7.1.2 Trait Theory

• What is trait theory's central idea regarding personality?

  Stable, consistent traits
• Trait theory posits that personality is made up of stable and consistent individual characteristics known as traits
• Individuals possess a single, fixed personality trait.

  False
• What does the assumption of consistency in trait theory suggest about traits over time?

  They are relatively stable
• Individual differences in trait theory refer to the unique combination of traits each person exhibits
• Someone high in conscientiousness is likely organized and disciplined.
• Match each Big Five trait with its definition:

  Openness ↔️ Imaginative and curious

  Conscientiousness ↔️ Organized and diligent

  Extraversion ↔️ Sociable and outgoing

  Agreeableness ↔️ Friendly and cooperative

  Neuroticism ↔️ Anxious and stressed
• Which trait describes how open-minded and imaginative an individual is?

  Openness
• Conscientiousness reflects how organized, responsible, and diligent a person is
• An extroverted person enjoys being the center of attention.
• What behavior characterizes someone high in agreeableness?

  Resolves conflicts amicably
• Neuroticism measures how anxious, emotionally unstable, and self-conscious an individual is
• Order the Big Five traits from most outward-focused to most inward-focused:

  1️⃣ Extraversion

  2️⃣ Openness

  3️⃣ Conscientiousness

  4️⃣ Agreeableness

  5️⃣ Neuroticism
• Traits guide individuals to express consistent behaviors in various contexts.
• What does psychodynamic theory emphasize that trait theory does not?

  Unconscious processes
• Humanistic theory highlights free will and self-actualization
• Social-cognitive theory integrates environmental factors with thought processes.
• Match each theory with its emphasis:

  Trait theory ↔️ Identifying and measuring traits

  Psychodynamic ↔️ Unconscious motives

  Humanistic ↔️ Free will and growth

  Social-cognitive ↔️ Social learning and thoughts