What are the characteristics of traits as summarized by Allport?
What will be an ideal response?
ANS: Allport summarized the characteristics of traits as follows:
1. Personality traits are real and exist within each of us. They are not theoretical constructs or labels made up to account for behavior.
2. Traits determine or cause behavior. They do not arise only in response to certain stimuli. They motivate us to seek appropriate stimuli, and they interact with the environment to produce behavior.
3. Traits can be demonstrated empirically. By observing behavior over time, we can infer the existence of traits in the consistency of a person's responses to the same or similar stimuli.
4. Traits are interrelated; they may overlap, even though they represent different characteristics. For example, aggressiveness and hostility are distinct but related traits and are frequently observed to occur together in a person’s behavior.
5. Traits vary with the situation. For example, a person may display the trait of neatness in one situation and the trait of disorderliness in another situation.
You might also like to view...
Cognitive theorists believe that because of their difficulty scanning the environment, perceiving accurately, and picking up emotional cues, those with schizoid personalities develop ______ very slowly.
A) language and motor skills B) secondary sex characteristics C) allergies and other medical problems D) thinking disorders
Anoxia, one possible source of intellectual developmental disorder, involves brain damage resulting from:
A) ingestion of lead-based paint. B) lack of oxygen during or after delivery. C) poisoning from pesticides or fertilizer nitrates. D) seizures induced by inhalants or automobile exhaust fumes.