Human personality is one of the issues that have fascinated mankind for years. There has been a desire to understand the force that shape how individuals behave. This desire has inspired efforts to determine the development of human personality. Trait theories are among the products of these efforts. These theories were developed by individuals who sought to link certain behaviors and habits to different personality types (Costa & McCrae, 2013). This essay examines the methods used by trait theorists and distinguishes them from the methods used in the psychoanalytic approach.
The main method that trait theorists developed for the purposes of defining personality traits is questionnaires (Christiansen & Tett, 2013). Subjects are provided with questionnaires with questions regarding their response to certain situations. These responses are then summed up to identify the subject’s personality type. While different theorists identified varying traits as the basic components of human personality, it is generally agreed that personalities are defined by five main traits. These include extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience (Costa & McCrae, 2013). These traits are determined based on the responses provided by an individual. In addition to relying on self-reports through questionnaires, the trait theorists also examined the behavior of individuals. This behavior was then used to classify an individual. For instance, an individual who exhibits emotional instability can be defined as neurotic.
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The methods that trait theorists used differ from those used when the psychoanalytic approach is employed. The main premise of this approach is that human personality is the product of the actions of unconscious processes (“Chapter 13”, n.d). Examining childhood experiences is the main method that is relied on when the psychoanalytic approach is used. Essentially, the concerned professional examines the subject’s childhood as they seek to identify the childhood experiences that could be responsible for the subject’s behavior and personality. This method is different from those used by trait theorists because while the trait theorists examine an individual’s current behaviors and habits, the psychoanalytic approach focuses on past experiences.
In conclusion, psychology has shed light into the forces that determine how personalities develop. It is now understood that the habits that individuals portray are the result of certain forces. This understanding has allowed professionals to identify the personality types of individuals. The fact that there are different methods of determining personality types complicates matters. It is advised that a unified and cohesive method that combines the different approaches be developed and applied.
References
Chapter 13- Theories of Personality. (n.d). Retrieved 18 th May 2017 from
http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/intro/cafe/wort/olc/18454.htm
Christiansen, N. & Tett, R. (2013). Handbook of Personality at Work. London: Routledge.
Costa, P. T. & McCrae, R. R. (2013). Personality in Adulthood: A Five-Factor Theory
Perspective. London: Routledge.
