Trait Theory of Personality: The Big Five Test

1. What is the primary focus of trait theory of personality?
 Trait theory is focused on identifying and measuring these individual personality characteristics.The trait theory suggests that individual personalities are composed broad dispositions. A trait can be thought of as a relatively stable characteristic that causes individuals to behave in certain ways.

2.Explain the differences between cardinal traits, central traits and secondary traits. 
Cardinal Traits :Traits that dominate an individual’s whole life, often to the point that the person becomes known specifically for these traits.
Central Traits: These are the general characteristics that form the basic foundations of personality.  Secondary Traits: These are the traits that are sometimes related to attitudes or preferences and often appear only in certain situations or under specific circumstances.

3.What are two common criticisms of trait theory?
Poor Predictor of Future Behavior: While we may be able to say, in general that a person falls on the high end or low end of a specific trait, trait theory fails to address a person's state.  A state is a temporary way of interacting and dealing with the self and others.
No Means of Change:  Perhaps because trait theory does little to offer ideas about trait development, it also provides little or no guidance in the changing of negative aspects of a trait. 

4. Identify and briefly explain each of the five dimensions of personality according to McCrae and Costa.

1. Extraversion: This trait includes characteristics such as excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness and high amounts of emotional expressiveness.


2. Agreeableness: This personality dimension includes attributes such as trust, altruism, kindness, affection, and other prosocial behaviors.


3. Conscientiousness: Common features of this dimension include high levels of thoughtfulness, with good impulse control and goal-directed behaviors. Those high in conscientiousness tend to be organized and mindful of details.


4. Neuroticism: Individuals high in this trait tend to experience emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness, irritability, and sadness.


5. Openness: This trait features characteristics such as imagination and insight, and those high in this trait also tend to have a broad range of interests.

5. What are two strengths of McCrae and Costa's five factor model of personality? 
Objectivity:  Perhaps the biggest strength of trait theory is it's reliance on statistical or objective data.

Ease of Use and Understanding.  Trait theory has been used to develop a number of assessment devices.  It provides an easy to understand continuum that provides a good deal of information regarding a person's personality, interaction, and beliefs about the self and the world.  Understanding traits allows us to compare people, to determine which traits allow a person to do better in college, in relationships, or in a specific career.