Question

Part I:

Explain how dispositional trait theories (Allport, McCrae, and Costa) are different from biological trait theories (Eysenck and Buss) in 125–175 words.

Part II:

Discuss each dimension of your personality based on the Big Five Personality Test report of your trait scores in 175–225 total words.

1. Summarize each dimension of your personality in 2–4 sentences:

1. Openness:
2. Conscientiousness:
3. Extraversion:
4. Agreeableness:
5. Neuroticism:

Answer 1

PART I

• The trait approach assumes that the behavior of an individual is influenced by stable traits which predisposes a person to act in a particular way.
• The "Trait" can be defined as factors that are consistent across situations and are often influenced by the genetic differences. However, there are major differences between biological trait theories and dispositional trait theories.
• The dispositional theory of personality states that a particular person is not limited by his or her childhood upbringing experiences or events. Instead, it assumes that personality depends on the motivation within each "persona" (personality) and desire to achieve the things.

Gordon Allport is the famous who gave the dispositional theory of personality which assume that personality can be considered as the dynamic organization of psycho physical systems in an individual that impact that thought and behavior of an individual. This theory considered that personality is consistent, but it believes that it can be changed by the physical and psychological needs of individuals. He divided personality into three major parts- 1) Cardinal traits 2) Central traits 3) Secondary traits

• IN CONTRAST, The biological theory believes that genetics plays a crucial role in determining the characteristics of an individual and their personality. Eysenck proposed biological theory in which he believed that the environment of an individual has least effect on the personality of the person. However, biological reasons are important to know how will a personality of an individual be like. He also divided the personality into three dimensions extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism. These characteristics can be passed from one generation to another that is (they are hereditary characteristics).
• The major weakness of this theory is that Eysenck did not consider the other environmental factors responsible for shaping the personality of individuals.

PART 2

OPENNESS- Dimension of openness assess whether a person appreciates new experiences in life and embraces new and unfamiliar things. My scores were high in this dimension which reveals that the personality has the following characteristics- Good-natured,Cooperative, Sympathetic, and warm personality

Conscientiousness- this dimension assesses whether a person has the motivation and persistence for indulging in goal directed behaviour. My scores were slightly towards high category this means that my personality has the following characteristics- Organised, hardworking, dependable, reliable, and responsible

EXTRAVERSION-This dimension assesses whether a person indulges in interpersonal interactions. My scores are in average category which means that I am ambivert which depicts that there is a balance of both extraversion and introversion characteristics in the personality.

Agreeableness: Agreeableness dimension assesses the quality of interpersonal orientation of individual. The high score in this dimension reveals that my personality has following characteristics- trusting ,helpful, straightforward, and soft hearted.

Neuroticism: This dimension assesses the emotional stability of individual that is adjustment versus emotional instability. The average scores on this dimension reveals that the personality has balance of both emotionally stable (quite, calm, self satisfied) and unstable characteristics (irritable, nervous).