The Attribute That Reflect Underlying Dispositional Traits
Individual’s characteristic behaviors can be understood well through attributes that reflect the underlying dispositional traits that are relatively enduring aspects of personality. People utilize the basic tenets of trait theory when describing themselves and others using terms such as friendly, independent, aggressive, and calm among others (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2019). According to the text, three assumptions are evident about traits. Firstly, traits are derived from comparisons of individuals, considering there lacks absolute quantitative standards for attributes such as calm, friendliness etc. secondly, behaviors making up a trait must be unique enough to avoid confusion. Lastly, the traits associated with a character are assumed to remain stable throughout. Meaning, a friendly person is expected to remain that way in several other situations (Kersting, 2003).
The Stability and Changes in Adult Personality
Researchers have gone out of their way to try to investigate the stability and changes in adult personality. Based on the evidence from the text, researchers have revealed that personality traits stop changing at the age of 30. In one of the studies that comprised individuals of 60, 80, and 100 years old, it was revealed that individuals in the 70s and 80s demonstrated stability compared to that of centenarians (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2019). However, the researchers noted some interesting changes in the very old. They exhibited increased sensitivity and suspiciousness associated with increased cases of victimization in older adulthood (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2019). Another study from a seven-year period to a thirty-year span showed that, there is little change in self-reported personality traits in a 30-year period (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2019). The studies show strong evidence of both change and stability can be seen in personality trait development in adult life period. Researchers found out that personality tend to become more pronounced as people become older. For instance, openness and extraversion reduce with age, whereas agreeableness increases with age. While in the middle age, conscientious peaks, while neuroticism tend to disappear in late life. These findings are evident in studies conducted on larger populations between the ages of 16 all the way to 80 (Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, 2019).
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References
Cavanaugh, J.C. & Blanchard-Fields, F. (2019). Adult Development and Aging. 8 th Ed. New York, NY: Cengage Learning, Inc.
Kersting, K. (2003, July). Personality changes for the better with age. Monitor on Psychology, 34 (7). http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug03/personality
