PERSONALITY TRAIT THAT BEST FITS MY LIFE - Term Paper Example

This branch of psychology is termed the most ambitious since personalities are all unique. Although unique, there are patterns that have been unlocked by some of the world’s best psychologists. There are even a lot of personality tests that have been invented to promote personality determination. One of the most famous ways of determining personalities is by determining one’s personality traits. Traits, according to this theory, are continuous dimensions of a person, unlike typologies, which are static.

Apart from that, the trait theories of personality assume that people have traits that can vary through time, and they are also dependent on a number of personality scales. And unlike other approaches like the humanistic and psychoanalytic ones, trait approach uses differences in personality as basis in determining the specific typologies of a person. The Five-Factor Model theory is one of the most popular forms of determining personality using the personality traits. This theory is based on Eysenck’s Three Dimensions on Personality and Catell’s Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire.

The former was dismissed as being too short, with only three factors of personality listed in the personality scale. The latter was dismissed because it was too detailed, starting with over 4000 personality traits. It was narrowed down to 16 traits after factorial analysis of the traits as this proved to be the most common and defining traits of an individual. Since the two personality tests either too few or too descriptive, the Five-Factor Model was made. A combination of both Eysenck’s and Cattell’s questionnaires, the Five-Factor Model is considered to be one of the most reliable tests in defining personality.

It represents the five core traits that form one’s individuality. The five core traits are: Extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness.