Traits, Five Factor Model

Based on lexical approach : Those individual

differences that are most salient and socially relevant in people's lives will eventually become encoded into their language.
Important individual differences among people will have

names Should be words describing the same traits in different languages if there are common traits In English over 5000 words Can a few dimensions capture these many traits?

Questions Set Ao

I have a rich vocabulary. I have a vivid imagination. I have excellent ideas. I am quick to understand things. I use difficult words. I spend time reflecting on things. I am full of ideas. I am not interested in abstractions. * I do not have a good imagination. * I have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. *

Questions Set Bc

I am always prepared. I pay attention to details. I get chores done right away. I like order. I follow a schedule. I am exacting in my work. I leave my belongings around. * I make a mess of things. * I often forget to put things back in their proper place. (reversed) I shirk my duties. *

Questions Set Ce

I am the life of the party. I don't mind being the center of attention. I feel comfortable around people. I start conversations. I talk to a lot of different people at parties. I don't talk a lot. * I keep in the background. * I have little to say. * I don't like to draw attention to myself. * I am quiet around strangers. *

Questions Set Da

I am interested in people. I sympathize with others' feelings. I have a soft heart. I take time out for others. I feel others' emotions. I make people feel at ease. I am not really interested in others. * I insult people. * I am not interested in other people's problems. * I feel little concern for others. *

Questions Set-En

I am easily disturbed. I change my mood a lot. I get irritated easily. I get stressed out easily. I get upset easily. I have frequent mood swings. I often feel blue. I worry about things. I am relaxed most of the time. * I seldom feel blue. *

Lexical Approach
(1936) Allport and Odbert.
17,953 trait terms in English. Divided these into groups.

Identified 4,500 stable trait terms.

(1943) Cattell Reduced the list to 171 clusters. Later refined it to 35 groups of personality traits. (1949) Fiske Through factor analysis identified five factors

Factor analysis
Statistical tool used to reduce large amounts of data to

smaller underlying dimensions

Looks at patterns of co-variation Method is important because it impacts findings

Factor analysis method

1.
2. 3.

4.
5.

Collect measurements Compute correlations matrix Factor extraction (reduce to underlying dimensions) Compute factor loadings Name the factors

Example: How people cope with stress

How much did you do ______ during your most recent

stressful event? Or rate each item: 1. Took action quickly, before things could get out of hand. 2. Refused to believe it was real. 3. Did something concrete to make the situation better. 4. Tried to convince myself that it wasn=t happening. 5. Went on thinking that things were just like they were. 6. Changed or grew as a person in a new way. 7. Tried to look at the bright side.

Hypothetical correlation matrix

Item 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 *

2
.1 *

3
.75 -.19 *

4
-.05 .52 .17 *

5
.03 .61 0 .71 *

6
.12 -.07 .11 .09 .16 *

7
0 -.08 .08 .04 .09 .59 *

Hypothetical Factor Loadings

Factor
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5 Item 6 Item 7

A
.62 .03 .54 .10 .07 -.02 .22

B
.15 -.08 .04 .11 .08 .66 .48

C
.01 .49 -.20 .56 .45 .12 .06

Implications
Garbage in, garbage out
Missing info. may mean missing factors
E.g. Escape: smoking, drinking, eating, daydreaming about vacation, etc.

Importance of names of factors

Big Five/Five-Factor Model

Emerging consensus that 5 dimensions capture important pieces of personality Based on:
1. 2. 3.

Diverse samples of data Different measures Multiple cultures and languages

Still some disagreement about What the factors are

Big Five (Costa & McCrae)

Five basic dimensions that are very broad 6 facets within each dimension (which are more specific
Neuroticism Extraversion Openness to Experience Agreeableness Conscientiousness

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Neuroticism
Tendency to experience negative (unpleasant) feelings
Emotionally reactive, intense On other end: calm, emotionally stable, free from

persistent negative feelings

Neuroticism Facets
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Anxiety sense of danger or threat

Tense, jittery, nervous calm, fearless

Anger Depression feel sad, dejected, low

Lack energey, feel dejected.free from depressive feelings feel uncomfortable around others, easily embarrassed.dont feel discomfort in social situations, dont fear being judged by others

