McCrae and Costa

• inductive method of gathering data; that is, they began with no preconceived bias concerning the number or name of traits or types
• deductive method, that is, they have preconceived hypotheses in mind before they begin to col lect data.
• L data


  derived from observations made by other people
• self-reports (Q data)


  obtained from questionnaires and other techniques designed to allow people to make subjective descriptions of themselves;
• objective tests (T data)


  which measures performance such as intelligence, speed of responding, and other such activities designed to challenge people’s maximum performance.
• Basics of Factor Analysis


  factor analysis is not essential to an understanding of trait and factor theories of personality, but a general description of this technique should be helpfu
• correlation coefficient is a mathematical procedure for expressing the degree of correspondence between two sets of scores
• factor loadings. For example, if scores for algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus contribute highly to Factor M but not to other factors, they will have high factor load ings on M. Factor loadings give us an indication of the purity of the various factors and enable us to interpret their meanings.
• Unipolar traits are scaled from zero to some large amount. Height, weight, and intel lectual ability
• bipolar traits extend from one pole to an opposite pole, with zero representing a midpoint. Introversion versus extraversion, liberalism versus conservatism, and social ascendancy versus timidity are examples of bipolar traits.
• orthogonal rotation axes are at right angles to each other.
• oblique method, which was advocated by Cattell, assumes some positive or neg ative correlation and refers to an angle of less than or more than 90°.
• McCrae’s major professor was Henry Weinberg, a clinical psychologist with only a peripheral interest in personality traits. Hence, McCrae’s interest in traits had to be nourished more internally than externally
• Walter Mischel (see Chapter 18) was question ing the notion that personality traits are consistent, claiming that the situation is more important than any personality trait.
• McCrae’s destiny was about to change. Hewassent by his advisor to work as a research assistant with James Fozard, an adult developmental psychologist at the Normative Aging Study at the Veterans Adminis tration Outpatient Clinic in Boston.
• NEO-PI was a revision of anearlier unpublished personality inven tory that measured only the first three dimensions
• People who score high on neuroticism tend to be anxious, temperamental, self-pitying, self-conscious, emotional, and vulnerable to stress-related disorders
• low on N are usually calm, even-tempered, self-satisfied, and unemotional.
• high on extraversion tend to be affectionate, jovial, talkative, joiners, and fun-loving
• low E scorers are likely to be reserved, quiet, loners, passive, and lacking the ability to express strong emotion
• Openness


  High Scores imaginative creative original prefers variety curious liberal inventive

  Low Scores down-to-earth uncreative conventional prefers routine cautious conservative consistent
• Agreeableness


  softhearted trusting generous acquiescent lenient good-natured friendly compassionate

  ruthless suspicious stingy antagonistic critical irritable challenging detached
• Conscientiousness


  conscientious hardworking well-organized punctual ambitious persevering efficient

  negligent lazy disorganized late aimless quitting easy-goin
• Extraversion


  affectionate joiner talkative fun loving active passionate outgoing

  reserved loner quiet sober passive unfeeling solitary
• Neuroticism


  anxious temperamental self-pitying self-conscious emotional vulnerable sensitive nervous

  calm even-tempered self-satisfied comfortable unemotional hardy secure confident
• a new theory should be able to incorporate the change and growth of the field that has occurred over the last 25 years as well as be grounded in the current empirical principles that have emerged from research.
• McCrae and Costa (1999), “neither the model itself nor the body of research findings with which it is associated constitutes a theory of personality. A theory organizes find ings to tell a coherent story, to bring into focus those issues and phenomena that can and should be explained”
• McCrae and Costa (1996, p. 78) had stated that “the facts about personality are beginning to fall into place. Now is the time to begin to make sense of them.” In other words, it was time to turn the Five-Factor Model (taxonomy) into a Five-Factor Theory (FFT)
• Units of the Five-Factor Theory

  behavior is predicted by an understanding of two central or core components and three peripheral ones. The two core components (rectangles) are basic tenden cies and characteristic adaptations (including self-concept). The three peripheral units (ellipses) of the model are biological bases, objective biography, and external influences
• Core Components of Personality

  central or core components are represented by rectangles, whereas the peripheral components are represented by ellipses
• Core Components of Personality


  arrows represent dynamic processes and indicate the direction of causal influence
• Basic Tendencies


  one of the central components of personality, along with characteristic adaptations, self-concept, biological bases, objective biography, and external influences
• Core Components of Personality


  characteristic adaptations, that is, acquired personality structures that develop as people adapt to their environment and include habits, skills, and beliefs
• Core components of Five-Factor Theory


  basic tendencies are quite stable, char acteristic adaptations can be influenced by external influences, such as acquired skills, habits, attitudes, and relationships that result from the interaction of indi viduals with their environment.
• Core Components of Personality


  self-concept“ consists of knowledge, views, and evaluations of the self, ranging from miscellaneous facts of personal history to the identity that gives a sense of purpose and coherence to life
• Peripheral Components 3


  Biological Bases The principal biological mechanisms that influence basic tendencies are genes, hormones, and brain structures.
• Peripheral Components


  objective biography, defined as “everything the person does, thinks, or feels across the whole lifespan
• Peripheral Components

  external influences people constantly find themselves in a particular physical or social situation that has some influence on the personality system. The question of how we respond to the opportunities and demands of the context is
• Basic Postulates

  individuality postulate stipulates that adults have a unique set of traits and that each person exhibits a unique combination of trait patterns.
• Postulates for Basic Tendencies

  origin All personality traits are the result solely of endogenous (internal) forces, such as genet ics, hormones, and brain structures.