Trait Theories Overview There Are Essay

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For instance, this theory holds that extraverts have low levels of cortical arousal and introverts high leaves, meaning extraverts need more stimulation for socializing and being outgoing, while introverts receive enough stimulation from their own physical make up. Since each person has differing levels of brain chemicals, there are thousands and thousands of factors that can be combined to make up unique personality dimensions. This view is more biochemical in nature, and believes that expression of traits will emerge regardless of the nurture factor (Eysenck, 2008).

Trait theory has a number of positives and negatives. It takes the general theme of the personality and breaks down certain factors that seem to retain vibrancy throughout the individual's life, at least when compared to larger groups. However, it also assumes that people remain rather stagnant as they age, and do not change in terms of their basic personality. It is likely, according to modern though, that education and environment play a strong role in the adaptation of views, trends, and belief systems. These changes as individual's age and grow intellectually can mollify, enhance, or even develop new expressed personality traits (Trait Approach, 2010).

Thus, regardless of the approach to the idea of traits being the dominant motivator for personality, evidence suggests that regardless of the culture, certain personality dimensions emerge very early in life. While certain traits differ from culture to culture (e.g. Americans based on European culture tend to be more extraverted and aggressive than certain Asian cultures), what culture tends to do is focus the expression of those personality traits in a different direction.
Too, while personality traits seem to be engendered from childhood, there is significant evidence to show that as we age, learn, and develop cognitively as well as in wisdom, certain traits may be more appropriate to our life-stage, and thus expressed more readily, while others are kept in the background. Deviant theorists, though, believe that certain aspects of deviant behavior mean that there is no mitigating mechanism for certain traits, thus allowing a free range of emotions rather than a check and balance system. Whatever the approach, though, the idea of human traits being biologically inherited and expressed based on certain personality differences remains viable, if not controversial (Matthews, et.al., 2003).

REFERENCES

Trait Approach. (2010). Leadership Theory and Practice. Retrieved from: http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/30933_Northouse_Chapter_2.pdf

Daft, R. And Lane, D. (2008). The Leadership Experience. Mason, OH: Thompson Learning.

Dholakia, R. (1978). Personality Trait Theory and Consumer Behavior. Vikalpa. 3 (2): 111-119. Retrieved from: http://www.vikalpa.com/pdf/articles/1978/1978_Apr_Jun_111_119.pdf

Eyseneck, H. (2008). The Biological Basis of Personality. New York: Transaction Publishers.

Matthews, G., et.al., (2003). Personality Traits. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Sigelman, C. And Rider, E. (2009). Life-Span Human Development. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cenage Learning......

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