The trait theories on personality emphasize that
Multiple Choice
a. behavior, environment, and person/cognitive factors are important in understanding personality.
b. most personality-which includes the id, ego, and superego-is unconscious.
c. a person’s capacity for personal growth and positive human qualities influences his or her personality.
d. personality consists of broad, enduring dispositions that tend to lead to characteristic responses.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is:
d. personality consists of broad, enduring dispositions that tend to lead to characteristic responses.
Explanation:
Trait theories of personality emphasize the idea that personality consists of a set of stable, enduring characteristics or traits that influence how a person behaves, thinks, and feels. These traits are often seen as broad dispositions that guide a person’s consistent patterns of behavior across different situations and over time. According to trait theorists, these traits are fundamental in understanding personality, as they are thought to be relatively stable and universal across different individuals.
One of the key figures in trait theory is Gordon Allport, who proposed that traits could be classified into three categories: cardinal traits, central traits, and secondary traits. Cardinal traits are the most dominant traits that influence nearly all aspects of a person’s behavior (e.g., a person being extremely charitable). Central traits are more general characteristics that form the basic foundation of a person’s personality, such as being honest or sociable. Secondary traits are more specific and less consistent, such as preferences or attitudes that may only influence behavior in certain situations.
Another prominent theorist in the trait theory field is Raymond Cattell, who used factor analysis to identify 16 source traits that he believed formed the core of human personality. These 16 traits were thought to encompass a wide range of individual differences.
The trait approach assumes that individuals differ in the degree to which they possess certain traits. For example, one person might score high in extraversion, indicating a tendency to be outgoing and sociable, while another person might score low, indicating introversion.
In summary, trait theories are important because they help to conceptualize personality as a set of consistent, enduring traits that drive characteristic behaviors. These traits are not merely temporary or influenced by current circumstances, but are instead deep-seated aspects of who someone is, making them central to understanding personality development and behavior.