Question

Write short notes on:

Gordon Allport’s trait theory of personality

Answer 1

Allport’s theory of personality is one of theories based on the trait perspective to study personality. Gordon Allport, an American psychologist identified 18000 separate terms which could be used to describe personality. A trait is a relatively enduring and consistent way of thinking, feeling and acting. That means the trait is consistently found in an individual over a period of time.

Based on these descriptions he suggested the following three basic categories of traits:

1. Cardinal trait: It is a single trait that dominates an individual’s entire personality. It dominates and shapes a person’s behaviour for his whole life. A person becomes known specifically for this trait. e.g. a trait of humanitarianism was the cardinal trait in Mother Teresa’s personality.
2. Central traits: These traits are general characteristics that form the basic foundation of an individual’s personality. Around 5 to 10 traits that best describe an individual’s personality are called central traits. These traits are the building blocks of our personality. e.g. traits like sensitivity, sociability, self-confidence, diligence, and honesty.
3. Secondary traits: These traits appear only in specific situations and so, are narrow in their effect. Secondary traits play a very minor role in determining an individual’s personality as such traits are situational. e.g. getting anxious before an interview, or being impatient while waiting in a queue.