Who is commonly associated with trait theory in psychology?

Who is commonly associated with trait theory in psychology?

• A. Skinner
• B. Piaget
• C. Watson
• D. Eysenck

Answer: (D)

Trait theory looks at stable, enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving—the traits that tend to stay the same across different situations. Hans Eysenck is closely associated with this approach, because he proposed a biologically based model of personality with key dimensions such as extraversion–introversion and neuroticism–stability, later adding psychoticism. He argued these traits are relatively heritable and measurable with questionnaires like the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, emphasizing that a small set of core traits can describe how a person tends to act across many contexts and how those traits relate to underlying biological processes. Skinner is linked with behaviorism, focusing on how behavior is shaped by reinforcement and punishment. Piaget is known for cognitive development and how thinking changes with age. Watson is also a pioneer of behaviorism, emphasizing observable behavior and learning from the environment rather than internal traits.

Trait theory looks at stable, enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving—the traits that tend to stay the same across different situations. Hans Eysenck is closely associated with this approach, because he proposed a biologically based model of personality with key dimensions such as extraversion–introversion and neuroticism–stability, later adding psychoticism. He argued these traits are relatively heritable and measurable with questionnaires like the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, emphasizing that a small set of core traits can describe how a person tends to act across many contexts and how those traits relate to underlying biological processes.

Skinner is linked with behaviorism, focusing on how behavior is shaped by reinforcement and punishment. Piaget is known for cognitive development and how thinking changes with age. Watson is also a pioneer of behaviorism, emphasizing observable behavior and learning from the environment rather than internal traits.