Personality and Relationships

Measuring Personality

Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) Jenkens Activity Survey (Type A/Type B) NEO Personal Inventory (Big 5)

Big Five Personality Traits

1. Extroversion2. Neuroticism3. Openness to Experience4. Conscientiousness5. Agreeableness

OCEAN McCrae & Costa, 1990

Extroversion Extroverts: High sociability, impulsiveness, like

parties, crave excitement, focused on outer world, more friends

Introverts: quiet, reserved, reflective, like to think things through before speaking, focused within Cetola & Prinkey, 1986

“introverts are habitually in a state of greater arousal than extraverts, and consequently they show lower sensory thresholds, and greater reactions to sensory stimulation.” Eysenck & Eysenck, 1969

Lemon Test Stereotypes of introverts/extroverts?

Wundt’s Hedonic Curve

Adapted from Cetola & Prinkey, 1986

Hedonic Curve for Introverts and Extroverts

Cetola & Prinkey, 1986

Neuroticism

Unsociable Withdrawn Wish to indulge in social activity but fear of being rejected takes

over Different from introversion

Anxiety, self-consciousness, emotionally unstable High: anxious, hostile, self-conscious, and impulsive McCrae & Costa,

1990

Opposite: Emotionally stableEysenck & Eysenck, 1969

Openness to Experience High

“Receptiveness to new ideas, approaches, experiences” (p.41-42)

Intellectually curious Often appreciates art, literature, travel More likely to hold unconventional beliefs “free spirits”

Low Prefer the familiar and practical Resists change Not necessarily close minded or intolerant of othersMcCrae & Costa

Conscientiousness

High Achievement-orientated Organized, dutiful, high level of motivation Workaholics?

Low Easy-going Less exacting with themselves and with others Slackers?

Agreeableness

Generous and trusting of others and want everyone to get along

Optimistic Opposite: Antagonism

Tough-minded, non-accommodating of others Place the interest of themselves above the interest of others Often seen as uncooperative

Which of these would you want your surgeon to be? Lawyer?Does this have anything to do with face theory?

Opposites Attract? Marriage partners often have similarities (religion

ethnicity, attraciveness, values) but complimentary personalities McCrae & Costa, 1990

Personality more important than other factors in predicting marital adjustment

Difference-detecting mechanisms Buss, 1996

I’m Outgoing and She’s Reserved: The Reciprocal Dynamics of Personality in Close Friendships in Young Adulthood Nelson, Thorne, & Shapiro, 2011

Interpersonal Theory Self Expansion Theory

Overall, “a series of compromises and adaptations evolve over a period of time” (p. 160) in any successful relationship McCrae & Costa, 1990

Desirable Personalities In a long- term mate

Extroversion- ambitious about careerNeuroticism- emotionally stableAgreeableness- kindConscientiousness- dependable,

hardworkingOpenness- intelligent, open-minded,

creativeBuss, 1996

Desirable Personalities In a friendship

Extroversion- bold, self-confident, ambitious about career

Neuroticism- emotionally stableAgreeableness- kindConscientiousness- hardworking,

dependableOpenness- open- minded, creative,

intelligent, wide range of knowledgeBuss, 1996

Undesirable Personalities

Low on agreeablenessNeglect, verbal abuse, physical abuse,

sexual infidelity, inconsiderateness, self-centeredness

Emotionally unstable (neurotic)Possessive, jealous, dependent,

abusive, inconsiderate, physically self-absorbed, self centered

Other Undesirable Personalities Low Conscientiousness

High instances of sexual infidelity, especially men

Low Openness Sexualizing of others “treating members of the opposite sex as sex

objects; commenting about the attractiveness of others; expressing sexual desire for a movie star” (Buss, 1996).

Personality and Sexual Infidelity

Buss, 1996 100 married couples- took personality test as

newlyweds and questioned 4 years later Low Conscientious men AND women likely to cheat Women high in openness to experiences likely to

cheat Submissive partners are likely to be cheated on

Nonverbal Communication and PersonalityWhen it comes to conversational distance: Extraverts- likely to choose to sit opposite of other

person and avoid positions that would put them at an angle

Introverts- choose positions that would keep that at more of a distance (visually and physically) sit diagonally

Knapp & Hall, 2006

Nonverbal Communication and Personality

Dominant people show more eye contact than submissive people

Extraverted, Agreeable, and Open people show more gazing activity (eye contact) than other personalities Knapp & Hall, 2006

What does this mean for relationships?Flirting?

Nonverbal Communication and Personality

Is there a relationship between personality/temperament and certain body types?

Some people believe there is a correlation

Calm Anxious Cheerful Contented (often content. Happy or at ease) Relaxed Confident Tense Impetuous (impulsive) Complacent (self-satisfied) Reticent (reserved- don’t say everything you know) Energetic Self-conscious

I feel most of the time _____, _________, and ______

Efficient Enthusiastic Reflective Placid (calm, quiet) Sluggish Competitive Leisurely Meticulous Precise Determined Thoughtful cooperative

When I study or work I seem to be ______, ______, and ___________.

Socially, I am ____, _____, and ________. Outgoing Affable (shows warmth and friendliness) Tolerant Gentle-tempered Considerate Awkward Affected (emotionally moved easily) Soft-tempered Argumentative Shy Talkative Hot-tempered

I am rather ____, ______, and ____. Active Warm Domineering Introspective Forgiving Courageous Suspicious Cool Sympathetic Serious Soft-hearted Enterprising

Other people consider me rather ___, _____ and _______. Generous Adventurous Withdrawn Dominant Optimistic Affectionate Reckless Detached Sensitive Kind Cautious Dependent

Pick one of each three

Assertive, relaxed, tense Hot-tempered, cool, warm Withdrawn, sociable, active Confident, tactful, kind Dependent, dominant, detached Enterprising, affable, anxious

Section A Forgiving Sympathetic Soft-hearted Generous Affectionate Kind Sociable Soft-tempered Warm Affected Tolerant

Dependent Calm Relaxed Complacent Contented Sluggish Placid Leisurely Cooperative Affable

Section B Dominant Cheerful Confident Energetic Impetuous Efficient Enthusiastic Competitive Determined Outgoing Hot Tempered

Argumentative Talkative Active Domineering Courageous Enterprising Adventurous Reckless Assertive optimistic

Section C Detached Tense Anxious Reticent Self-Conscious Meticulous Reflective Precise Thoughtful Considerate

Shy Awkward Cool Suspicious Introspective Serious Cautious Tactful Sensitive Withdrawn Gentle-tempered

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Wells & Siegel (1961) stereotypes about personalities of people with different body types Knapp & Hall, 2006

Buss, D. M. (1996). The five- factor model of personality: Theoretical perspectives. J. S. Wiggins (Ed.) New York: The Guilford Press.

Cetola, H., & Prinkey, K. (1986). Introversion-extraversion and loud commercials. Psychology and Marketing, 3, 123-132.

Eysenck, H. J., & Eysenck, S. B. (1969). Personality structure and measurement. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Limited.

Knapp, M. L., & Hall, J. A. (2006). Nonverbal communication in human interaction (6th ed.) Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education.

McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T. (1990). Personality in adulthood. New York: The Guilford Press.

Nelson, P. A., Thorne, A., & Shapiro, L.A. (2011). I’m outgoing and she’s reserved: The reciprocal dynamics of personality in close friendships in young adulthood. Journal of Personality, 79 (5), p. 1113-1147.