is the only way to get human behavior and interaction is the only way to get beyond the irrationality of the times.  While a graduate beyond the irrationality of the times.  While a graduate student at London University, he was hired as a research student at London University, he was hired as a research assistant to Charles Spearman, a mathematician studying assistant to Charles Spearman, a mathematician studying the quantification of intelligence. Spearman, a well known the quantification of intelligence. Spearman, a well known name in the field of intellectual assessment, developed a name in the field of intellectual assessment, developed a mathematical formula known as factor analysis.  This mathematical formula known as factor analysis.  This statistical technique allows one to take raw data and statistical technique allows one to take raw data and determine groupings of data.  In other words, if you and determine groupings of data.  In other words, if you and many others took a general test that had both math and many others took a general test that had both math and English questions, a factor analysis would likely determine English questions, a factor analysis would likely determine that there were two factors or groupings on this test.  that there were two factors or groupings on this test.  Imagine the power of this technique for lesser understood Imagine the power of this technique for lesser understood concepts such as intelligence and personality.concepts such as intelligence and personality.

Raymond CattellRaymond CattellBy developing questionnaires and tests consisting By developing questionnaires and tests consisting of personality characteristics, and analyzing data of personality characteristics, and analyzing data from report cards of students, evaluations from from report cards of students, evaluations from employees, etc., Cattell applied this new employees, etc., Cattell applied this new statistical technique.  In 1949, he published his statistical technique.  In 1949, he published his findings in an assessment device known as the findings in an assessment device known as the 16PF.  According to Cattell's research, human 16PF.  According to Cattell's research, human personality traits could be summarized by 16 personality traits could be summarized by 16 personality factors (PF) or main traits.personality factors (PF) or main traits.

He described these 16 traits on a continuum.  In He described these 16 traits on a continuum.  In other words, everybody has some degree of other words, everybody has some degree of every trait, according to Cattell.  The key to every trait, according to Cattell.  The key to assessment is determining where on the assessment is determining where on the continuum an individual falls.  The 16 traits are continuum an individual falls.  The 16 traits are shown in the chart below.shown in the chart below.

Raymond CattellRaymond CattellCattell's 16 Personality FactorsCattell's 16 Personality Factors– Abstractedness Abstractedness imaginative versus practicalimaginative versus practical– Apprehension Apprehension insecure versus complacentinsecure versus complacent– Dominance Dominance aggressive versus passiveaggressive versus passive– Emotional Stability Emotional Stability calm and stable versus calm and stable versus

high-strung and high-strung and – Liveliness Liveliness enthusiastic versus seriousenthusiastic versus serious– Openness to Change Openness to Change liberal versus liberal versus

traditionaltraditional– Perfectionism Perfectionism compulsive and controlled compulsive and controlled

versus indifferentversus indifferent– Privateness Privateness pretentious versus unpretentiouspretentious versus unpretentious– Reasoning Reasoning abstract versus concreteabstract versus concrete

Raymond CattellRaymond Cattell– Rule Consciousness Rule Consciousness moralistic versus free-moralistic versus free-

thinkingthinking– Self-Reliance Self-Reliance leader versus followerleader versus follower– Sensitivity Sensitivity sensitive versus tough-mindedsensitive versus tough-minded– Social Boldness Social Boldness uninhibited versus timiduninhibited versus timid– Tension Tension driven and tense versus relaxed and driven and tense versus relaxed and

easy goingeasy going– Vigilance Vigilance suspicious versus acceptingsuspicious versus accepting– Warmth Warmth open and warmhearted versus aloof open and warmhearted versus aloof

and criticaland critical

EysenckEysenckIdentified three dimensions of Identified three dimensions of personalitypersonality

– Extraversion (Introversion)Extraversion (Introversion)– Neuroticism (Stability)Neuroticism (Stability)– Psychoticism (Superego function)Psychoticism (Superego function)

1.1. Psychometric evidence for eachPsychometric evidence for each

2.2. Strong biological evidence for eachStrong biological evidence for each

3.3. Make sense theoretically (face validity)Make sense theoretically (face validity)

Application of Trait TheoryApplication of Trait Theory* * If you look at the theories we've discussed so far, not only If you look at the theories we've discussed so far, not only

within the trait theory camp, but also those of Hans within the trait theory camp, but also those of Hans Eysenck and even Sigmund Freud, you may start to notice Eysenck and even Sigmund Freud, you may start to notice some commonalities.  Many different researchers, from some commonalities.  Many different researchers, from different schools of thought have studied the aspects of different schools of thought have studied the aspects of personality and several interesting similarities have personality and several interesting similarities have evolved.  While different theorists may use different evolved.  While different theorists may use different terminology, five factors or personality traits have shown terminology, five factors or personality traits have shown up in a rather consistent pattern.up in a rather consistent pattern.

