Gordon AllportGordon Allport1897 - 19671897 - 1967

Gordon Allport Gordon Allport Born in Indiana, grew up in ClevelandBorn in Indiana, grew up in Cleveland Attended Harvard – majored in Attended Harvard – majored in

Economics and PhilosophyEconomics and Philosophy Taught English and Sociology in Taught English and Sociology in

Constantinople, TurkeyConstantinople, Turkey Meeting with Freud was a turning pointMeeting with Freud was a turning point Ph.D. – in Psychology, 1922 – dissertation Ph.D. – in Psychology, 1922 – dissertation

was the first to deal with “traits”was the first to deal with “traits”

Taught first course in Personality at Taught first course in Personality at Harvard (1924)Harvard (1924)

Also wrote about prejudice and religionAlso wrote about prejudice and religion President of APA – 1939President of APA – 1939 APA Distinguished Scientific APA Distinguished Scientific

Contribution – 1964Contribution – 1964 Considered the “Dean” of American Considered the “Dean” of American

Personality studyPersonality study

Definition of “Trait”Definition of “Trait” “…“…a neuro-psychic structure having a neuro-psychic structure having

the capacity to render many stimuli the capacity to render many stimuli functionally equivalent and to initiate functionally equivalent and to initiate and guide equivalent (meaningfully and guide equivalent (meaningfully consistent) forms of adaptive and consistent) forms of adaptive and expressive behavior.”expressive behavior.”

i.e., a trait is a predisposition to act in i.e., a trait is a predisposition to act in the same way in a wide range of the same way in a wide range of situationssituations

Trait Approach to Trait Approach to PersonalityPersonality

Consistent reaction patterns of an Consistent reaction patterns of an individual can be predicted from individual can be predicted from knowing person’s personality traitsknowing person’s personality traits

Trait: Trait: basic limited set of adjective basic limited set of adjective dimensions which describe and scale dimensions which describe and scale individualsindividuals

18,000 adjectives (Allport)18,000 adjectives (Allport)

Of Traits and TraitOf Traits and Trait Get a piece of paper. Think of one Get a piece of paper. Think of one

person who is the closest to you. Within person who is the closest to you. Within 20 counts write as many adjectives as 20 counts write as many adjectives as you can to describe that person. you can to describe that person.

In another column within 20 counts as In another column within 20 counts as well write as many adjectives as you well write as many adjectives as you can to describe yourself. can to describe yourself.

Based on Allport’s theory of personality Based on Allport’s theory of personality the normal range is 5-10the normal range is 5-10

What is personality?What is personality? Definition:Definition: ““The dynamic organization within the The dynamic organization within the

individual of those psychophysical individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his systems that determine his characteristic behaviors and thoughts”-characteristic behaviors and thoughts”-organization within an individualorganization within an individual

Each person has unique key qualitiesEach person has unique key qualities Emphasized traits-Freud emphasized Emphasized traits-Freud emphasized

instinctual drivesinstinctual drives

Functionally Equivalent-Functionally Equivalent-AllportAllport

A trait is an internal structure that renders A trait is an internal structure that renders many stimuli functionally equivalent and can many stimuli functionally equivalent and can guide equivalent forms of adaptive and guide equivalent forms of adaptive and expressive behavior.expressive behavior.

Regularities in Thoughts, feelings & actions Regularities in Thoughts, feelings & actions arise: arise: – because individual views many situations because individual views many situations

and stimuli in same way and stimuli in same way – Many of individual’s behaviors are similar in Many of individual’s behaviors are similar in

meaning-functionally equivalentmeaning-functionally equivalent Consistencies=common traits & personal Consistencies=common traits & personal

dispositionsdispositions

““Traits” of TraitsTraits” of Traits A trait has more than nominal A trait has more than nominal

existenceexistence A trait is more generalized than a habitA trait is more generalized than a habit A trait is dynamic, or at least A trait is dynamic, or at least

deterministic of behaviordeterministic of behavior A trait’s existence may be established A trait’s existence may be established

empiricallyempirically A trait is only relatively independent of A trait is only relatively independent of

other traitsother traits

““Traits” of TraitsTraits” of Traits A trait is not synonymous with moral A trait is not synonymous with moral

or social judgmentor social judgment A trait may be viewed in light of A trait may be viewed in light of

either the personality that contains it either the personality that contains it oror its distribution in the population at its distribution in the population at large.large.

