Raymond Cattell

Theories of Personality

Reference book: Schultz & Schultz 8th/11th Edition

Predicting Behavior
Predict how a person will behave in response to a given
situation.

Cattell was not interested in changing or modifying behavior

from abnormal to normal

Cattell’s subjects were normal people. His aim was to study

their personality, not to treat it.
A Scientific Approach
Relying on observations of behavior and masses of data
Comprehensive
Adherence to evidence derived from emprical data

Factor Analysis
A statistical technique based on correlations between several measures, which
may be explained in terms of underlying factors.
If the two measures showed a high correlation with one another, Cattell
concluded that they measured similar or related aspects of personality.
Two sets of data about a person are combined to form a single dimension, or
factor.

Personality traits
Traits- defined as the mental elements of the personality.
Only when we know someone’s traits can we predict how that
person will behave in a given situation
Cattell’s Approach to Personality
Traits
Traits, according to Cattell are reaction tendencies, derived by the method of factor analysis, that are
relatively permanent parts of the personality. Traits as relatively permanent reaction tendencies that are
the basic structural units of the personality. He classified traits in several ways:

Common Traits and Unique Traits

A common trait is one that is possessed by everyone to some degree. Example,
Intelligence, extraversion, and gregariousness
Unique traits are traits possessed by one or a few other people. Unique traits
are particularly apparent in our interests and attitudes.
Ability, Temperament, and Dynamic Traits
Ability traits determine how efficiently we will be able to work toward a goal.
Intelligence is an ability trait; our level of intelligence will affect the ways in
which we strive for our goals.
Temperament traits describe the general style and emotional tone of our
behavior; for example, how assertive, easygoing, or irritable we are. These traits
affect the ways we act and react to situations.
Dynamic traits are the driving forces of behavior. They define our motivations,
interests, and ambition
Surface Traits and Source Traits
Classifying traits based on stability and permanence.

Surface traits
- Traits that show a correlation but do not constitute a factor because they are not determined by a
single source.
- Surface traits are composed of several elements, they are less stable and permanent.

Source traits
- Stable and permanent traits that are the basic factors of personality, derived by the method
of factor analysis.
- Unitary personality factors.
Source traits are those individual factors derived from factor analysis that
combine to account for surface traits.
Classified based on their origin: Constitutional Traits and Environmental-Mold
Traits
Constitutional traits: Source traits that depend on our physiological
characteristics. Constitutional traits originate in biological conditions but are
not necessarily innate.
Environmental-Mold traits: Source traits that are learned from social and
environmental interactions. It is derived from influences in our social and
physical environment.
Cattell recognized the interaction between personal and situational
variables.
Source Traits: The Basic Factors of Personality
Cattel, 1965- After more than two decades of intensive factor-analytic research, 16
source traits as the basic factors of personality.
These factors are best known in the form in which they are most often used, in an
objective personality test called the Sixteen Personality Factor (16 PF) Questionnaire
The personality characteristics associated with these traits are expressed in words we
use in our everyday conversation.
Cattell later identified additional factors he designated as temperament traits because
they relate to the general style and emotional tone of behavior.
In Cattell’s system, source traits are the basic elements of personality.

Dynamic Traits: The Motivating Forces

Dynamic traits as the traits concerned with motivation.
Cattell believed that a personality theory that failed to consider the impact of dynamic, or
motivating, forces is incomplete.
 Factor Traits Low scorer High Scorer

A Warmth reserved, detached outgoing, supportive

B Intellect Concrete thinker analytical

The 16 C Emotional Stability moody, irritable stable, calm

Personality
E Agressiveness docile, submissive controlling, dominant
Factors
adventurous,
F Liveliness somber, prudent
spontaneous

G Dutifulness unreliable conscientiousness

H Social Assertiveness shy, restrained uninhibited, bold

I Sensitivity tough-minded sensitive, caring

 Factor Traits Low scorer High Scorer

L Paranoia trusting suspiciousness

M Abstractness conventional imaginative

N Introversion open, straightforward shrewd, private

The 16
Personality O Anxiety confident, secure apprehensive, insecure

Factors close minded,

Q1 Open-mindedness curious, experimental
traditional

Q2 Independence outgoing, social self-sufficient

Q3 Perfectionism disorganized, casual organized, precise

Q4 Tension relaxed, composed stressed, tense

 Influence of Heredity &
Environment

Did studies on Found that

Twins reared together 1/3 personality inherited
Twins reared apart 80% of Intelligence
Siblings (non twins) 80% of timidity or boldness
Stages of Personality Development
Infancy
Birth-6yrs
major formative period
influence of parents and
siblings Childhood
social attitudes and 6-14yrs
attitudes towards psychological problems
authority move forward with Adolescence
development of ego and independence 14-23yrs
superego identification with peers more troublesome &
feelings of security and stressful stage
insecurity emotional disorders and
delinquencies
conflicts in independence,
self-assertions and sex
Stages of Personality Development
Maturity
23-50yrs
productive and satisfying
time Late Maturity
career, marriage, family 50-65yrs
situations personality develops in
personality starts to
become less flexible
certain aspects
physical, social & Old Age
little change in interests psychological changes 65yrs onwards
and attitudes decline of health, vigor & Lots of adjustments
attractiveness death of spouse, relative
end of life in view or friends
re-examine values & loss of career and
search for new self retirement
loss of status
loneliness and insecurity
 Personality
defined by Cattell
"Personality is which permits the
prediction of what a person will
do in a given situation."

Questions Prediction
about Human means it must be
lawful & orderly

Nature Example
regular & consistent
less spontaneous
of predicting
predicting spouse's
behaviour
mother predicting child's
behavior
 Questions
about Human
Nature
nothing pulls (like self- initially was optimistic -
actualization)or pushes gain greater awareness
(like internal conflicts) and control over
personality formation environment as we evolve
believed both nature and
though early life play an eventually got pessimistic
nurture played equal roles
important role, its not - believed human nature
personality is both unique
permanent and society has regressed.
and universal
but more determinism
than free will
ASSESSMENT IN CATTELL'S THEORY
L Data Q Data T-Data
Specific behaviour The raters are provided These are personality based tests
are rated by with questionnaires where that bring out the real
observing them in they rate themselves unlike characteristics of the person .
real life. L Data , where the observes The subjects dont have any idea
Naturalistic setting observe the raters . what is being measured.
Overt behaviour is Chances of falsifying Examples :- TAT , WAT, SRT .
observed . responses .
Lack of self awarness yields
biased responses.
 Cattell developed the 16 PF to assess ones
personality.
He used 16 major source traits that formed
the basis of tests .
16 PF These 16 source traits were rated
objectively.
16 PF is used to assess personality on
various dimensions like anxiety ,
depression, for clinical diagnosis , or
interviews too.
 RESEARCH ON CATTELL
THEORY
Bivariate Clinical Multivariate
approach approach approach
The research approach Includes case history , free This approach has two
where two variable are used association , rapport forms of factor analysis
in experiments, the formation , dream analysis P technique involves
independent variable whose and varies from person to collection of large amount
effect is observed on the person. of data from a singular
dependent variable. source over a period of time.
R technique involves
collection of data from large
number of people.
Thank You!