Trait Approach of Personality (Part I)

Meaning of Trait Approach

            Trait means a genetically determined characteristics that remains stable for lifetime. In psychological parlance trait is stable, persistent and specific way of behaving. These are the observable subjective and abstract qualities of an individual that ensure the consistency in behaviour across situations. Traits are the fundamental [guiding] factors over which consistent behavioural outcomes are based. They are found in each individual with varying intensity and magnitude. This approach considers traits as the building blocks of personality. According to Atkinson, et al. “A trait refers to any characteristic that differs from person to person in a relatively permanent and consistent way.” Trait theorists believe that different personality types result from the varied combinations of psychological attributes. The active & simultaneous interaction among the traits produces different & unique behavioural patterns. On the basis of similarities in intensity and type of trait, the persons are classified into different personality types.

Various Trait Theories

1.         Allport trait theory

2.         Cattell’s trait theory

1.         Allport Trait Approach

            G W Allport (1936) proposed that individuals possess a number of traits, which are dynamic in nature. They determine behaviour in such a manner that an individual approaches different situations with similar plans. The traits integrate stimuli and responses which otherwise look dissimilar. He analysed 4000 words of English language to look for traits which describe a person. Based on this he categorized traits into three types

(i)        Cardinal,

(ii)       Central, and

(iii)      Secondary traits.

(i)        Cardinal traits – The traits that are predominant in the entire life of the person. The behaviour of the individual is directed and regulated by these traits. For example Subhash Chandra Bose’s Nationalism and Major Dhyan Chand’s passion for Hockey. Such traits often get associated with the name of the person.

(ii)       Central traits – These traits are found in more or less all peoples (e.g., honest, sincere, straightforward etc.) and are often used for the recommendation of a person for the job. They form the major chunk of the personality of the person.

(iii)      Secondary traits – By virtue their nature they have lesser contribution in forming the personality. These traits hardly shows consistency (e.g. example talking style, hair style, love to eat sweets etc.).

2.       Cattell’s Trait Approach

            Raymond Cattell suggested the people differ on a common structure He tried to identify the primary traits from large number of descriptive adjectives found in English. He discovered a common structures out of these adjectives using factor analysis. He found 16 traits which he named them as primary or source traits.

(i)        Source traits – These traits are considered as the building blocks of the personality, relatively stable and not observable during routine interaction. They are the result of clustering of surface traits. For example an individual always reaches in time, shows honesty, tells the truth, dresses decently etc. through these traits we can infer that individual is ‘well cultured’.

(ii)       Surface traits – A characteristic manifested as a group of interrelated observable behaviors (APA).The traits are stable over time and manifested in day to day behaviour, individual always reaches in time, shows honesty, tells the truth, dresses decently are the examples of surface traits. 

References:

1.         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu%E1%B9%87a.

2.         http://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/ 23532/1/Unit-1.pdf.

3.         https://dictionary.apa.org/surface-trait.

4.         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_ personality_traits.

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