Acts, or even habits, that are Acts, or even habits, that are inconsistent with a trait are not proof inconsistent with a trait are not proof of the nonexistence of the traitof the nonexistence of the trait

Common Traits-AllportCommon Traits-Allport Traits that people in a population share Traits that people in a population share

due to common biological & cultural due to common biological & cultural heritage which are basic dimensions heritage which are basic dimensions

Allport discounted its value in Allport discounted its value in understanding personality because he understanding personality because he emphasized that while there are emphasized that while there are common traits for a particular set of common traits for a particular set of people each of them have their own people each of them have their own uniqueness.uniqueness.

Personal Dispositions - Personal Dispositions - AllportAllport

No two personalities are alikeNo two personalities are alike IdiographicIdiographic methods take into account methods take into account

each person’s uniqueness e.g.: each person’s uniqueness e.g.: interviews, behavioral observations, Q-interviews, behavioral observations, Q-sorts, flexible self-reports-identifies the sorts, flexible self-reports-identifies the differences between people-takes into differences between people-takes into account each persons personal account each persons personal dispositiondisposition

Cardinal Dispositions - Cardinal Dispositions - AllportAllport

Personal disposition which exerts Personal disposition which exerts overwhelming influence on behavioroverwhelming influence on behavior

Ruling passions of lifeRuling passions of life Albert Schweitzer’s reverence for lifeAlbert Schweitzer’s reverence for life Ralph Nader’s passion for Ralph Nader’s passion for

environmentenvironment Tiger Wood’s passion for golfTiger Wood’s passion for golf

Central Dispositions - AllportCentral Dispositions - Allport Personality is organized around Personality is organized around

several central dispositions which are several central dispositions which are qualities or characteristics which can qualities or characteristics which can succinctly describe a personsuccinctly describe a person

It is incomplete to just seek general It is incomplete to just seek general laws for all personlaws for all person

Secondary DispositionsSecondary Dispositions Traits that are less conspicuous, less Traits that are less conspicuous, less

generalized, less consistentgeneralized, less consistent Ex: preferences, attitudesEx: preferences, attitudes

You have to know person very well to You have to know person very well to discern secondary dispositionsdiscern secondary dispositions

Proprium - AllportProprium - Allport Core of the personalityCore of the personality One’s own or one’s selfOne’s own or one’s self Under the layers of our human Under the layers of our human

psyche is an irreducible core that psyche is an irreducible core that defines who we aredefines who we are

Propriate FunctionsPropriate Functions1. Sense of Bodily Self – distinguishing self 1. Sense of Bodily Self – distinguishing self

from other objectsfrom other objects2. Sense of Self-Identity – recognition of self 2. Sense of Self-Identity – recognition of self

as a distinct point of referenceas a distinct point of reference3. Sense of Self-Esteem – feeling of pride 3. Sense of Self-Esteem – feeling of pride

from accomplishmentsfrom accomplishments4. Sense of Self-Extension – other people 4. Sense of Self-Extension – other people

and possessions recognized as and possessions recognized as extentions of the selfextentions of the self

Propriate Functions Propriate Functions 5. Self-Image – sense of how others 5. Self-Image – sense of how others

view him/herview him/her6. Sense of Self as Rational Coper – 6. Sense of Self as Rational Coper –

solving problems through rational solving problems through rational thoughtthought

7. Propriate Striving – making long-7. Propriate Striving – making long-term plans and goals – a sense of term plans and goals – a sense of purposepurpose

Self-as-KnowerSelf-as-KnowerTranscends and synthesizes all the Transcends and synthesizes all the

propriate functions – the subjective propriate functions – the subjective self self

