McCrae and Costa’s

Five factor Model of

Personality
Robert Roger McCrae
-Born April 28, 1949 in Maryville,
Missouri.
-He is the youngest of three children
of Andrew McCrae and Eloise Elaine
McCrae.
-is a personality psychologist at the
National Institute of Aging.
-He is associated with the Five Factor
Theory of personality.
-He has spent his career studying the
stability of personality across age
and culture. Along with Paul Costa
Paul T. Costa Jr.
-Born September 16,1942 in
Franklin, New Hampshire.

-He earned his undergraduate

degree in psychology at Clark
University of Chicago.

-Work on this model has made

Costa one of the most cited
living psychologists.
Personality refers to individual
differences in characteristic
patterns of thinking, feeling and
behaving.
• The sum total of ways in which an
individual reacts to and interacts
with others.
Models to measure
personality
• The Myers-Briggs type indicator
• The Big Five personality model
What is Big five all about?

-The Big Five personality traits, also known as

the five-factor model (FFM) and the OCEAN model.
Is a taxonomy for personality traits.
-factor analysis (a statistical technique) is applied
to personality survey data, some words used to
describe aspects of personality are often applied to
the same person.
The Big Five Personality model

• The Big Five personality dimensions

provide a very broad overview of
someone’s personality.

• Personality psychologists are interested

in what differentiates one person from
another and why we behave the way that
we do.
History of BFM
• The Big Five was originally derived in 1970.
• Asking thousands of people hundreds of
questions and then analyzing the data.
• In scientific circles, the Big Five is now the
most widely accepted.
• Using Big Five to study personality in terms
of how it changes over time and how it
relates to other variables.
 Openness to experience

It is one of the "Big Five" personality factors

which means being creative and open to new
ideas. This factor indicates how open mind a
person is. They have creative thinking and
have Flexible attitude.
Characteristics of Openness
High in openness : Having unusual ideas and
art, Imaginative , Creative , Curious , Daring
and take risk , Open to new and different
ideas and Flexible Attitude
Lower in openness: Conventional, Enjoy
having routines , less creative , less curious
Down to earth and No flexibility.

Sub traits of the openness Imagination

,Artistic interests , Emotionality , Intellect ,
Liberalism , Adventurousness.
Characteristics of Conscientiousness
High level of conscientiousness: Hard
working , Deliberated ,Neat and systematic
Perfectionists , Highly dependable
Low level of Conscientiousness: Less goal
oriented  Antisocial  Criminal behavior 
Not very dependable

Sub traits of the conscientiousness

Self efficacy , Orderliness , Dutifulness ,
Achievement striving , Self disciplined and
Cautiousness.
Agreeableness
A personality dimension that
describe the individual’s propensity.
Someone with agreeableness factor is
good natured cooperative and trusting.
Have an optimistic view of human nature
• Get along well with others Difficulty
delivering bad news
• Can’t give criticism
• Can’t stand up for themselves to others
Characteristics of Agreeableness
Persons high in agreeableness: Warm and
Helpful , Friendly ,Put aside their own
interests, Cooperative and Generous
,Control their negative emotions .
Persons low in agreeableness: Suspicious,
Unfriendly, Self centered, Uncooperative,
Manipulate their social relations.

Sub traits of agreeableness:

Trust, Straight forwardness , Altruism ,
Compliance , Modesty , Tender mindedness.
Extraversion defined as a behavior where
someone enjoys being around people
more than being alone. An example of
extraversion is when someone always likes
to be around people and enjoys being the
center of attention.
Characteristics of Extraversions
People high in Extraversion: Highly
involved in social situation ,Talkative
Assertive, Active and Energetic.
People low in Extraversion: Less involve
in social situations ,Quite , Reserved ,Shy
and Silent.

Sub traits of Extraversion

Friendliness , Gregariousness,
Assertiveness , Activity level ,
Excitement seeking and cheerfulness.
Neuroticism is the tendency to experience
negative emotions, such as anger, anxiety,
or depression. It is sometimes called
emotional instability.
Characteristics of Neuroticism
People high in Neuroticism: Anxiety ,
Self consciousness , Depression ,
Impulsiveness and Angry hostility.
People low in Neuroticism: Calm , Even
tempered , Hardy and Unemotional.

Sub traits of Neuroticism

Anxiety, Anger , Depression , Self
consciousness , Immoderation and
Vulnerability.
On average, levels of
Agreeableness and
Conscientiousness typically
increase Extraversion,
Neuroticism, and Openness
tend to decrease.
Development
ALLPORT’S TRAIT THEORY
The measurement of consistent patterns of habit in an
individual’s behavior, thoughts, and emotions. The theory is
based on the stability of traits over time, how they differ
from other individuals, and how they will influence human
behavior.

Trait theories state that human beings possess wide varieties

of characteristics or traits that are constant over time, not
everyone will share the same characteristics or traits; but,
all of us will share from the same pool of characteristics that
make up the psyche of all humans. The different
combination of traits found in each of us are what makes us
unique. Trait theories are therefore, primarily concerned
with the differences in people with regards to their own set
of personality traits
 Biography

He was born on November 11, 1897

in Montezuma, Indiana, USA
His father was a physician while his
mother was a teacher
The youngest child of 4 brothers
He married a clinical psychologist.