  These traits, now known as the Big Five are These traits, now known as the Big Five are Openness toOpenness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion/introversionexperience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion/introversion, , AgreeablenessAgreeableness, and , and NeuroticismNeuroticism.  They were investigated .  They were investigated by McCrae and Costa in (1970-1980’s). These five traits, by McCrae and Costa in (1970-1980’s). These five traits, according to many, make up the OCEAN of human according to many, make up the OCEAN of human personality, as the acronym goes, and are often considered personality, as the acronym goes, and are often considered to be the basic traits under which all other aspects of to be the basic traits under which all other aspects of personality fall.personality fall.

Openness to experienceOpenness to experience refers to the refers to the dimension ranging from outgoing, liberal, dimension ranging from outgoing, liberal, interested in new things, and imaginative to interested in new things, and imaginative to reserved, conservative, traditional, and reserved, conservative, traditional, and conforming.  Like all of these five traits, conforming.  Like all of these five traits, people will fall somewhere on a continuum, people will fall somewhere on a continuum, with most falling somewhere in the middle.with most falling somewhere in the middle.

ConscientiousnessConscientiousness refers to the continuum refers to the continuum ranging from organized, careful, and ranging from organized, careful, and determined to careless, and weak willed.  determined to careless, and weak willed.  Those on the high end of this factor may be Those on the high end of this factor may be seen as stoic, cold, and methodical.  Those seen as stoic, cold, and methodical.  Those on the low end may be seen as gullible, on the low end may be seen as gullible, followers, or may see the needs of others as followers, or may see the needs of others as always superseding their own.always superseding their own.

  

ExtroversionExtroversion refers to a person who refers to a person who prefers group activities, group sports, large prefers group activities, group sports, large gatherings, lots of friends and gatherings, lots of friends and acquaintances, loud music, and social acquaintances, loud music, and social endeavors.  An introvert prefers more endeavors.  An introvert prefers more solitude, quiet music, small groups or solitude, quiet music, small groups or individual sports and would rather stay at individual sports and would rather stay at home or engage in a small group activity home or engage in a small group activity than attend a party or large social than attend a party or large social gathering.  We've even found that gathering.  We've even found that extroverts tend to get bored more easily extroverts tend to get bored more easily and may be followers who seek out others and may be followers who seek out others to avoid this boredom.  Introverts, on the to avoid this boredom.  Introverts, on the other hand, tend to become anxious more other hand, tend to become anxious more easily, especially in larger groups, and easily, especially in larger groups, and prefer the individual activity to avoid this prefer the individual activity to avoid this anxiety, and as more of an individualist, anxiety, and as more of an individualist, may be seen as more of a leader.may be seen as more of a leader.

AgreeablenessAgreeableness represents the extremes of represents the extremes of stubborn versus easy going or suspicious versus stubborn versus easy going or suspicious versus trusting.  Those high in agreeableness are helpful, trusting.  Those high in agreeableness are helpful, sympathetic to others, and understanding.  Those sympathetic to others, and understanding.  Those low on this trait are seen as argumentative, low on this trait are seen as argumentative, skeptical, and strong-willed.skeptical, and strong-willed.

Finally, Finally, neuroticismneuroticism refers to the dimension of refers to the dimension of emotional stability.  Someone high on neuroticism emotional stability.  Someone high on neuroticism would exhibit an instability in his or her emotions, would exhibit an instability in his or her emotions, interactions, and relationships.  They may have interactions, and relationships.  They may have frequent and wide mood swings, be difficult to frequent and wide mood swings, be difficult to understand, and become more upset over daily understand, and become more upset over daily stressors and interactions.  The person low on stressors and interactions.  The person low on neuroticism may be seen as reserved, calm, and neuroticism may be seen as reserved, calm, and perhaps even unemotional.perhaps even unemotional.

Application of Trait TheoryApplication of Trait Theory One of the most obvious applications of One of the most obvious applications of

understanding human traits is our ability understanding human traits is our ability to then measure these traits.  We've to then measure these traits.  We've discussed some of the assessment devices discussed some of the assessment devices based on trait theory: The Thematic based on trait theory: The Thematic Apperception Test, 16PF, and tests Apperception Test, 16PF, and tests designed to measure the Big Five.  Most of designed to measure the Big Five.  Most of the assessment devices that result from the assessment devices that result from trait theory are self-report type tests.  In trait theory are self-report type tests.  In other words, the person being tested other words, the person being tested responds to questions and these responds to questions and these responses may or may not be accurate.  responses may or may not be accurate.  People can lie on a test, they can fake bad People can lie on a test, they can fake bad or fake good, or they can purposefully try or fake good, or they can purposefully try to manipulate the results.to manipulate the results.

If you are taking a test for a sales job and asked questions If you are taking a test for a sales job and asked questions regarding your level of extroversion/introversion, is it likely regarding your level of extroversion/introversion, is it likely that you might lie or stretch the truth a little to get the job?  that you might lie or stretch the truth a little to get the job?  If you are an introvert, you may feel this would hinder your If you are an introvert, you may feel this would hinder your chances.  So instead, you respond positively to the chances.  So instead, you respond positively to the extrovert questions such as "I prefer social activities to extrovert questions such as "I prefer social activities to solitary activities, " or "I enjoy being the center of solitary activities, " or "I enjoy being the center of attention."  attention."  

One assessment device that has attempted to address One assessment device that has attempted to address these issues is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality these issues is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.  The MMPI-2 (now in it's second addition) Inventory.  The MMPI-2 (now in it's second addition) consists of 567 item to which a test taker responds either consists of 567 item to which a test taker responds either true or false.  The response styles or factors have been true or false.  The response styles or factors have been determined based on statistics and depending on how you determined based on statistics and depending on how you respond, you will fall on a continuum of an increasing respond, you will fall on a continuum of an increasing number of traits.  The main traits include disorder related number of traits.  The main traits include disorder related categories such as depression, psychotic, histrionic categories such as depression, psychotic, histrionic (neurotic), introversion, masculinity/femininity (gender (neurotic), introversion, masculinity/femininity (gender role), and hypochondriasis.  This test is so well researched role), and hypochondriasis.  This test is so well researched that there are literally over a hundred of these scales now that there are literally over a hundred of these scales now represented.represented.

The MMPI-2 utilizes several techniques that The MMPI-2 utilizes several techniques that attempt to catch a person who is attempting to attempt to catch a person who is attempting to alter the results.  It asks questions in a specific way alter the results.  It asks questions in a specific way as to determine what's called a response style.  A as to determine what's called a response style.  A response style is a person's tendency to be honest, response style is a person's tendency to be honest, fake good, or fake bad.  And, research suggests fake good, or fake bad.  And, research suggests that it does a fairly good job of this, especially with that it does a fairly good job of this, especially with people who are less knowledgeable about people who are less knowledgeable about psychological testing.  psychological testing.  

Another application of trait theory has been in the Another application of trait theory has been in the workplace.  A great deal of research has gone into workplace.  A great deal of research has gone into the determination of traits that are helpful in the determination of traits that are helpful in specific types of jobs.  For example, a sales person specific types of jobs.  For example, a sales person would likely do better if she is an extrovert, a would likely do better if she is an extrovert, a teacher more likely to succeed if he is teacher more likely to succeed if he is conscientious, or a navy seal more likely to get the conscientious, or a navy seal more likely to get the job done if he is confident and open to new job done if he is confident and open to new experiences.  experiences.  

  

Many career type assessment measures Many career type assessment measures look at personality traits and compare you look at personality traits and compare you traits with those who are successful in a traits with those who are successful in a specific career.  If most successful and specific career.  If most successful and happy psychologists are conscientious, happy psychologists are conscientious, agreeable, understanding introverts and agreeable, understanding introverts and you have these same traits, we could say you have these same traits, we could say that you are likely to succeed as a that you are likely to succeed as a psychologist.  Based on your traits, we psychologist.  Based on your traits, we could use assessment to determine could use assessment to determine careers or college majors that fit your careers or college majors that fit your personality and therefore offer you a personality and therefore offer you a greater chance of success. greater chance of success.

