Long –Term stability in dispositional traits
Dispositional traits across adulthood
Evi dences of change within the
5 factor model
di mensions of the 5 fa ctors of
Neuroticism-The tendency to experience unpleasant di s positional trails are related to
emoti ons easily, such as a nger, anxiety, depression, a nd two di mension of personality –
vul nerability. Adjus tment a nd Growth
4 Studi es conducted indicate that
Extraversion-outgoing/energetic vs . solitary/reserved). One of the oldest debates in l i festyle is a better predictor of life
Energy, positive emotions, assertiveness, sociability a nd psychology concerns whether s a tisfaction for women a nd
the tendency to s eek s timulation i n the company of personality development pers onality i s a better predictor
others , and talkativeness continues across the life span” for men
(Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, Sta bility a nd change characterize
Openness to experience-Appreci ation for a rt, emotion, 2015, p. 246).
development into a dvanced old
a dventure, unusual i deas, curiosity, a nd va riety of Enter this debate by a critical
a ge.
experience. Openness reflects the degree of i ntellectual discussion of the views of
curi osity, creativity a nd a preference for novelty a nd theorists advocating personality
va ri ety a person has consistency in terms of certain
dispositional traits and those
Agreeableness-A tendency to be compassionate and who accentuate personality
cooperative ra ther than s uspicious and a ntagonistic changes, with special reference
towa rds others. It is also a measure of one's trusting and
to personality stability versus Personality concerns and qualitative
hel pful nature, a nd whether a person i s generally well- change during adulthood stages in adulthood (Life Transitions)
tempered or not
Conscientiousness-A tendency to be organized and
dependable, show self-discipline, act dutifully, a im for
Jungs Theory-Emphasizes the various
a chi evement, a nd prefer planned rather than
dimensions of personality and argues
s pontaneous behaviour. High conscientiousness is often
perceived as s tubbornness and obsession that people move towards integrating
these dimensions as they age.
Eriksons Theory-Can be seen as a trust-
achievement –wholeness cycle repeating
twice, although the exact transition
Life narratives, identity and self mechanism has not been clearly defined.
McAdams life-story model- people a create life story tha t is internalized with a
Loevinger Theory-Proposes eight stages
begi nning. middle a nd end, this l ife s tory i s reformulated through a dulthood.
of ego development, 6 f which occur in
The l ife story reflects on emotions, motivations, beliefs, va lues and goals set that set adulthood-conformist, Conscientious,
context for the persons behaviour. individualistic, autonomous and
integrated.
Whitbornes identity theory –Li fe s pan construct in a unified sense of their past,
pres ent a nd future in that the s cenario (expectations of the future) a nd the life s tory
(pers onal narrative history. This integrates the concept of a ssimilation a nd
a ccommodation from Piagets theory.
Self-concept and development- i s the organized, coherent, integrated pattern of self-
perception. The events people experienced help s hape their self-concept.
Possible self’s and differences during adulthood- through projection of one’s self
i nto the future visualizing what one could be come. In relation to a ge differences one
ha s different s elf-concepts has one a ges therefore self-concept is ever developing.
Religiosity and spiritual support in adult life- i n l ater a dulthood i t is found that
s pi ritual support i s used as a coping s trategy to help one through life’s challenges. This
a l so provides as a strong influence on identity
Gender –Role identity in adulthood- In mi ddle adulthood i t is found that both me and
women are l ikely to endorse similar self-descriptions, however this dose to tra nslate
i nto s imilar behaviour.
Dispositional traits across adulthood
Evi dences of change within the
5 factor model
di mensions of the 5 fa ctors of
Neuroticism-The tendency to experience unpleasant di s positional trails are related to
emoti ons easily, such as a nger, anxiety, depression, a nd two di mension of personality –
vul nerability. Adjus tment a nd Growth
4 Studi es conducted indicate that
Extraversion-outgoing/energetic vs . solitary/reserved). One of the oldest debates in l i festyle is a better predictor of life
Energy, positive emotions, assertiveness, sociability a nd psychology concerns whether s a tisfaction for women a nd
the tendency to s eek s timulation i n the company of personality development pers onality i s a better predictor
others , and talkativeness continues across the life span” for men
(Cavanaugh & Blanchard-Fields, Sta bility a nd change characterize
Openness to experience-Appreci ation for a rt, emotion, 2015, p. 246).
development into a dvanced old
a dventure, unusual i deas, curiosity, a nd va riety of Enter this debate by a critical
a ge.
experience. Openness reflects the degree of i ntellectual discussion of the views of
curi osity, creativity a nd a preference for novelty a nd theorists advocating personality
va ri ety a person has consistency in terms of certain
dispositional traits and those
Agreeableness-A tendency to be compassionate and who accentuate personality
cooperative ra ther than s uspicious and a ntagonistic changes, with special reference
towa rds others. It is also a measure of one's trusting and
to personality stability versus Personality concerns and qualitative
hel pful nature, a nd whether a person i s generally well- change during adulthood stages in adulthood (Life Transitions)
tempered or not
Conscientiousness-A tendency to be organized and
dependable, show self-discipline, act dutifully, a im for
Jungs Theory-Emphasizes the various
a chi evement, a nd prefer planned rather than
dimensions of personality and argues
s pontaneous behaviour. High conscientiousness is often
perceived as s tubbornness and obsession that people move towards integrating
these dimensions as they age.
Eriksons Theory-Can be seen as a trust-
achievement –wholeness cycle repeating
twice, although the exact transition
Life narratives, identity and self mechanism has not been clearly defined.
McAdams life-story model- people a create life story tha t is internalized with a
Loevinger Theory-Proposes eight stages
begi nning. middle a nd end, this l ife s tory i s reformulated through a dulthood.
of ego development, 6 f which occur in
The l ife story reflects on emotions, motivations, beliefs, va lues and goals set that set adulthood-conformist, Conscientious,
context for the persons behaviour. individualistic, autonomous and
integrated.
Whitbornes identity theory –Li fe s pan construct in a unified sense of their past,
pres ent a nd future in that the s cenario (expectations of the future) a nd the life s tory
(pers onal narrative history. This integrates the concept of a ssimilation a nd
a ccommodation from Piagets theory.
Self-concept and development- i s the organized, coherent, integrated pattern of self-
perception. The events people experienced help s hape their self-concept.
Possible self’s and differences during adulthood- through projection of one’s self
i nto the future visualizing what one could be come. In relation to a ge differences one
ha s different s elf-concepts has one a ges therefore self-concept is ever developing.
Religiosity and spiritual support in adult life- i n l ater a dulthood i t is found that
s pi ritual support i s used as a coping s trategy to help one through life’s challenges. This
a l so provides as a strong influence on identity
Gender –Role identity in adulthood- In mi ddle adulthood i t is found that both me and
women are l ikely to endorse similar self-descriptions, however this dose to tra nslate
i nto s imilar behaviour.
