personal construct theory ad trait theory
he psychological study of individual differences traditionally has roots in the clinical, psychometric and experimental traditions (Butt,2007). Trait theory is based in the experimental approach. More recently the phenomenological perspective has made headway into the study of individual differences, as demonstrated by personal construct theory (PCT). This essay will start by describing trait theory and PCT, highlighting the important differences between the two approaches. An evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the two theories will follow. Finally, each approach will be discussed in respect to the agency-structure dualism. This dualism is concerned with individual ability to change and whether this is as a result of personal agency or social/biological structures.
Trait theory was developed by Eysenck and Rachman (1965,cited in Butt,2007) and belongs to the mainstream, experimental approach to individual differences (Butt,2007). The aim of trait theory is to produce general principles of why people behave differently in different situations. Questionnaires, for example Eysenck’s Personality Inventory (EPI), are used to produce psychometric inventories, which are a measure of personality traits. This is a scientific approach, facilitating prediction of how a particular person will react in a specific situation. Other trait theorists (e.g. Kant) considered traits to be categorical. Their understanding was that each individual could be assigned to one particular category; no one could be a mixture of two or more categories. However, Eysenck’s use of criterion analysis discredited this belief in categorization, and suggested a continuum of traits. His understanding was of individuals being measured along a two continuums; extraversion-introversion and neuroticism-stability. He proposed that a person’s score on these continuums allows prediction of how they will react in a particular situation.
Trait theorists believe traits are biologically determined
Trait theory was developed by Eysenck and Rachman (1965,cited in Butt,2007) and belongs to the mainstream, experimental approach to individual differences (Butt,2007). The aim of trait theory is to produce general principles of why people behave differently in different situations. Questionnaires, for example Eysenck’s Personality Inventory (EPI), are used to produce psychometric inventories, which are a measure of personality traits. This is a scientific approach, facilitating prediction of how a particular person will react in a specific situation. Other trait theorists (e.g. Kant) considered traits to be categorical. Their understanding was that each individual could be assigned to one particular category; no one could be a mixture of two or more categories. However, Eysenck’s use of criterion analysis discredited this belief in categorization, and suggested a continuum of traits. His understanding was of individuals being measured along a two continuums; extraversion-introversion and neuroticism-stability. He proposed that a person’s score on these continuums allows prediction of how they will react in a particular situation.
Trait theorists believe traits are biologically determined