Strengths and Criticisms of Trait TheoryStrengths and Criticisms of Trait Theory While trait theory may seem logical and While trait theory may seem logical and

strait forward, like any theory on personality, strait forward, like any theory on personality, it has both its good points and its it has both its good points and its criticisms.  criticisms.  StrengthsStrengths– Objectivity. Objectivity.  Perhaps the biggest strength of Perhaps the biggest strength of

trait theory is it's reliance on statistical or trait theory is it's reliance on statistical or objective data.  Unlike many other theories, the objective data.  Unlike many other theories, the subjectivity or personal experience of the subjectivity or personal experience of the theorists play no role in trait theory.  Freud's theorists play no role in trait theory.  Freud's relationship with his mother, Adler's childhood relationship with his mother, Adler's childhood illness, or Jung's belief in mythology could be said illness, or Jung's belief in mythology could be said to have influenced their theories.  In that sense, to have influenced their theories.  In that sense, subjectivity may have biased their ideas.  Trait subjectivity may have biased their ideas.  Trait theory has no bias.theory has no bias.

Ease of Use and Understanding. Ease of Use and Understanding.  Trait Trait theory has been used to develop a number theory has been used to develop a number of assessment devices.  It provides an of assessment devices.  It provides an easy to understand continuum that easy to understand continuum that provides a good deal of information provides a good deal of information regarding a person's personality, regarding a person's personality, interaction, and beliefs about the self and interaction, and beliefs about the self and the world.  Understanding traits allows us the world.  Understanding traits allows us to compare people, to determine which to compare people, to determine which traits allow a person to do better in traits allow a person to do better in college, in relationships, or in a specific college, in relationships, or in a specific career.  We can help guide people toward career.  We can help guide people toward a more agreeable future by knowing how a more agreeable future by knowing how they interact with the world.they interact with the world.

CriticismsCriticisms– Poor Predictor of Future Behavior.Poor Predictor of Future Behavior.  While   While

we may be able to say, in general that a we may be able to say, in general that a person falls on the high end or low end of a person falls on the high end or low end of a specific trait, trait theory fails to address a specific trait, trait theory fails to address a person's state.  A state is a temporary way of person's state.  A state is a temporary way of interacting and dealing with the self and interacting and dealing with the self and others.  For example, an introvert may be others.  For example, an introvert may be quiet, reserved, intellectual, and calm in most quiet, reserved, intellectual, and calm in most situations.  When around close friends, situations.  When around close friends, however, he may seem quite outgoing, fun-however, he may seem quite outgoing, fun-loving, and excitable.   The same could be said loving, and excitable.   The same could be said for the extrovert who, when presented with a for the extrovert who, when presented with a job interview, may act more introverted, shy, job interview, may act more introverted, shy, reserved, and intellectual.  reserved, and intellectual.  

– Does not address development.Does not address development.  While   While statistics may be a strength of trait theory, it statistics may be a strength of trait theory, it may also be it's biggest criticism.  Because it is may also be it's biggest criticism.  Because it is based on statistics rather than theory, it based on statistics rather than theory, it provides no explanation of personality provides no explanation of personality development.  Where most theories argue for development.  Where most theories argue for the development (past), the current personality the development (past), the current personality (present) and provide a means for change (present) and provide a means for change (future), trait theory is stuck in the present.(future), trait theory is stuck in the present.

  

- - No Means of Change.No Means of Change.  Perhaps because trait   Perhaps because trait theory does little to offer ideas about trait theory does little to offer ideas about trait development, it also provides little or no development, it also provides little or no guidance in the changing of negative aspects guidance in the changing of negative aspects of a trait.  Without understanding how a trait of a trait.  Without understanding how a trait develops, how do we then change that develops, how do we then change that trait?  Many argue that the application of trait trait?  Many argue that the application of trait theory is significantly reduced because it lacks theory is significantly reduced because it lacks a means for change. a means for change.