Gordon Allport Trait Theory I Biography 1897 1967

Gordon Allport Trait Theory

I. Biography (1897 -1967) n Allport was 1 of 4 children born to a teacher & country doctor in Indiana. n The family moved often, until they settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where Allport grew up in a hardworking, Protestant neighborhood. n Graduating 2 nd in his class, Allport joined his brother, Floyd, at Harvard University, where he studied psychology & social ethics.

Biography contd. n After graduation, Allport taught abroad in Eastern Europe & visited with Freud on his way back home. n He tried to impress Freud with his powers of observation, but instead was mistaken for a patient seeking therapy. n This led Allport to want to focus on conscious self reports as opposed to hidden unconscious impulses.

Allport n Gordon studied personality traits as a graduate student & earned his Ph. D. in 1922 at 24. n He accepted a teaching position at Harvard in 1924. n He taught at Harvard for most of his life, where he introduced the first “Personality” course ever taught in the US. n He published in numerous journals about his views on personality traits, was the President of the APA, & editor of many journals.

II. Themes in Allport’s work A. Consistency of Personality n Allport argued that humans are consistent (“remarkably recognizable”) in personality even though they may vary from situation to situation. n n Some research supports Allport’s view; other studies suggest situations make people change their behavior.

B. The Concept of the Self n Allport argued for the idea of self as a major focus of personality growth. n Today, a good deal of research in clinical & social psychology focuses on the idea of the self (e. g. , self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy).

C. Interaction of Personality & Social Influences n Although Allport focused on personality traits, he did recognize the importance of social factors & how they influence individuals.

III. Allport’s definition of Personality n “Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to the environment. ” (1937) n “Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behavior and thought” (1961) n This is not tacitly accepted by personality psychologists.

Components of Allport’s definition n 1. Dynamic organization: we need to integrate all parts of our personality into a whole. u Organized and patterned personality u Subject to change, not static, but growing and changing u n Criticisms: theme of unity isn’t shared by everyone. Learning theorists focus on discrete units of behavior.

n 2. Psychophysical Systems u u u Allport argued that biology influences our personality development. He accepted the idea that temperament, constitutes an inherited biological foundation for personality. There is some evidence that this might be the case. The temperaments of young children tend to be consistent into adulthood.

3. Determinative n Personality is something an does something n Not merely mask we wear, nor is it simply behavior. n traits are not just predictor’s of behavior, they actually determine (cause) behavior. n Allport felt these were actually physical (tangible) although he didn’t know how they related to the neural systems. n Accused to be circular reasoning

How does circular reasoning work? n Jack hits Bob (behavior) n We observe hitting behavior & say that Jack is high on “aggression” (a trait). n When asked why Jack is aggressive—we say “Because he hit Bob. ”

4. Unique n Allport felt that traits are highly individualized or unique. n He disagreed with theorists who asserted that one or a few instincts motivate all people (sexual drives, striving for superiority).

5. Adjustments to the Environment n Allport felt that our personalities develop as a function of learning to adapt to social situations while trying to achieve our needs.

IV. Traits n Allport felt that our personality was made up of traits. n If you know a person’s traits, you can provide a description of their personality.

What are traits? ? ? n A trait is a consistent, long-lasting tendency in behavior. n E. g. , shyness, hostility

Can we all be described by the same traits? n Do we each have different traits or do we all have the same traits in varying amounts? n What do you think? ? n Allport wasn’t willing to rule either of these out, although most researchers agree we have the same traits in different degrees.

Individual Vs. Common Traits n Allport argued we have both individual traits & common traits. n Individual traits -- possessed by only 1 person. n Common traits-- possessed by all people to a varying extent.

How do we know what traits a person possesses? n 1. We can infer them from language (Dictionary Study). n Allport & Odbert identified 17, 953 trait names, from the dictionary (4. 5% of total words).

Dictionary study n 1. Neutral Terms Designating Personal Traits (artistic, assertive). n 2. Terms Primarily Descriptive of Temporary Moods or Activities (alarmed, ashamed) n 3. Weighted Terms Conveying Social or Character Judgments of Personal Conduct, or Designating influence on others (adorable, agreeable). n 4. Miscellanous: Designations of Physique, Capacities, and Developmental Conditions; Metaphorical and Doubtful Terms (alone).

V. How pervasive is influence of a trait? n It varies with the trait. n Allport argued we have three categories of traits: cardinal, secondary, & central. n Cardinal traits are most pervasive; secondary traits least pervasive.

2. Inferring traits from behavior n Allport argues that what people do, is a great clue as to their personality traits. n If people like to run, hike, & ride bikes we can infer they are athletic (a trait). n By observing others either in naturalistic settings or through experiments, we can infer some of their traits.

Allport’s Personal Disposition Theory Gordon Allport suggested that each individual has a unique set of personality traits called individual dispositions 1. Cardinal trait is a trait so dominant that a person’s entire life revolves around it 2. Central traits are qualities that characterize a person’s daily interactions 3. Secondary traits are characteristics that are exhibited in specific situations

A. Central traits n Central traits are the major characteristics of an individual. n These usually number from 5 to 10 in any one person (e. g. , honesty, sociability). n These are rather pervasive & effect many behaviors. We can use a small number of adjectives to describe someone.

B. Secondary traits n These are characteristics that effect behavior in fewer situations & are less influential than central or cardinal traits. n A preference for ice cream or dislike of modern art would be considered a secondary trait.

C. Cardinal traits n This is a single characteristic that directs most of a person’s activities. n It is so pervasive that it dominates just about everything that a person does. n E. g. , A person so power-hungry that they are solely driven by that need for control.

Personality Development n Functional Autonomy u Traits become independent of their origins in childhood u Childhood might be root of the trait or tendency but do not continue to influence the tendency in adulthood u It is not necessary to unearth where tendency or trait which dominates a person’s life originated in order to help person deal with the troubling tendency

n Unity of the Personality n The Proprium: theoritical concept of “self” or “ego” n “A sense of what is peculiarly ours, including all aspects of personality that make for inward unity”

Stages of Development of Self n n Bodily Sense of Self (1 styear) u �Sensory information provides an “anchor” for our self- awareness. Self-Identity (1 or 2 -4 or 5) u �Sense of existence as a separate person Ego Enhancement or Self-Esteem (2 -3) u �Sense of pride or shame depending achievement u �Testing the limits of the environment Ego-extension (3 -4 or 4 -6) u �Identify with personal possessions. u �With maturity this shifts to loved ones and later to ideal causes and loyalties.

n n Self-Image (4 -6) u Learned expectations of the roles we are expected to enact u Aspirations for the future we seek to attain Rational Agent (6 -12) u Engage in reflective thought, problem solving Propriate Striving (12 +) u “ego-involved” behavior, characterized by the unification of personality in pursuit of major life goals The Knower (adult) u �Integration of the previous seven aspects of proprium u �Unified personality