Trait Approach or Theories of Personality
Trait may be defined as a quality within the individual that accounts for his unique but relatively stable reactions to environment.
R.B.Cattell’s Theory of Personality
Raymond B.Cattell’s theory is also known as Factor Theory of Personality. For him basic structural element of personality is the trait. He defined trait as a structural element of personality inferred from behavior in different situations.
Traits are relatively permanent feature of personality. Cattell classified traits of personality into four categories:
1. Common traits: Common traits are found widely distributed in general population. In other words, they are commonly found among people like honesty, cooperation, aggression etc.
2. Unique traits: Unique traits are those traits that are possessed by particular person and they are unique for that person like temperamental traits, emotional reactions etc. According to Cattell unique traits are particularly apparent in the areas of interest and attitudes.
3. Surface traits: Surface traits are those traits that can be easily recognized by overt manifestation of behavior such as tactfulness, integrity, boldness, curiosity etc. They are expressive of behavior on a superficial level.
4. Source traits: These are underlying structures or sources that determine the behavior. They are deeper traits. These traits represent the building blocks of personality. They are inferred from behavior. Source traits are always small in number than surface traits but they are better predictors of behavior. The surface traits can be discovered through subjective methods such as asking people which personality characteristics they think go together.
Cattell’s trait theory of personality tries to describe and predict the behavior of individuals on the basis of their personality traits. Cattell’s work as a whole, involves the identification of basic dimensions of personality and then developing instrument to measure these dimensions.
Allports theory of personality
Allport believed that traits are the basic unit of personality. According to him, traits represent generalized personality dispositions that account for regularities in the functioning of a person across situations and over time. Regularity in functioning is achieved through perceiving many stimuli as equivalent and many personal acts of behavior as equivalent expression of the same trait.
Allport conceived that traits have a real and vital existence. Traits are consistent modes of behavior which are similar to habits but are more generalized.
Allport classified all human traits into three broad categories:
1. Cardinal traits: Cardinal traits are central to the description of one’s personality. Cardinal traits are outstanding, all pervasive and dominant in the individual’s life. They are so pervasive that all activities of a person are affected by them. So, it may be illustrated with the example of achievement in life. Some people are so devoted to achievement that this trait pervades the whole life.
2. Central traits: These traits are less pervasive than cardinal traits, but are quit generalized dispositions. For example honesty, kindness, assertiveness etc.
3. Secondary traits: These traits are specific narrow dispositions or traits. They are called specific attitudes. They are less conspicuous, less generalized, less consistent and less important. They are expressed as modes of responding or isolated interests. They appear in a relatively small rang of situations and are not considered strong enough to be integral part of one’s personality.
According to Allport, traits differ in intensity and magnitude in general population from individual to individual. Each individual is unique in his adjustment. Cardinal, central and secondary traits can treated as personal dispositions in describing individual uniqueness.
