Personality Psychology Lecture 12 Outline of Last Lecture Trait TheoryTrait Theorists Gordon Allporto Cardinal traitso Central traitso Secondary traits  Raymond Cattello Factor analysis Outline of Current Lecture Factor analysis- Step 1-5Cattell: 3 categories of source traits- Ability traits- Temperament traits- Dynamic traits16-PF TestHans Eysenck - Secondary factor analysis- 3 factor modelSuper factors- Extraversion- Neuroticism- Psychoticism - MeasurementPsychopathology Current LectureFactor Analysis—simplifies information contained in large table of correlations by distilling/narrowing down what items go together Step 1: collect trait ratings from many peopleo More subjects=more reliable datao A-F, items=traitso Run correlation coefficients between people and traitso Ex. Indecisiveness correlates high with depression, brooding, etc Step 2: calculate correlations among items (traits)These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. Step 3: extract factors from the correlation matrix and see what seems to fall togethero (see correlation with each item with each factor we pulled out) Step 4: calculate factor loadings  Step 5: review the loadings and name the factorso Naming of factors is subjectiveo Conclusions about factor analysis come from high correlation between traits and factorso Loadings of .3-.4 are considered significant Reduces multiple reflections (surface/base traits) of personality to smaller sets of traits o Because some things do go together, its not reasonable to analyze individualize but better to generalizeo Want to be able to describe everyone with set of definitive traits Provides basis for arguing that some traits matter more than others Helps in developing assessment devices for personality Cattell: 3 categories of source traits (Source traits—pull together surface traits to decrease number) Ability traits—skills that allow the individual to function effectively Temperament traits—involved in emotional lifeo Cry easily vs not, sensitive vs not Dynamic traits—involved in motivational life, can you easily get yourself focused on a task or not16-PF Test (Personality Factor) There are 16 source traits Cattell developed in order to report how people see themselves based on these 16 measures/source traits Continuum—on one end there are really rigid and other are flexible Still used widely, arguable that some of these source traits might be able to combine together to reduce the number of traits Some employers want to hire people with or without certain personality traits Therapists sometimes do this to get to know client Police screenings Cattell’s legacy  Theory is strongly founded based on systematic research effortso Lots of subjects, factor analysis, validating theory 16 PF test widely used in applied settings Theory exerts little impact in contemporary personality scienceo 16 factor approach not parsimonious/sparing, restrained—16 source traits is too many and can condense them furthero Theory based on measurement which is riskyHans Eysenck  Took factor analytic method further, based work off of Cattell’s 3 factor model—3 factors that effectively describe everyone *Emphasized biological foundation of personality Critical of psychoanalytic theory because he didn’t think measures were reliable in terms of validity or demonstrating constructs Conducted factor analysis and secondary factor analysis to find super factorso Because factors are commonly correlated—intercorrelations among factors can themselves be factor analyzed o Some of 16 traits that Cattell came up with are correlated, thus important to do second factor analysis  Secondary factor analysis—used to identify a simple set of factors that are independent (not correlated with each other)o Super factors—dimensions with two sideso If factors are statistically independent they are NOT correlated with each other—Cattell’s16 factors correlate with each other thus aren’t independent  People can be divided into types based on 2 general personality dimensions from super factors:o Introversion/Extroversiono Emotional stability/instability o *directionally divided o High neuroticism, low extraversion—moody, anxious, rigid, unsociable, pessimistic, quietreserved, sobero High neuroticism, high extraversion—touchy, restless, aggressive, active, excitable, impulsive, changeable, optimistico Low neuroticism, low extraversion—passive, careful, thoughtful, calm, peaceful, reliable, controlled, balancedo Low neuroticism, high extraversion—sociable, outgoing, talkative, responsive, easygoing,lively, carefree, leaderSuper factors Extraversion (E)o Pulls together lower level traits (sociability, activity, liveliness, excitability)=trait level Habitual response level—I like to go to parties, like being around lots of people- Pull from trait level  Specific response level—observable things, things people say about themselves - Talk a lot vs not talk a lot- Pull from habitual response level o Opposite is Introversion Neuroticism (N)o Emotional stability (low neuroticism) vs instability (high on neuroticism)o Pulls together lower level traits like anxiety, depression, shy, moody Psychoticism (P)o Captures abnormal qualities including aggressiveness, lack of empathy, interpersonal coldness, antisocial behavioral tendencieso Aggressive, cold, egocentric, impersonal, impulsiveantisocial, unempathetic, creative Measuring super factors  Eysenck developed simple self-report items designed to tap into each of the factors Lie scale items—yes/no format, look to see if person is giving true answerso Do you sometimes laugh at a dirty jokeo Did you always do as you were told as a child Lemon drop test—put lemon drop on peoples tongues o Objective measureso Introverts and extraverts differ in amount of saliva producedo Extraversion—produce less salivao Introversion—produce more salivao *Suggests biological basis to individual differences , maybe introverts that are more sensitive and responsive maybe that’s why they don’t seek out situations that are highly stimulating  Cortical arousal—objective measureo Introverts—more cortical arousal to external stimuli (noise, activity)o Extroverts—less cortical arousalo *more biological evidence