Walter Mischel Has Argued That Personality Traits Are Not Particularly

question 257

Multiple Choice

Walter Mischel has argued that personality traits are not particularly useful for predicting a specific behaviour. For example, extraversion doesn't always predict whether someone will go to a party on Saturday night. What do trait theorists argue, to refute Mischel's criticism?

• A) Traits predict aggregate or average behaviour, even if they don't predict all specific instances.
• B) Extraversion isn't useful for predicting social behaviour because it isn't a social trait.
• C) Personality traits are descriptors of attitudes, not of behaviours.
• D) Trait theories are about description, not about explanations for personality.

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Definitions:

Classic Behavioral Research

The study of how behaviors are learned and unlearned based on principles of conditioning and reinforcement, foundational to behaviorist psychology.

Placebo Treatment

A substance or treatment with no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs or to explore the psychological impact of receiving treatment.

Quality Research

The systematic and critical investigation into phenomena, aimed at discovering or interpreting facts and achieving a high standard of reliability and validity in its findings.

Humanistic Therapies

A category of psychotherapies that emphasize self-exploration, self-expression, and personal growth, focusing on the client's subjective experience.