Module Outline

Module 29: Trait and Social-Cognitive Perspectives on Personality

Module 29 closes the discussion of personality and personality theory. The module begins detailing the trait theorists Allport, Cattell, and Eysenck. A brief discussion of personality inventories is included.

The social-cognitive perspective is explained, including Bandura’s reciprocal determinism. Seligman’s concept of learned helplessness is explained, as well as how it led to the development of positive psychology.

Introduction
	Traits
	Personality
	Trait perspective
	Social-cognitive perspective
The Trait Perspective
	Gordon Allport
	Trait theory
	Raymond Cattell
	Factor analysis
	Factors
	Hans Eysenck
	Biological dimensions
	Extraversion
	Introversion
	Emotional stability
	Emotional instability
	Extraverts
	Introverts
	The “Big Five” traits
	Agreeableness
	Conscientiousness
	Neuroticism (Emotional stability)
	Extraversion
	Openness
	Predisposition
	Personality inventories
	Projective tests
	Objective tests
	Validity
	Reliability
	Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
	Evaluating the trait perspective
The Social-Cognitive Perspective
	Social-cognitive perspective
	Cognitive social learning theory
	Cognitive behavioral approach
	Albert Bandura
	Reciprocal determinism
	Julian Rotter
	Locus of control
	External locus of control
	Internal locus of control
	Learned helplessness
	Martin Seligman
	Positive psychology
	Optimistic explanatory style
	Pessimistic explanatory style
	Learned optimism