Throughout this paper I intend to describe my personality thoroughly by using a
couple of different methods. Many say I am sweet often and mean when necessary. I’m
the type of person that won’t show the mean side unless someone does something to
deserve it. I’ve been taught not to put up with anyone’s attitude but I am definitely not the
fighter type. I am an extremely straightforward person and I’m not afraid to say it how it
is. I can be very stubborn at times and don’t like to admit when I’m wrong. I am also very
outgoing and adventurous. I like to try new things and experience life to the fullest.
A trait approach is an assessment approach that takes into account the fact that
there are basic personality traits, which have a demonstrable causal link with professional
success. Traits are qualities or characteristics, typically one belonging to a person. There
are a various amount of traits, from being shallow and humble to being arrogant.
According to Gordon Allport’s trait theory he believes in three types of traits: Cardinal
traits, Central traits and Secondary traits. Cardinal traits are traits that tend to dominate a
persons entire life, eventually the person becomes known because of them. People with
such personalities are different because it is extremely rare and tends to develop in the
later years of your life. Central traits are general characteristics that make up a persons
personality. These are the major characteristics you may use to describe someone by
using words such as: smart, friendliness, straightforward or anxious. Secondary traits are
traits that relate to your attitude. This doesn’t occur all the time but happens during
certain situations. Secondary traits can occur when someone gets anxious before giving a
big speech, or if someone is extremely impatient and has a hard time waiting. On the
other hand, another type of trait model is The Big Five. The five main personality traits
are extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness. The first
main personality trait is extraversion, this is the trait that includes high amounts of
emotional expressiveness in which a person is very social and has positive emotions.
Agreeableness is the trait that attributes to the persons personality that brings out the kind
and compassionate side of a person. Conscientiousness includes high levels of
thoughtfulness and goal directed behaviors. One’s who are high in conscientiousness tend
to be extremely organized and are mindful in every detail. During neuroticism people
tend to experience displeasing emotions easily. This is the degree of emotional stability
and impulse control. The final personality trait from the Big Five is openness. This is
when a person has personal preference for a variety of activities not someone who likes
to go by the same routine day by day. One’s high in this personality trait tend to have a
broad range of interests. The third model is Raymond Cattell’s Sixteen Personality Factor.
Raymond Cattell left a long lasting mark in the psychology industry. He reduced Allport’s
list of personality traits by eliminating uncommon traits and combining common
characteristics. According to Cattell, there are sixteen traits that are the source of all
human personality.
While applying each trait approach to my personality I came across certain things
that I didn’t even know about myself. Sometimes it takes others telling you some of your
own traits for you to actually realize that it is the truth. Applying Allport’s Trait Theory
was one of the hardest things to do. It made me realize that my cardinal trait is being so
hardheaded and stubborn within certain situations. It has dominated most of my life and
has ruined some of the many opportunities that life had to offer me. I also have a very
warm personality; I can be extremely friendly, courteous, honest and outgoing, which
describes my central trait. My list of secondary traits can go on and on. First off, I am
very impatient and cannot stand standing in a line for more than five minutes. When
speaking in front of a class I get extremely nervous and start to stutter or sweat. I also get
easily annoyed at certain things that occur in classrooms. Applying The Big Five theory
opened my eyes a little as to what my personality is really like. I can definitely say
openness is one of the main points that describe me the most. I am very open to any
opportunity that comes my way, I’m always up for any adventure that I am hit with and I
get extremely bored with having the same routine. I like challenges, being spontaneous
and being kept on my toes not knowing what’s going to happen next. In terms to this
example, during relationships my attitude does a complete three sixty. I automatically
have things I expect from a guy, which isn’t great at times, but things have to stay
unexpected so I don’t loose interest quickly. My conscientious side brings out the
organized and OCD side of me. All my life I’ve been raised with just my mother and I am
thankful for that. She has taught me plenty of discipline and that’s where I learned self-
discipline. I am now old enough to know right from wrong and whether or not I should or
shouldn’t do something. I have always wanted achievement out of everything in life
whether it’s in school or out on the soccer field. Let’s say I have a homework assignment
due the very next day and I get invited to a dinner for a friends birthday, I know better
than not to go unless I’m done with all my homework. Every since I was little I’ve been
called a social butterfly, which ties into the extraversion factor. You can put me in a room
with five people I know nothing about and will walk out of that room knowing most of
their life. I’m a very talkative person and I can say I definitely get that from my mother.
Many of my close friends and family members can say I am a very compassionate person
and I’m very cooperative with whatever anyone needs. I’m always the first person they
come to and I give them the best advice I can to my ability and that’s what agreeableness
is all about. I am not a neurotic person what so ever. It takes a lot for me to get angry or
depressed, it would really mean someone hurting me to an extent.
Traits and characteristics are extremely important in life. These small details in a
person can go to the extreme in making or breaking a persons career. With the three
different models I have provided you can really get to know yourself inside and out. It
can be different getting to know your self through the eyes of someone else. It makes you
wonder if that’s how you really appear to others.
Psychoanalytic approach focuses on the importance of the unconscious mind. This
is based on Freud’s psychoanalytic perspective about early experiences being to
influential on current behavior. The psychoanalytic approach is a theory that gender
