7The Trait Approach: Theory, Application, and Assessment 148
The Trait Approach 149
Personality as Trait Dimensions 149
Special Features of the Trait Approach 151
Important Trait Theorists 152
Gordon Allport 152
Henry Murray 155
Factor Analysis and the Search for the Structure of Personality 158
The Big Five 159
Criticism and Limitations of the Big Five Model 163
The Situation Versus Trait Controversy 165
Criticism of the Trait Approach 165
In Defense of Personality Traits 167
Identifying Relevant Trait 168
Application: The Big Five in the Workplace 170
Assessment: Self-Report Inventories 172
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 173
Problems with Self-Report Inventories 175
Strengths and Criticisms of the Trait Approach 179
Strengths 179
Criticisms 180
Summary 180
8The Trait Approach: Relevant Research 182
Achievement Motivation 183
High Achievement Motivation Characteristics 185
Predicting Achievement Behavior 186
Gender, Culture, and Achievement 187
Attributions 188
Achievement Goals 191
Type A, Hostility and Health 193
Type A as a Personality Variable 194
Hostility and Health 195
Social Anxiety 198
Characteristics of Socially Anxious People 200
Explaining Social Anxiety 202
Emotions 204
Emotional Affectivity 204
Affect Intensity 207
Emotional Expressiveness 210
Optimism and Pessimism 212
Dealing with Adversity 213
Optimism and Health 215
Defensive Pessimism 216
Summary 219CONTENTS xi