Compare and contrast the aims and methods of Trait Theory with thos of the personal construct theory

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE AIMS AND METHODS OF TRAIT THEORY WITH THOSE OF PERSONAL CONSTRUCT THEORY Traits: a moderately, stable characteristic, that distinguishes one individual from another. Or the individual differences between individuals. Personal Constructs: an individual is seen as creating their own private structures of the world, centred on their own individual experiences, this is fundamental to making sense of the world and how to behave in it. These are the foundations of both approaches, which their aims, rationale and methods are based. This essay will explore the strengths and weaknesses of the two theories, with reference to their aims rationale and methods. I will also assess how these theories differentiate or correlate. This will be accomplished by critical evaluation. I will also be using the interrogative themes Power relations, situatedness of knowledge and individual-society dualism to strengthen my evaluation. Trait theory is based within the Cognitive social perspective, which uses measurements of personality as a way of defining individual differences. Personal construct theory is a form of phenomenology and situated in the clinical tradition, therefore personality is seen as something idiosyncratic to the individual, individual differences here “centres on the individual and the sometimes subtle differences between them”p.63.Butt (2012).
Here I will give some background of the perspectives in which the two theories are situated. The Phenomenological perspective: a qualitative subjective perspective that views individuals as, experiencing objects in the world and in close relations with others. The methods used are to collect rich personal data from individuals’ experiences in the world through interviews and written texts. Personal Construct Theory uses a phenomenological interpretation of data collected on Kelly’s repertory grid or the Salmon line which is used in this theory to assess individuals. The Cognitive social

References: Butt, T., (2012) p. 62-63 second edition, Chapter three Individual differences in Social Psychology Matters. The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes DD307 Critical Perspective on Self and Others Online Glossary p.14-19 (2012) Holloway, W., (2012) Chapter two Social psychology: past and present in Social Psychology Matters .The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes Holloway, W., (2012) p. 63 Chapter three Methods and knowledge in social psychology second edition Chapter two Social Psychology Past and Present in Social Psychology Matters .The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes Mischel (1968) cited in Butt (2012) p.53 Chapter three Individual differences in Social Psychology Matters .The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes