Gordon Allport
Trait Theory
I. Biography (1897-1967)
Allport was 1 of 4 children born to a teacher &
country doctor in Indiana.
The family moved often, until they settled in
Cleveland, Ohio, where Allport grew up in a hardworking, Protestant neighborhood.
Graduating 2nd in his class, Allport joined his
brother, Floyd, at Harvard University, where he
studied psychology & social ethics.
Biography contd.
After graduation, Allport taught abroad in Eastern
Europe & visited with Freud on his way back
home.
He tried to impress Freud with his powers of
observation, but instead was mistaken for a patient
seeking therapy.
This led Allport to want to focus on conscious self
reports as opposed to hidden unconscious
impulses.
Allport
Gordon studied personality traits as a graduate student &
earned his Ph.D. in 1922 at 24.
He accepted a teaching position at Harvard in 1924.
He taught at Harvard for most of his life, where he
introduced the first Personality course ever taught in
the US.
He published in numerous journals about his views on
personality traits, was the President of the APA, & editor
of many journals.
II. Themes in Allports work
A. Consistency of Personality
Allport argued that humans are consistent
(remarkably recognizable) in personality even
though they may vary from situation to
situation.
Some research supports Allports view; other
studies suggest situations make people change
their behavior.
B. The Concept of the Self
Allport argued for the idea of self as a major
focus of personality growth.
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
Although Allport focused on personality traits,
he did recognize the importance of social
factors & how they influence individuals.
III. Allports definition of Personality
Personality is the dynamic organization within
the individual of those psychophysical systems
that determine his unique adjustments to the
environment. (1937)
Personality is the dynamic organization within
the individual of those psychophysical systems
that determine his characteristic behavior and
thought (1961)
This is not tacitly accepted by personality
psychologists.
Components of Allports definition
1. Dynamic organization:
we need to integrate all parts of our personality into a
whole.
Organized and patterned personality
Subject to change, not static, but growing and
changing
Criticisms: the theme of unity isnt shared by everyone.
Learning theorists focus on discrete units of behavior.
2. Psychophysical Systems
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
Personality is something an does something
Not merely mask we wear, nor is it simply behavior.
traits are not just predictors of behavior, they actually
determine (cause) behavior.
Allport felt these were actually physical (tangible)
although he didnt know how they related to the neural
systems.
Accused to be circular reasoning
How does circular reasoning
work?
Jack hits Bob (behavior)
We observe hitting behavior & say that Jack
is high on aggression (a trait).
When asked why Jack is aggressivewe
say Because he hit Bob.
4. Unique
Allport felt that traits are highly
individualized or unique.
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
Allport felt that our personalities develop as
a function of learning to adapt to social
situations while trying to achieve our needs.
IV. Traits
Allport felt that our personality was made
up of traits.
If you know a persons traits, you can
provide a description of their personality.
What are traits???
A trait is a consistent, long-lasting tendency
in behavior.
E.g., shyness, hostility
Can we all be described by the
same traits?
Do we each have different traits or do we all
have the same traits in varying amounts?
What do you think??
Allport wasnt willing to rule either of these
out, although most researchers agree we
have the same traits in different degrees.
Individual Vs. Common Traits
Allport argued we have both individual
traits & common traits.
Individual traits -- possessed by only 1
person.
Common traits-- possessed by all people
to a varying extent.
How do we know what traits a person
possesses?
1. We can infer them from language (Dictionary
Study).
Allport & Odbert identified 17,953 trait names,
from the dictionary (4.5% of total words).
Dictionary study
1. Neutral Terms Designating Personal Traits (artistic,
assertive).
2. Terms Primarily Descriptive of Temporary Moods or
Activities (alarmed, ashamed)
3. Weighted Terms Conveying Social or Character Judgments
of Personal Conduct, or Designating influence on others
(adorable, agreeable).
4. Miscellanous: Designations of Physique, Capacities, and
Developmental Conditions; Metaphorical and Doubtful Terms
(alone).
V. How pervasive is influence of a trait?
It varies with the trait.
Allport argued we have three categories of
traits: cardinal, secondary, & central.
Cardinal traits are most pervasive;
secondary traits least pervasive.
2. Inferring traits from behavior
Allport argues that what people do, is a
great clue as to their personality traits.
If people like to run, hike, & ride bikes we
can infer they are athletic (a trait).
By observing others either in naturalistic
settings or through experiments, we can
infer some of their traits.
Allports Personal Disposition
Gordon Theory
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 persons entire life
revolves around it
2.
Central traits are qualities that characterize a persons daily
interactions
3.
Secondary traits are characteristics that are exhibited in specific
situations
A. Central traits
Central traits are the major characteristics of an
individual.
These usually number from 5 to 10 in any one
person (e.g., honesty, sociability).
These are rather pervasive & effect many
behaviors. We can use a small number of
adjectives to describe someone.
B. Secondary traits
These are characteristics that effect
behavior in fewer situations & are less
influential than central or cardinal traits.
A preference for ice cream or dislike of
modern art would be considered a
secondary trait.
C. Cardinal traits
This is a single characteristic that directs
most of a persons activities.
It is so pervasive that it dominates just
about everything that a person does.
E.g., A person so power-hungry that they
are solely driven by that need for control.
Personality Development
Functional Autonomy
Traits become independent of their origins in
childhood
Childhood might be root of the trait or tendency
but do not continue to influence the tendency in
adulthood
It is not necessary to unearth where tendency or
trait which dominates a persons life originated
in order to help person deal with the troubling
tendency
Unity of the Personality
The Proprium: theoritical concept of self
or ego
A sense of what is peculiarly ours,
including all aspects of personality that
make for inward unity
Stages of Development of Self
Bodily Sense of Self (1styear)
Sensory information provides an anchor for our selfawareness.
Self-Identity (1 or 2-4 or 5)
Sense of existence as a separate person
Ego Enhancement or Self-Esteem (2-3)
Sense of pride or shame depending achievement
Testing the limits of the environment
Ego-extension (3-4 or 4-6)
Identify with personal possessions.
With maturity this shifts to loved ones and later to ideal causes
and loyalties.
Self-Image (4-6)
Learned expectations of the roles we are expected to enact
Aspirations for the future we seek to attain
Rational Agent (6-12)
Engage in reflective thought, problem solving
Propriate Striving (12 +)
ego-involved behavior, characterized by the unification of
personality in pursuit of major life goals
The Knower (adult)
Integration of the previous seven aspects of proprium
Unified personality
