Theories of Personality Theories of personality are explored in order to have a better understanding about different personalities that people exhibit. 1. Trait theories
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV-TR), personality traits are “ enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself that are exhibited in a wide range of social and personal contexts”. Theorist assume that A) traits are relatively stable over time, B) traits differ among individuals, C) traits influence behaviour.
Gordon Allport delineated different kinds of traits, which he also called dispositions . He categorized central traits as the basis to an individual’s personality, while secondary traits are more peripheral. Common traits are those recognized within a culture and thus, may vary from culture to culture. Cardinal traits are those by which an individual may be strongly recognized. Raymond Cattell’s research propagated a two-tiered personality structure with sixteen “ primary factors” popularly known as the “16 Personality Factors and five “secondary factors”.
A different model was proposed by Hans