Gordon Allport
The Father of Personality Psychology
He was the 1st psychologist who gave thorough thought to
the concept of traits. He developed his own trait theory
and he continued to view the traits as the most appropriate
way of describing and studying personality. He is, by many,
actually considered to be the first psychologist dealing with
personality at all and was the first to offer a class in this
field at Harvard University in 1924. Throughout his life,
Allport continued to develop and work with his trait theory
and he inspired many other psychologist who also adopted
the approach to personality or developed their own trait
theory.
 EDUCATION

 He ranked 2nd in a class of 100 high school

graduating students.

 His interest in social ethics and social service

acquired from his parents was reinforced at
Harvard, where he undertook volunteer work
for the boys club.

 He received his MA in 1921 & his Ph.D. in

psychology in 1922 from Harvard University.

 His dissertation was “An Experimental Study of

the Traits of Personality”.
 ACHIEVEMENTS

He was elected as a president of the

American Psychological Association &
received many awards including the
American Psychological Foundation
Gold Medal & the American
Psychological Association award for
distinguished scientific contribution.
 He was the first personality theorist to study
the psychological healthy individual. This
reflects one of his major propositions that
mirror his own childhood experiences and his
later theory.
 Out of boyhood conditions, isolation
&rejections, he compensated by trying to
excel. As Gordon matured, he began to
identify himself, out of envy of his older
brother Floyd, by choosing the same course &
obtaining a Ph.D. as his brother did.
 He taught at Harvard University until his death
on October 9, 1967.
 View of Human Nature

Allport’s theory is known as the trait theory because he

emphasized the nature & evolution of personality traits. His
theory is also called the Psychology of Individuals because it
emphasizes a person’s uniqueness. Allport was certain that
motivation is always a contemporary process. An individual’s
current self-image is far more important than whatever he/she
has been in the past. No central motive, even for abnormal
personalities, is ever totally independent of the contemporary
ego structure. The withdrawn catatonic will speak, upon
recovery, of events he/she attempted but ultimately failed to
respond to, during the deepest state of their catatonic
condition.
Allport viewed psychology as the study of the
healthy person. Another basic approach he takes,
is that of the individual human as unique. Each
person is different from the other and should
therefore be studied accordingly. Individual can
still be compared but Allport’s understanding of
psychology goes beyond just comparison. He
emphasizes this individuality in virtually all aspects
of his psychology, another contrast to the view of
the psychoanalysts as well as other psychologists,
who put emphasis on similarities within people..
.
Another radical view of Allport is one regarding
the dynamics within the individual. He referred
to this as functional Autonomy. This aspect of his
psychology is probably where Allport differs
most from other psychologists of his time,
especially psycho-analysts like Freud and Jung
but also behaviorists like Skinner. Allport believes
that motivation occurs independent of past
experiences, it is the present motives such as
interests, attitudes and life style that govern a
person’s behavior
Psychology of Individual
Structure of Personality
Allport originally used the word traits, but
found that so many people assumed he
meant traits as perceived by someone
looking at another person or measured
by personality tests, rather than as
unique, individual characteristics within a
person, that he changed it to dispositions.
 Personality Trait Theory

Although Allport is noted

as being influential in CARDINAL TRAIT
many areas of
psychology, he is
particularly well known for
SECONDARY TRAIT
his trait theory.
CENTRAL TRAIT
Allport determined that
every human being
possesses hundreds of
traits that exist on one of
three levels:
1.Cardinal Trait -The trait that dominates and
shapes a person’s behavior that they coloue every
aspect of one’s behavior. These are also called
primary traits. These are limited in number to just
one or two.
For e.g : if a person is humorous in nature.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ( honest ),MOTHER TERESA
( religious service )
2.Central trait - This is a general
characteristic found in some degree in
every person. These are the basic
building blocks that shape most of our
behavior although they are not as
overwhelming as cardinal traits. An
example of a central trait would be
honesty.
3.Secondary Trait -These are
characteristics seen only in
certain circumstances .They
must be included to
provide a complete picture
of human complexity. These
are not considered enough
and not dominant
characteristics Preferences,
attitudes, situational traits
are all secondary traits.
For e.g. : stage fear before
speaking at public
 8 Criteria of Traits
1. Have more than nominal existence.
2. Are more generalized than a habit.
3. Are dynamic, or at least determinative.
4. May be established empirically or
statistically.
5. Are only relatively independent of each
other.
6. Are not the same as the moral quality.
7. Acts & habits inconsistent with a trait are
not proof of the non-existence of the trait.
8. Are present within the personality that
contains it or within a population at large.
Elements in Trait that can be used as accurate
and meaningful units of study personality

1.Traits have the capacity to motivate, inhibit, or select

appropriate human behavior.
2. Mutually interdependent traits are the elements in
behavior.
3. Traits help explain the consistencies that we find in
personality
4. Traits are not directly observable but not be inferred.
5. A traits begins with neuropsychic system.
6. There are individual and common traits.
7. A trait is a combination of two or more habit.
8. Traits may drive as well as direct.
9. Traits have a strong connotation of contemporaneity
or a state of being and “newness” of things.
 Allport used the Idiographic and the
Nomothenic approaches in studying
personality.

