Units of the Five-Factor Theory

• 1. Basic Tendencies: Big-Five personality traits based on biology and are relatively stable over time and situation
• 2. Characteristic Adaptations: Acquired skills, habits, attitudes, and relationships that result from the interaction of individuals in their environment; provides plasticity of personality
• 3. Self-Concept: Knowledge, views, and evaluations of the self
• Peripheral Components of Personality

  1. Biological Bases: Single causal influence on personality traits; includes genes, hormones, brain structures
• Peripheral - 2. Objective Biography: Life events and experiences
• Peripheral - 3. External Influences: How a person responds to the opportunities and demands of the context
• Postulates for Basic Tendencies

  1. Individuality Postulate: Each person has a unique set of traits.
  2. Origin Postulate: All personality traits are the result of biology.
  3. Development Postulate: Traits develop and change through childhood but slowly in adolescence old, change in personality nearly stops altogether.
  4. Structure Postulate: Traits are organized hierarchically from narrow and specific to broad and general.
• Postulates for Characteristic Adaptations

  1. Over time, people adapt to their environment by ”acquiring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors consistent with their personality traits and earlier adaptations.”
  2. Our responses may be inconsistent with personal goals and cultural values (maladjustment).
  3. Plasticity Postulate: Basic traits may change over time in response to biological maturation, changes in environment, or deliberate interventions.