Trait Differences Of Raymond Cattell And Hans Eysenck

Guilford (1959) defines personality traits as being ‘any distinguishable, relatively enduring way in which one individual varies from another’. Subsequently, trait theory can be identified as an approach to the study of human personality. The aim of psychologists, specifically trait theorists, is to explain similarities and differences between individuals based on traits. Although numerous psychologists differ on the amount of traits that are significant, each theorist categorizes personality traits along several broad type spectrums. This assignment will focus on comparing and contrasting Eysenck’s Hierarchical Theory of Personality and Costa and McRae’s Five Factor Model (FFM), two different trait theories of personality.

One main goal of psychology has been established a model to describe and understand human personality. The five-factor model of personality is the most widely used model in describing personality types. The components of the Big Five are extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism.

the five personality factor theory, as well as the theories on which it is based.

The five-factor model (FFM) is a contemporary construct describing personality. It incorporates five traits – openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism also referred to as OCEAN. Within each dimension, there are specific personality attributes, for example, openness includes subcategories of feelings and actions. The FFM was influenced by Cattell’s 16-factor model (1957) and shares traits with many other personality theories such as Eysenck’s PEN model. There has been an ongoing debate discussing how many factors appropriately represent the brain structure of personality, suggestions have varied from 2-7, recently Almagor et al. (1995) advocated that a 7-factor model unfolds when evaluative traits are involved. Costa & Mcrae (1992) claim that the FFM is the best theory of personality, however, the model has received much criticism. Through examining different aspects of the model its credibility can be explored.

in order to analyze the patterns that determine personality, certain issues need to be addressed

The Lexical hypothesis allowed many factors to emerge, leading to the emerging of the five main factors (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism), (Costa & McCrae, 1995).

Trait theory states that in order to understand individuals, we must break down behavior patterns into a series of observable traits.

The NEO- PI-R is a self -administered questionnaire based on the Five Factor Model. The NEO PI-R is considered to be a concise measure of the five factor domains of personality (Costa & McCrae, 19921). It contains six traits or facets in each of the five domains. The domains are Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness (Costa & McCrae, 19921). These domains help to provide an assessment of a normal adult personality. The test consists of 240 items and three validity items (Costa & McCrae, 19921). The test requires at least a sixth grade reading level. Included in the NEO PI-R test manual is the NEO Five Factor Inventory. This inventory was validated in the four studies conducted by Holden, Wasylkiw, Starzyk, Book and Edwards (2006) in their article about the construct validity of the big four personality clusters.

The Analysis of the Five Factor Model In this essay, first the Five Factor Model (FFM) will be described. Secondly, psychologists for and against the model will be looked at. Following this, the stability of traits will be looked at, both longitudinal and cross situational. Finally, the application of the model within and outside psychology will be evaluated to show support that the FFM provides a solid foundation for an adequate personality psychology.

The Five Factor Model or Big Five model developed by McCrae and Costa factor together personality traits into 5 major categories. Those factors were Neuroticism (worried insecure, nervous, highly strung), Extraversion (Sociable, talkative, fun-loving, affectionate), Openness (Original, independent, creative, daring), Agreeableness (Good-natured, softhearted, trusting, courteous), and Conscientiousness (Careful, reliable, hardworking, organized). (Schultz & Schultz, 2013). They are able to include most of other lower order traits accounting for specific dimensions of individual differences in personality. (Schultz & Schultz, 2013)

To understand personality there are three main aspects that must be looked at: LArsen and Buss Definition of personality, The Six Domains of knowledge of personality, and Costa and McCrae's Five Factor Theory. In this essay I will first break down larsen and Buss definition and connect it to the domains, then connect the domains to the five factor thoery (FFT).

The study of personality traits is beneficial in identifying the many variables that exist from human to human; the combinations of these variables provide us with a true level of individuality and uniqueness. In the field of psychology, trait theory is considered to be a key approach to the study of human personality (Crowne, 2007; Burton, Westen & Kowalski, 2009). This paper aims to identify a number of significant contributors who have played crucial roles in both the development and application of trait theory. This paper then moves focus to these theorists, outlining their theory and analysing both the strengths and weaknesses of those theories. An illustration of the methods used in trait measurement is given and includes the

In factor analysis of personality traits, hidden factors are viewed as basic, higher-order traits that regulate less basic, more specific traits. Cattell was able to describe a person’s personality by measuring just 16 traits.

The most recognizable criticism of Cattell's Sixteen Personality Factor Model is that regardless of numerous efforts the theory has never been completely reproduced. According to Howarth and Brown’s (1971) founding’s, there was ten factors that were unsuccessful to relate to characteristics presented in the 16PF model. Researchers stated that the model does not measure the factors at the primary level as it supposed to (Fehriinger, 2004). Additionally, Sell et al. (1970) and Eysenck and Eysenck (1969) as well failed to confirm primary level of the 16PF (Schuerger, Zarrella, & Hotz, 1989 cited in Fehriinger, 2004). Furthermore, there is an assumption that during Cattell’s investigation certain error arise as, all the calculations were done manually causing skewed data and consequently the incapability to replicate the structure of the research. Additionally, it would appear that primary factors are not constant to procedure a foundation for the model (Cooper. &

A largely effective method of breaking up the human personality is using the Big Five Factor Model, this presents five traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness). Many studies that been done on each individual trait and their respective influences on success, however when individual traits are studied to observe their effect on academic success it is clear that some traits are more desirable than others if one is to strive within an academic setting (ETS, 2016).