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Subject PSYCHOLOGY
Paper No and Title Paper No 5: Personality Theories
Module No and Title Module No 3: Factor-analytic trait theories: Raymond
Cattell, The Big Five Model
Module Tag PSY_P5_M3
Table of Contents
1. Learning Outcomes
2. Introduction
3. Raymond Cattell and his Approach to Personality
3.1 Biographical Account
3.2 Cattell’s Approach to Personality
3.3 Assessment in Cattell’s Theory
4. The Big Five Model
4.1 Robert R. McCrae and Paul T. Costa, Jr.: Biographical Accounts
4.2 Searching for the Big Five
4.3 Five-Factor Theory: Units
5. Evaluative Comments
6. Summary
PSYCHOLOGY Paper No 5: Personality Theories
Module No 3: Factor-analytic trait theories: Raymond
Cattell, The Big Five Model
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Learning Outcomes
After studying this module, you shall be able to
Reflect on Factor Analytic Theories and Factor Analysis
Review the Cattellian Approach to Personality
Review the Big Five Model of Personality
Evaluate Factor Analytic Theories
2. Introduction
Nomothetic trait models are obligated to Raymond Cattell, an eloquent proponent that key
attributes of personality can be illustrated by discrete dimensions. Cattell’s theory of personality
is inseparably connected to quantitative measurement models based on factor analysis of
personality data through questionnaire responses and other sources. While Costa and McCrae
attempted to stimulate the majestic proposal of Cattell’s idea- an empirical model of traits
encompassing gamut of personality. Their Big Five model was focused on depiction of
personality, not causes of personality.
To study problems with multiple variables, Cattell stressed a great deal on the statistical tool of
factor analysis which is used to segregate larger group of observed, interrelated variables to find
out a limited number of underlying factors. Cattell used mainly the R and P technique of factor
analysis.
R technique, being the most common form, usually entails providing big groups of research
participants varied personality tests & then inter-correlating their scores. The idea is to start with
a huge number of surface variables (surface traits) and then to decrease them to fewer common
source factors (source traits) which can predict the variation in surface-variable measures.
Strongly inter-correlated variables are said to be measuring similar unit or factor. The
investigators find it most difficult to label these factors and considerable skill and care is
exercised in the labelling process as it has implications for theory and research. Once the inter-
correlations have been computed, further factor-analytic calculations are used to get a factor
matrix of factor loadings (degree of association between surface variable & its underlying
factor).
Once the tentative identification of factors is done, researchers usually attempt to use other
samples (age, ethnic background) for cross validation and also place more tests into the analysis
to discern new variables loading significantly on the same factor.
P technique is intended to determine the unique trait structure of a particular person (Cattell,
1961, 1965). By testing the individual over and over again over a period of time on a number of
personality traits and Cattell used it to appraise the alterations in individual motivations.
PSYCHOLOGY Paper No 5: Personality Theories
Module No 3: Factor-analytic trait theories: Raymond
Cattell, The Big Five Model
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Raymond Cattell and his Approach to Personality
3.1 Biographical Account
Raymond Bernard Cattell born in Hilltop, England, on March 20, 1905 as the second born to a
mechanical engineer father. Cattell was an exceptional student winning scholarship to University
of London. In 1924, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree with first-class honours in
chemistry from Kings College. Soon his interests became more social & he dazed his well
wishers by switching to the dubious subject of psychology. “My laboratory bench began to seem
small, and the world’s problems vast. I concluded that to get beyond human irrationalities, I had
to study the workings of the mind itself” (Cattell, 1974, p. 64).
Cattell received his doctorate under Charles Spearman of the factor analysis fame from
University of London in 1929. Cattell married thrice: an artist, Monica Campbell from 1930 to
1938 (one son); from 1946 to 1980 to a mathematician, Alberta Schuettler with whom he
published numerous tests and articles and had three daughters and a son; and finally to a clinical
psychologist, Heather Birkett.
Cattell arrived in United States to work at Columbia University in 1937. Soon afterwards he
shifted to Clark University in Massachusetts, and followed by Harvard. In 1945, he finally
honoured a research professorship at University of Illinois and founded the Laboratory of
Personality Assessment and stayed as director for 27 years. In 1978, he relocated to teach at the
University of Hawaii.
As one of the most ingenious personality theorists, Cattell’s writings comprise of hundreds of
journal articles and around 56 books. Cattell’s honours include the New York Academy of
Sciences’ Wenner–Gren Prize & Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in Psychological
Science from American Psychological Foundation. On February 2, 1998, Raymond Cattell passed
away in Honolulu, Hawaii.
3.2 Cattell’s Approach to Personality
3.2.1 Personality Traits
Cattell described traits as relatively permanent reaction tendencies serving the basic structural
units of the personality. He classified traits in several ways.
Table 1: Cattell’s Classification of Traits
Types of Concept Example
Traits
Common trait possessed by everyone to some Intelligence,
degree, a few persons possess them to a larger Extraversion
degree in comparison to others as all persons Gregariousness
Common have a comparable hereditary potential and are
and subjected to like socio cultural norms and
Unique Traits pressures.
Unique traits are those facets of personality Interest in Cricket or
shared by only some of the other people. football. Interest in
Unique traits are mainly evident in our attitudes history or philately.
PSYCHOLOGY Paper No 5: Personality Theories
Module No 3: Factor-analytic trait theories: Raymond
Cattell, The Big Five Model
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
& interests.
Ability traits establish how well one is able to Intelligence level
move toward a purpose. affects the way we
Ability, endeavour for our
Temperament goals.
, Temperament traits depict the common mode Being Assertive, easy-
and and affective tenor of our behaviour These going, or irritable
Dynamic traits shape the ways we react & act in
Traits situations.
Dynamic traits are the motivating forces of
behaviour. They characterize our interests,
motivations & ambitions.
Surface traits are personality descriptions that Elements like
associate with one another but do not compose indecisiveness,
a factor as they are not caused by a lone source. anxiety, unreasonable
As surface traits are made up of numerous fear etc. coalesce to
Surface and elements, they are less firm and enduring, shape the surface trait
Source Traits therefore less significant in unfolding labelled neuroticism.
(steadiness and personality.
permanence) Of larger weight are source traits that are
unitary personality factors which are much
more steady and enduring. Each source trait
affects some facet of behaviour. Source traits
obtained from factor analysis as individual
factors combining to report for surface traits.
Constitutional traits initiate in biological Alcohol intake leading
environment but are not necessarily inborn. to behaviours like
Constitutional Factor analysis would point to these carelessness,
and characteristics being source traits. talkativeness, slurred
Environmenta speech.
l-Mold Traits Environmental-mold traits are learnt qualities Difference in
(Source Traits & behaviours imposing a blueprint on behaviour of military
classified on personality that develop from influences in our officer and jazz
their origin) physical social environments. musician.
Difference in
behaviour of people of
different cultures.
PSYCHOLOGY Paper No 5: Personality Theories
Module No 3: Factor-analytic trait theories: Raymond
Cattell, The Big Five Model
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