• Idiograph method- is the intensive

study of a simple case. It emphasizes
the uniqueness of the individual.
• Nomothenic method- study a group
of individuals and analyzes them.

Allport attempted to blend nomothetic and

idiographic perspectives: he called this blend the
morphogenic approach.
Criteria of a Mature Personality
1. Self-extension- has diverse interests

2. Warm human interaction- respects and appreciates the

rights of others.

3. Self-acceptance or emotional security- accepts

frustrating situations and has an optimistic point of view.

4. Realistic perception- looks at situation in an objective

manner and solves the practical problems of everyday
living.

5. Self-objectification- has insight or awareness of one’s

strengths and weaknesses, and has a good sense of humor.

6. Unifying principle of life- has a sense of purpose, belief,

or goal in life.
Right processes that are not functionally
autonomous

1. Biological drives
2. Reflex Action
3. Constitutional Equipment
4. Habits
5. Primary reinforcement
6. Infantilism and fixation
7. Some neurosis
8. Sublimation
2 Methods in which Functional Autonomy
can be created in the personality pattern

1.Quasi-mechanical
2. Propitiate
Personality Development
Stages of Proprium
1.Bodily Sense- awareness of bodily sensations
and physiological systems.
2. Self-identity -awareness of “Who am I” and
relationship with others.
3. Self-esteem-s exploration of his/her world
4. Extension of self- concerned with the
importance of possessions
5. Self-image- awareness of social expectation
6. Self as rational coper- ability to find various
solutions to problems.
7. Propriate striving- focuses on life goals and
intentions.
The Role of Religion as a
Unifying Philosophy of Life
 Intrinsic religious orientations: orientations that
are adopted by people to help them make
sense of their experiences and to surrender
themselves to a power higher than
themselves.
– Individuals are oriented toward helping others
and are not narcissistic.
 Extrinsic religious orientations: orientations that
are used by people for self-serving purposes.
– Primary orientation is a narcissistic focus on
having their needs met.
Limitations of Allport’s Views on Religiosity
Differences

 Flaw: intrinsically oriented individuals can feel

superior about their own religious views and
subsequently harbor prejudice against out-groups
 Support: people primarily oriented toward making
friendships at houses of worship are more likely to be
prejudiced toward members of other religious out-
groups and less psychologically mature
 The strong American individualism that Allport
embraced remains a powerful and ubiquitous force
even today
– Unfortunately, it obscures our understanding of the
more collectivistic or social motives of religion that
creates a healthy social solidarity
Critique of Allport

Allport’s Theory Is:

–High on Parsimony and Internal

Consistency

–Moderate on Generating Research

and Guiding Action

– Low on Falsifiability and Organizing

Knowledge
WHO IS RAYMOND CATTELL?
 -Born: March 20 1905, West
Browich, United Kingdom

-American-British psychologist

-known for his psychometric

research into intrapersonal
psychological structure.
(16 PF Questionnaire)

Raymond Cattell
Cattell’s Approaches to Measuring
the Structure of Personality

• 3 Media of Observation (L-data, Q-

data, and T-data)

• He believed that it was imperative to

have a method for obtaining reliable &
valid measure of personality factors.

• 16 Personality Factors Questionnaire

(16PF Scale)
3 Major Sources of Data About Personality

Q-Data T-Data L-Data

Questionnaire Data Objective test Data Life Record Data

Self-rating - The creation of - Actual records of

questionnaire special situations the person’s
in which the behavior in
– Asking people to person’s behavior society.
describe themselves may be objectively
in response to a set scored.
of standard
questions.
Three types of traits
Ability traits- define intelligence.

Cattell argued that we have 2 types of

intelligence: Fluid & crystallized.

Fluid intelligence -the innate ability to learn

Crystallized intelligence -what has been learned

from education.
WHAT THE 16 PERSONALITY FACTOR IS ALL ABOUT?

Its an assessment on human behavior

(Test/ Questionnaire) .

Predicts how a person is likely to

behave and interact with others.

How well suited they are to the

requirements of the job and if they will
fit into the existent team.
 THE 16 PERSONALITY FACTORS

1. Abstractedness- Imaginative Practical

2. Apprehension -Worried Confident
3. Dominance- Forceful Submissive
4. Emotional Stability- Calm High Strung
5. Liveliness-Spontaneous Restrained
6. Openness to Change -Flexible Attached
to familiar
7. Perfectionism-Controlled Undisciplined
8. Privateness -Discreet Open
9.Reasoning -Abstract Concrete
10. Rule Consciousness -Conforming Non-
Conforming
11. Self-Reliance-Self-sufficient Dependent
12. Sensitivity -Tender-hearted Tough-
minded
13. Social Boldness -Uninhibited Shy
14. Tension-Impatient Relaxed
15. Vigilance -Suspicious Trusting
16. Warmth-Outgoing Reserved