fei75766_ch13_408-434.indd 422  02/06/20 01:05 PM
Part IV    Dispositional Theories422
notyetprovided specific details about which genes, hormones, andbrain structures 
playwhat roleintheirinfluence onpersonality. Advances inbehavioral genetics and
brain imaging havebegun andwillcontinue tofillinthedetails. Thispositioning of
biological bases eliminates anyrolethattheenvironment mayplayintheformation 
ofbasic tendencies. Thisshould notsuggest thattheenvironment hasnopartin
personality formation—merely thatithasnodirect influence onbasic tendencies (see
Figure 13.3). Theenvironment doesinfluence some components ofpersonality. This
underscores theneed todistinguish themain twocomponents ofthemodel—basic 
tendencies andcharacteristic adaptations (McCrae &Costa, 1996, p.187).
Objective Biography  Thesecond peripheral component isobjective biography, 
defined as“everything theperson does, thinks, orfeelsacross thewhole lifespan” 
(McCrae &Costa, 2003, p.187). Objective biography emphasizes what hashap-
pened inpeople’s lives(objective) rather thantheirvieworperceptions oftheir
experiences (subjective). Every behavior orresponse becomes partofthecumulative 
record. Whereas theorists suchasAlfred Adler (style oflife)orDanMcAdams 
(personal narrative) emphasize thesubjective interpretations ofone’s life-story, 
McCrae andCosta focus ontheobjective experiences—the events andexperiences 
onehashadoverone’s lifetime. 
External Influences  People constantly findthemselves inaparticular physical or
social situation thathassome influence onthepersonality system. Thequestion of
howwerespond totheopportunities anddemands ofthecontext iswhat external 
influences isallabout. According toMcCrae andCosta (1999, 2003), these 
responses areafunction oftwothings: (1)characteristic adaptations and(2)their
interaction withexternal influences (note thetwoarrows going intotheobjective 
biography ellipse inFigure 13.3). 
McCrae andCosta assume thatbehavior isafunction oftheinteraction 
between characteristic adaptations andexternal influences. Asanexample, theycite
thecaseofJoan, whoisoffered tickets toseetheopera La Traviata (anexternal 
influence). ButJoanhasalongpersonal history ofdetesting opera (acharacteristic 
adaptation) andtherefore refuses theoffer (anobjective biography). Toelaborate, 
Joanmaywellhaveabasic tendency toward being closed (rather thanopen) tonew
experiences, andshemaynever havebeen around opera asachild ormayhavesim-
plyformed anegative opinion about itbased onreputation. Whatever thecase, she
ismore athome withfamiliar events andwithdown-to-earth experiences. Thisback-
ground predicts thatJoanislikely torespond thewayshedidtoanoffer toattend 
anopera. These decisions tostayaway from suchexperiences reinforce themselves 
asherdistaste foropera grows. Thisisreflected inthearrow circling backonitself in
Figure 13.3.
Basic Postulates 
Each ofthecomponents ofthepersonality system (except biological bases) hascore
postulates. Because thecomponents ofbasic tendencies andcharacteristic adapta -
tions aremost central tothepersonality system, wewillelaborate onlyonthepostu -
latesforthese twocomponents. Final PDF to printer