Trait theory

• Personality theories

  • Trait
  • Social learning
  • Interactionist
• Personality

  The patterns of thoughts and feelings in which we interact with our environment and other people that make us a unique person.
• Anxiety

  A negative emotional state when experiencing apprehension and being aware of high arousal linked to our fears and worries.
• Trait theory

  • The situation or environment has no impact on a persons behaviour
  • Behaviour is said to be consistent
  • Trait theory attempts to predict behaviour
• Trait theory

  • Personality traits are innate characteristics and are thought to be relatively stable
  • Consistent attributes that exert a widely generalised causal effect on behaviour.
• Type A and B Personalities

  • Trait theory recognises two distinct personality types each with its own characteristics
  • By recognising these a coach may become more aware of a player anxiety levels and suggest intervention strategies.
• Type A characteristics

  • Competitive
  • Works fast
  • Strong desire to succeed
  • Likes to be in control
  • Prone to suffer stress
• Type B characteristics

  • Non-competitive
  • Unambitious
  • works more slowly
  • Does not enjoy being in control
  • Less prone to stress
• Personality traits

  • Stable
  • Unstable
  • Extroversion
  • Introversion
• Stable personality trait

  Someone who does not swing from one emotion to the another. Usually constant in behaviour
• Unstable (neurotic) 


  Someone who is highly anxious and has unpredictable emotions
• Extroversion

  A person who seeks social situations and likes excitement but lacks concentration
• Introversion

  A person who does not seek social situations but likes peace and quiet. Good at concentrating