According to Murray, a need will affect behavior depending on where it
lies on a person ’s need hierarchy and the kind of situation the person is in.
3. Raymond Cattell was interested in identifying the basic structure of per-
sonality. He used a statistical procedure called factor analysis to deter-
mine how many basic traits make up human personality. More recent
research provides fairly consistent evidence that personality is structured
along five basic dimensions. Although questions remain, the evidence to
date tends to support the five-factor model.
4. An enduring controversy in personality concerns the relative importance
of traits compared to situational determinants of behavior. Critics havecharged that traits do not predict behavior well and that there is little ev-idence for cross-situational consistency. Trait advocates have answered
that if traits and behaviors are measured correctly, a significant relation-
ship can be found. In addition, they maintain that the amount of behav-ior variance explained by traits is considerable and important.
5. The development of the five-factor model renewed interest in the rela-
tionship between personality and job performance. Although several of
the Big Five dimensions are related to performance in the business world,
many studies indicate that Conscientiousness may be the best predictor of
performance.
6. Trait researchers typically rely on self-report assessment procedures in
their work. One of the most commonly used self-report inventories is theMinnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Test users need to be
aware of problems inherent in self-report inventories. These include fak-
ing, carelessness and sabotage, and response tendencies.
7. Like other approaches to personality, the trait approach has strengths
and is subject to criticisms. The strengths include a strong empirical base,
a host of practical applications, and the large amount of research gener-
ated. Criticisms include the limited usefulness of the approach for dealingwith problem behaviors and the lack of an agreed-upon framework.
KEY TERMS
Big Five (p. 159)
central traits (p. 153)
factor analysis (p. 158)idiographic
approach (p. 153)
nomothetic
approach (p. 153)person-by-situation
approach (p. 166)
psychogenic
needs (p. 155)social
desirability (p. 176)
trait (p. 150)
MEDIA RESOURCES
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psychology/burger to find online resources directly
linked to your book, including quizzing, glossary,
flashcards, and more.Summary 181