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Self And Personality
Question
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Distinguish between source traits and surface traits. Give suitable examples.

Answer

• Raymond Cattell applied a statistical technique called factor analysis.

• He emphasized that each individual has a common structure of personality, which is unique to each individual.

• He found 16 primary/source traits.

Source Traits:

• Source traits are the more basic traits with opposing tendencies.

• They are the building blocks of personality and are largely stable because they develop step by step.

Example – Aggression – source trait.

Surface Traits: Surface traits are caused by the interaction of source traits. These traits are somewhat unstable and observable. Raymond B. Cattell described them in terms of opposing tendencies, such as cool verses warm, dominant verses passive, etc.

According to Cattell, ways of expressing aggression differ among different individuals and its root lies in source trait of aggression.

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