Psy 405 - Dispositional, Biological, & Evolutionary Theory Newspaper Article

Dispositional, Biological, & Evolutionary Theory Newspaper Article

Tennille Winston-Talley

PSY/405

January 9th, 2017

Dr. Lynn Hagan

Dispositional, Biological, & Evolutionary Theory Newspaper Article

Introduction

The Winston-Talley Daily Times: EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT…… This just in: Scientific Breakthrough in Personality Trait Theories based on the research of Gordon Allport, Robert McCrae & Robert Costa, Jr., Hans Eysenck, & David Buss in the areas of; Dispositional, Biological, and Evolutionary Personality Traits. This article will describe the differences between dispositional, biological, and evolutionary trait theories. This article will discuss the strengths and limitations of each personality theory. In addition, this article will discuss the Big Five Personality Test and how it is used to study personality.

Dispositional Personality Traits Theory

According to Dispositional Personality Trait theorists Gordon Allport, Robert McCrae & Paul Costa, Jr., an individual’s behavior is based on their personality traits. These theorists were primarily concerned with the measurement of traits, which can be defined as habitual patterns of behavior, thought, and emotions. According to their perspective, traits are basically stable, different across each individual, and influences behavior (Feist, Feist, & Roberts 2013).

Allport

Gordon Allport was an early leader in the study of traits, which he also referred as dispositions. In his approach, he identified two different main traits found in every human; common traits and individual traits. Common traits are general characteristics held  shared by many people. Individual traits (personal disposition) are peculiar to the individual and have the capacity to render different stimuli functionally equivalent to initiate and guide behavior (Feist et al. 2013). Allport assumed three levels of personal dispositions cardinal, central, and secondary; cardinal which are traits that govern and form behavior. Central traits are found in every individual, which makes them unique. Secondary traits are those only seen in certain circumstances, they are less unique but far more abundant than central traits. Allport’s major impact to trait theory was his documentation of nearly 18,000 different trait names in the English dictionary. (Feist et al, 2013).

McCrae & Costa

Robert McCrae and Paul Costa, Jr developed the five “higher order” model of traits known as the Big Five. An earlier model was developed independently by different theorist such as Allport who believed that personality yielded 5 to 10 traits that are fundamental to each individual. In addition to Catell, who believed there are over 18,000 personality traits. However, McCrae and Costa narrowed the traits down to five basic traits that can be found in every individual and in every culture throughout the world. They placed equal emphasis on biological and environmental influences on personality unlike Allport’s theory (McCrae & Costa, 1987)

The Big Five Factor Model

The Big Five was originally developed in the 1970’s. These five models were derived by asking thousands of people hundreds of questions and analyzing the data with a statistical procedure called factor analysis. The Big Five is now widely accepted and the most used model of personality test or assessment. The acronym used is O.C.E.A.N; Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, & Neuroticism (McCrae & Costa, 1987) [pic 1]Biological Personality Traits Theory

The Biological trait theory is based on the work of Hans Eysenck. His research suggests that a person’s personality is the definite or prospective patterns of behavior of each being, as determined by genetics and environment it originates and develops through the functional interaction of the four main segments into which behavior is organized (Feist et al, 2013). Personality consists of acts and temperaments organized in a categorized fashion. According to Feist, Feist, & Roberts 2013, in the biological personality theory, genetics are the primary determinate of personality as well as conditioning

Hans Eysenck

        Eysenck developed a factor theory in which he based his theory in both factor analysis and biology. He came up with three dimensions of personality and their polar opposites; Extraversion vs Introversion, Neuroticism vs Stability & Psychoticism vs Superego Function (Roberts, 2012). He believed that genetic differences lead to structural differences in the central nervous system. In turn, theses genetic differences lead to deficiencies in his three factors. Eysenck used a hypothetico-deductive approach to extract the three dimensions of personality along with their polar opposites. He believed that personality must possess a biological existence. He listed four criteria for identifying a factor; psychometric evidence, heritability, social relevance, and make sense from a theoretical view (Roberts, 2012)

Evolutionary Personality Trait Theory

   Evolutionary Theory can be defined as the scientific study of human thought and behavior from an evolutionary perspective (Roberts, 2012). Evolutionary psychology is the combination of two sciences; biology and cognitive psychology. This theory states that humans evolved tendencies to think, feel, and behave in certain ways changes over time, based on one’s environment. The main two sources of the origin of personality are the environment and genetics.  David Buss is the leading evolutionary trait personality theorist.