Self-consciousness sensitive to what others think of them

Immoderation strong cravings and urges that are hard to resist Vulnerability susceptibility to stress
Feel panic, helpless under pressure.feel poised, confident under pressure

Norms
Women Mean = 20.2 25%ile = 19 50%ile = 21 75%ile = 23 Men Mean = 18.8 25%ile = 17 50%ile = 19 75%ile = 21

Neuroticism
High Scorers Worrying Nervous Emotional Insecure Inadequate Hypochondriacal Low Scorers Calm Relaxed Unemotional Hardy Secure Self-satisfied

Extraversion
Enjoy being with others
High energy Tendency to experience positive emotions Low scorers: Quiet, less engaged in social world NOT shyness or depression

Extraversion Facets
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Friendliness like others and easily reach out to other peopledistant and reserved Gregariousness Enjoy being around others, like crowdsneed more privacy and time to self, dislike crowds Assertievness Like to speak out, take charge, leaderslet others control group direction Activity Level Much action, energetic, quickslower paced, less activity Excitement-Seeking Easily bored, seek thrillsunlikely to take risks, adverse to thrillseeking Cheerfulness High on positive emotions such as happiness, optimism, enthusiasm, and joylow scores dont experience as much joy (but NOT depressed)

Extraversion
High Scorers Sociable Active Talkative Person-oriented Optimistic Fun-loving Low Scorers Reserved Sober Unexuberant Aloof Task-oriented Quiet

Openness To Experience
Most disagreement about what this factor is and what

to call it.
Imaginative, intellectually curious, sensitive to

aesthetics and feelings . Down to earth, practical,conventional

Not a measure of intelligence

Openness Facets
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Imagination

Fantasyfact Love beauty, aestheticsnot interested in arts

Artistic Interests

Emotionality

Awareness of and expression of feelingsless aware and expressive

Like new activities, experience different thingsprefer familiar things Like to play with ideasprefer concrete things over ideas Challenge authority and conventionprefer conventional approaches

Adventurousness

Intellect

Liberalism

Openness to Experience
High Scorers Curious Creative Original Imaginative Untraditional Broad interests Low Scorers Conventional Narrow in interests Unartistic Unanalytical

Norms
Women Mean = 19.4 25%ile = 18 50%ile = 20 75%ile = 21 Men Mean = 20.3 25%ile = 18 50%ile = 21 75%ile = 22

Conscientiousness
Deliberate in actions, controlled, planful
Low: impulsive

Conscientiousness Facets
1.
2. 3.

4.
5. 6.

Self-efficacy Orderliness Dutifulness Achievement Striving Self-discipline Cautiousness

Norms
Women Mean = 22.2 25%ile = 21 50%ile = 23 75%ile = 24 Men Mean = 18.8 25%ile = 17 50%ile = 19 75%ile = 21

Conscientiousness
High Scorers Organized Reliable Hard-working Self-disciplined Punctual Persevering Low Scorers Aimless Unreliable Careless Negligent Weak-willed

Agreeableness
Social harmony, ability to get along with others
Low: mistrustful of others, difficulty getting along

with others

Agreeableness Facets
1.
2. 3.

4.
5. 6.

Trust Morality Altruism Cooperation Modesty Sympathy

Agreeableness
High Scorers Soft-hearted Good-natured Trusting Helpful Forgiving Straightforward Low Scorers Cynical Rude Suspicious Uncooperative Vengeful Irritable Manipulative

Norms
Women Mean = 18.5 25%ile = 16 50%ile = 19 75%ile = 22 Men Mean = 16.3 25%ile = 13 50%ile = 17 75%ile = 20

Integration with other trait theories

1.
2. 3.

Eysencks theory: Similar structure to Eysenck Cattells 16 PF scales map on

Longitudinal Stability
1.
2.

Good evidence for stability over long periods in adulthood Small but sign. age effects:
Older adults lower on N, E, and O Older adults higher on C and A Cohort effect? Some occur across cultures: C increases with age

3.

Temperamental characteristics develop into E and N

To Sum Up
Five-factor model describes some of the most

important individual differences There are individual differences that are not captured by the big five