Trait Theory and Self-Esteem

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The trait theorists would postulate that low self-esteem is probably caused by the combination of two basic traits which are part of the Big Five model of the basic traits: that of neuroticism, which is described by the qualities of tenseness, nervousness, instability, disconnectedness, and high emotionality; and that of introversion, which is described by timidness, low energy, lack of adventurousness, unassertiveness, and quiteness.

The combination of neuroticism and introversion would produce a personality predisposition of someone who fails to stand up for themselves (unassertiveness), fails to communicate, feels disconnected, and is highly emotional, meaning that any setbacks will make this person feel depressed. Additionally, such a person may be emotionally unstable and thus not able to affectively deal with the challenges of life. All of these characteristics may produce a person whose self-esteem is low.

The trait theorists do not provide any model for change. thus a person with low self-esteem would seem to be stuck in this mode for life. Furthermore, the trait theorists believe that basic traits are stable across the life-span and across situations. There are many critics of these two points.
Reference:
Pervin, L., Cervone, D., & Oliver, J. (2005). Theories of personality. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The personality traits of stand-up comedians, and owners of vicious dogs (marginalrevolution.com)

Robert DeStefano

May 17th, 2009 at 7:29 am

Thanks for this information about Trait Theory. I lecture at University on a course that is part Psychology and part Counselling. The module I teach is Theories of Personality and Individual Differences. My students need to address the relevance various and sundry theories have to the counsellor/client setting and have well they identify markers of behaviour (again, in a counsellor/client setting). Many of the students have had difficulty finding any relevance at all for Trait Theory vis a vis counselling and psychotheray. I suggest that they think of Trait theory as similar to Temperament Theory, which seeks to reconcile a person’s natural attributes with the demands of the environment. Additionally, I suggest that they look at, say, Person Centred view of each individual as unique, with their own gifts and limitations. The role of the therapist in PCApproaches is to see the world from the clients’ position. Can using Trait Theory is a counselling setting be doing something similar? Granted, it’s not a great fit, and underlying theories of PCApproaches and Trait Theorists are radically different. But I find it far too easy for counsellors and psychotherapists to dismiss more ‘biological’ or ‘scientific’ approaches to the personality. I’ve been guitly of it myself. If we do that, aren’t we just as guilty as those Trait Theorists who discount therapy as a mechanism for change? Just a thought.

novice counselor

May 17th, 2009 at 10:57 am

Hello Robert,

I appreciate your comment! It would seem that the Trait Theory would imply no therapeutic change is possible, since we are stuck with the traits we are born with. However, Hans J. Eysenck, one of the trait theorist quoted in my textbook says: “The fact that genetic factors play a large part in the initiation and maintenance of neurotic disorders is very unwelcome to many people who believe that such a state of affairs must lead to therapeutic nihilism. If heredity is so important, they say, then clearly behavior modification of any kind must be impossible. This is a completely erroneous interpretation of the facts. What is genetically determined are predispositions for a person to act and behave in a certain manner, when put in certain situations”(1982, p. 29). Accordingly, it is possible for a person to unlearn certain learned responses, or to acquire certain codes of social conduct. Thus Eysenck was a major proponent of behavior therapy, or the systematic treatment of abnormal behavior according to the principles of learning theory (Pervin, et al., 2005). Therefore, if we can apply learning theory in relation to the traits, we should also be able to apply other theoretical approaches to therapy to modify behavior. What do you think?
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