Psychology 2035A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Trait Theory, Extraversion And Introversion, Individualism

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2035A/B
• Professor: John Campbell

Document Summary

Although no one is entirely consistent in his or her personality, this quality lies at the core of the concept of personality. Each individual has his or her own distinctive set of personality traits - each personal trait is unique. The concept of personality helps explain why people don"t act alike in the same situation (this distinctiveness sets people apart from one another) Personality: refers to an individual"s unique constellation of consistent behavioral traits. Personality trait: a durable disposition to behave in a particular way in a variety of situations. Honest, dependable, moody, impulsive, suspicious, anxious, excitable, domineering, friendly - adjectives that describe dispositions that represent personality traits. Most theories of personality assume that some traits are more basic than others. A small number of fundamental traits determine other, more superficial traits. Ex. a person"s tendency to be impulsive, restless, irritable, boisterous, and impatient may all derive from a more basic tendency of being excitable.