Allport's Trait Theory of Personality - Simplest Explanation Ever

This tutorial explores Gordon Allport's Trait Theory of personality, emphasizing the importance of traits as the building blocks of personality. Allport critiques psychoanalysis for focusing too much on the unconscious mind and past experiences, instead highlighting the conscious mind and present circumstances. He identifies three types of traits: cardinal, central, and secondary. Cardinal traits are rare and define a person, central traits form the foundation of personality, and secondary traits are situational. The tutorial concludes with a summary of Allport's theory.

What is the primary focus of Gordon Allport's Trait Theory?

• The role of behaviorism in personality

• The combination and interaction of traits

• The structure of the unconscious mind

• The influence of past experiences

According to Allport, what does psychoanalysis focus on too deeply?

• The interaction of traits

• The conscious mind

• The past and the unconscious mind

• The present circumstances

How many words did Allport identify in the English Dictionary that describe human traits?

• 1000

• 4000

• 2000

• 3000

Which type of trait is so dominant that it can define a person?

• Central traits

• Secondary traits

• Cardinal traits

• Situational traits

How many central traits does Allport suggest a person typically has?

• 1 to 2

• 3 to 4

• 5 to 10

• 11 to 15

Which of the following is an example of a secondary trait?

• Kindness

• Anxiety in queues

• Self-confidence

• Honesty

What is a characteristic of secondary traits according to Allport?

• They are situational

• They define the entire personality

• They are dominant

• They are always visible