The Psychology Book (95 page)

302 INTRODUCTION

Charles Spearman

proposes that intelligent

Raymond Cattell

In
The Descent of Man
,

behavior is generated by a

Floyd and Gordon

suggests that

Charles Darwin

single, unitary quality

Allport
publish

intelligence is made up

argues that variations

within the brain, which he

Personality Traits: their

of two factors:
fluid

in intellectual abilities

calls
“the general

Classification and

and crystallized

tend to be inherited.

factor”
or “g.”

Measurement
.

intelligence
.

1871

1904

1921

1941

1884

1905

1937

1942

Francis Galton is the first to

Alfred Binet and Theodore

Gordon Allport

Katherine Briggs and

investigate
individual

Simon develop the
first

publishes his most

Isabel Briggs Myers

differences
scientifically,

intelligence test
, which

significant work,

create the
Briggs

through large-scale

becomes known as the

Personality:

Myers Type

questionnaires.

Binet-Simon scale.

psychological

Indicator
—a widely

interpretation
.

used psychometric test.

T
heoretical psychology has from research into more general refinement of Allport’s theories: largely been concerned

theories rather than a study of

reducing the number of traits that

with identifying and

personality itself. The first

combined to form an individual

examining aspects of the mind

psychologist to systematically

personality. The prominent traits of

and behavior that are common

approach the subject was Gordon

introversion and extraversion were

to us all, yet philosophers, and later

Allport, who felt that existing ideas

common to most of these models,

scientists, have always recognized

of personality were inadequate. As

and the distinction between them

that there are differences in our

one of the pioneers of what is now

was felt to be a major factor in

psychological make-up that render

called “trait theory,” he identified

determining personality. They were

us individuals. Some of the early

a number of different personality

incorporated into Hans Eysenck’s

philosophers explained differences

traits, which he suggested showed

three-factor model, with its basic

in personality using the idea of the

themselves in three different levels

traits of extraversion–introversion,

four humors or temperaments, but it

in a combination unique to each

neuroticism, and psychoticism.

was not until the 20th century that

person. The idea of traits became

One assumption that was

there was any truly scientific study

central to personality psychology

questioned was whether personality

of personality.

and, following Allport’s work, it

traits would result in consistent

Behaviorists, as one would

became a major new area of study.

behavior. Research conducted

expect, saw personality as a

by Walter Mischel showed that

product of conditioning, and

Personality traits

different situations produced

psychoanalytical theory described

New ways of analyzing traits,

different behavior, and suggested

personality as the effect of past

such as Raymond Cattell’s factor

that personality traits should be

experience on the unconscious—

analytical method, which identified

considered in the context of an

but these explanations resulted

16 personality factors, led to

individual’s perception of and

PSYCHOLOGY OF DIFFERENCE 303

Walter Mischel
publishes

Hans Eysenck

Corbett H. Thigpen and

Personality and Assessment,

Nico Frijda
publishes

develops an

Hervey M. Cleckley

questioning the assumption

The Emotions
,

influential

document a case of

that behavior is determined

describing them

three-factor model

multiple personality

by personality traits

as changes in an

of the theory of

disorder
in
The Three

regardless of situation or

individual that prepare

personality.

Faces of Eve
.

context
.

him or her for action.