PSYCH 202 1st Edition Lecture 2 Defense Mechanisms We measure individual differences scientifically to explore constructs o Constructs theoretical hypothetical ideas for which we seek evidence via the scientific method Trait Model measures individual differences in personality constructs with objective self report tests o Objective has different features o Projective ambiguous stimuli Could be shown picture or ink blot and all people have to say what they see o Big Five Personality Test Extraversion superordinate traits Correlation between trait and action o Personality traits represent important individual differences Traits are internal stable reliable dispositional characteristics which reflect the individual s distinct and relatively enduring pattern of thoughts feelings and behaviors Traits affect our Cognition thoughts Thinking Affect feelings Actions behaviors acting Traits pre dispose Traits predispose different types of cognitive affective and interpersonal behavior They affect what we focus on They predispose individual persons to have uniquely different experiences of self and other Traits develop early and are rooted in genetics and temperament Traits are developed in first months of life from genes Trait development is biological What does personality have to do with your happiness Higher optimism Sociability best way to be happy have good social relations o LOT R Test Dispositional optimism Standardization of items and conditions of measurement questions same for every person taking test Development of quantitative norms mean standard deviation Numerical associations Reliability Validity o o o o o o o o o 1 SD is 68 of people Attributional Style Questionnaire Make judgments Test of optimism and pessimism How you think about good and bad events that happen to you Defensive Pessimism A strategy used by anxious people to help them manage their anxiety so they can work productively They lower their expectation to help prepare themselves for the worst Strategic Optimism used by people who aren t anxious Individuals using this strategy set high expectations and then actively avoid thinking much about what might happen Pessimists don t perform any worse on tasks than optimists UCLA Loneliness Five Factor Model CANOE OCEAN Most dominant current psychometric measurement perspective in personality psychology Neuroticism Confident stable calm Extraversion Outgoing sociable confident lively talkative Openness to experience Agreeableness Likeable friendly easy to get along with highly adaptable Conscientiousness Thoughtful on time do what they say they will organized Big Five Superordinate Level Neuroticism Subordinate trait level Anxiety Anger Depression Self consciousness Immoderation Vulnerability Psychometric Research on Big Five Stability reliability The Psychometric trait individual differences perspective is a largely descriptive enterprise While rooted in scientific principles of measurement standardization reliability validity no overarching explanatory perspectives are prominent Instead of explanation most of these systems purport to be useful in describing core features of persons Standardized reliable and valid descriptions lead to useful prediction Eysenck originally posited 3 superordinate personality traits Emotional stability v instability Extraversion v introversion Psychoticism NOT ACTUALLY Psychometric Research on Big Five o Stability reliability Stability coefficient Validity o Does the result mean something