Psychology of Personality

Description

Personality traits may be defined as “the characteristics or dimensions of personality on which people vary”. Traits can be thought of as falling along a continuum that ranges from traits considered by many to be desirable (e.g., happy, self-confident, considerate) to traits that are often considered to be undesirable (e.g., aggressive, spiteful, crude). Presented below is a list of some common personality traits. The list is far from exhaustive and you should have no difficulty coming up with an additional list of traits (for help, see any unabridged dictionary).
Passive Outgoing Unsociable Active
Careful Talkative Sober Optimistic
Thoughtful Responsive Rigid Impulsive
Peaceful Easygoing Moody Changeable
Controlled Lively Anxious Excitable
Reliable Carefree Reserved Aggressive
Successful completion of the paper assignment requires that you select one personality trait and then review the relevant research literature (you can use PsycINFO, Google Scholar, EBSCO Academic Library, or PubMed to look up articles in peer-reviewed psychology journals) in order to answer each of the following questions:
1) How does the personality trait develop in humans? Where does it appear to come from? (20 pts)
2) What purpose or function does the trait appear to serve? (20 pts)
3) How does the trait affect an individual’s social behavior? How does the trait impact interpersonal relationships? (25 pts)
4) [answer either (a) or (b) depending upon which alternative is appropriate] (25 pts)
(a) If the trait that you selected is closer to the desirable end of the trait continuum, then what methods or techniques might be used to increase, or at least maintain at a high level, the quantity of the trait? (e.g., make a person more self-confident).
(b) If the trait that you selected is closer to the undesirable end of the trait continuum, then what methods or techniques might be used to decrease the quantity of the trait? (e.g., make a person less aggressive).
The remaining 10 points will depend on writing mechanics, grammar, and adherence to APA style. The paper should be typed, double-spaced, written in APA style, and 5-10 pages in length, not including the title page and reference list. Please include at least three recent (dated no earlier than 2010) references from peer-reviewed psychology journals. Additional references, including the course textbook as well as older articles, are allowed in addition to the three recent journal articles.