The unique human capacity for self-The unique human capacity for self-recognition and self-consciousnessrecognition and self-consciousness

Functional AutonomyFunctional Autonomy Traits which have become independent Traits which have become independent

of their origins in childhoodof their origins in childhood Childhood might be root of the trait or Childhood might be root of the trait or

tendency but do not continue to tendency but do not continue to influence the tendency in adulthoodinfluence the tendency in adulthood

It is not necessary to unearth where It is not necessary to unearth where tendency or trait which dominates a tendency or trait which dominates a person’s life originated in order to help person’s life originated in order to help person deal with the troubling person deal with the troubling tendency tendency

Perseverative Functional Perseverative Functional AutonomyAutonomy

Refers to feedback mechanisms in the Refers to feedback mechanisms in the nervous system that are governed by nervous system that are governed by simple neurological principles.simple neurological principles.

Become neurologically self-Become neurologically self-maintaining over time and help keep maintaining over time and help keep the organism “on-track”the organism “on-track”

Inclinations for people to satisfy their Inclinations for people to satisfy their drives in familiar and routine waysdrives in familiar and routine ways

Propriate Functional Propriate Functional AutonomyAutonomy

The person’s acquired interests, The person’s acquired interests, values, attitudes & intentionsvalues, attitudes & intentions

The master system of motivation that The master system of motivation that imparts consistency to the person’s imparts consistency to the person’s striving for a congruent self-image striving for a congruent self-image and a higher level of maturity and and a higher level of maturity and growthgrowth

The Mature PersonalityThe Mature PersonalityFunctionally AutonomousFunctionally AutonomousMotivated by conscious processesMotivated by conscious processes6 Attributes:6 Attributes:1. A widely extended sense of self1. A widely extended sense of self2. Capacity for warm social 2. Capacity for warm social

interactionsinteractions3. Demonstrates emotional security 3. Demonstrates emotional security

and self-acceptaceand self-acceptace

The Mature Personality The Mature Personality (cont.)(cont.)

4. Demonstrates realistic perception, 4. Demonstrates realistic perception, skills and assignments (sees things skills and assignments (sees things as they really are)as they really are)

5. Demonstrates self-insight and 5. Demonstrates self-insight and humorhumor

6. Has a unifying philosophy of life 6. Has a unifying philosophy of life (may be religion, or anything that (may be religion, or anything that gives meaning to one’s life)gives meaning to one’s life)

Concept of HumanityConcept of Humanity Free Choice over DeterminismFree Choice over Determinism Optimism over PessimismOptimism over Pessimism Conscious over UnconsciousConscious over Unconscious Social Influence over BiologySocial Influence over Biology Uniqueness over SimilarityUniqueness over Similarity

Implication of Allport’s Implication of Allport’s theory on personalitytheory on personality

Allport’s theory on personality is very Allport’s theory on personality is very well defined ascribing a set of trait well defined ascribing a set of trait the stages of development of a the stages of development of a person. person.

The traits we exhibit are not “primal The traits we exhibit are not “primal urges” we cannot control but is a urges” we cannot control but is a reflection of our development as reflection of our development as humans.humans.

Religion and PersonalityReligion and Personality Does religion help in determining Does religion help in determining

personality?personality?

According to Allport, religion According to Allport, religion impacts impacts personality. It helps determine personality. It helps determine whether our personality is centred on whether our personality is centred on self or on others.self or on others.

Religion and PersonalityReligion and Personality Attending mass for the purpose of Attending mass for the purpose of

seeking out social companions and seeking out social companions and projection a sense of “normalcy” so projection a sense of “normalcy” so that you can be accepted in society that you can be accepted in society is a hallmark of lack of maturity.is a hallmark of lack of maturity.

Critique of AllportCritique of Allport Allport’s Theory Is:Allport’s Theory Is:

– High on Parsimony and Internal High on Parsimony and Internal ConsistencyConsistency

– Moderate on Generating Research Moderate on Generating Research and Guiding Actionand Guiding Action

– Low on Falsifiability and Organizing Low on Falsifiability and Organizing KnowledgeKnowledge