Deck 18: Case Studies 33-34 Robert Mccrae and Paul Costa: Contributions

Question 1

Using Cattell's trait theory approach, describe Brian's personality by answering the following questions.
What is a subsidiation chain? Explain the subsidiation chain involved if one considers Brian's serving in Iraq as an attitude (according to Cattell's definition).What would be some of the sems/sentiments that motivated those behaviors? What are some ergs that motivated Brian's choice of profession? Explain.

Answer 1

A subsidiation chain is a series of behaviors that includes the expression of an erg, sentiment, and attitude.Brian's serving in Iraq was motivated by his choice of profession (sem).Being in the Military Reserves clearly resulted in his being called in to serve in Iraq (attitude).His profession (sem) was motivated by such ergs as hunger, pride, and a need for money.(Cattell termed this "greed".)

Question 2

How do Fromm's character orientations compare to the traits discussed by Cattell?

Answer 2

Fromm believed that personality consisted of a number of qualities, the most important of which was character, which was relatively permanent and non-instinctual.Cattell also believed that personality is composed of a number of qualities but that these are called traits, which are also relatively permanent.Both traits and character orientations imply that people will behave in certain ways relative to those qualities.While Fromm believed that healthy people behaved in a variety of ways consistent with all five character orientations he suggested, he thought that people were most influenced by one character more than the others, similar to Cattell suggesting that there are sixteen unrelated traits, although personality consists of a combination of each of them, with all of us scoring in a low to high range on each.Fromm and Cattell were also similar in that Fromm discussed nonproductive character orientations, which result in maladjustment, and Cattell discussed twelve abnormal source traits that resulted in maladjusted behavior.On the other hand, Fromm's character orientations were ways in which people related to the human and natural world.Cattell did not think traits helped us to relate to the natural world.Rather, he suggested that traits develop from biological and/or environmental influences

Question 3

Describe Walter's ability traits, according to Cattell's theory.

Answer 3

His ability as a minister, at least, is described as high.Ability as a student may be low because he flunked out of the seminary, although he did graduate from Bible School.

Question 4

What is the difference between a source trait and a surface trait according to Cattell? What are some of Brian's source traits and surface traits before and after his service in Iraq? Use evidence from the case to support your answer.

Question 5

Using Cattell's trait theory approach, describe Walter's personality by answering the following questions.
If one considers Walter's attendance at Seminary and Bible School as attitudes (according to Cattell's definition), what would be some of the sems/sentiments that motivated those behaviors? Explain.

Question 6

Apply Adler's theory to Walter's behavior.How does Adler's style of life compare to the traits discussed by Cattell?

Question 7

Describe Walter's temperament traits, according to Cattell's trait approach.

Question 8

What would be some of the ergs that motivated Walter's choice of profession, according to Cattell's theory? Explain.

Question 9

How could Cattell justify describing Brain's personality differently before and after his time in Iraq? Did Cattell think personality traits were stable across time?

Question 10

What would be some of the ergs that motivated Walter's marriage and the formation of his family, according to Cattell? Explain.

Question 11

List some of Cattell's 16 source traits that Walter might score high on.Which might he score lower on? Explain.

Question 12

Explain the subsidiation chain involved if one considers Brian's alcoholism as an attitude (according to Cattell's definition).What would be some of the sems/sentiments and ergs that motivated this behavior? Explain.