Question

According to Allport, a single trait that dominates an individual's entire personality is called:

• A. Central trait
• B. Cardinal trait
• C. Source trait
• D. Secondary trait

Hint:

Think of the hierarchy like this: {Cardinal} traits are like a king or queen—rare, but they rule everything. {Central} traits are like the main pillars of a building—the core foundation of personality. {Secondary} traits are like the furniture—they are there, but only show up in certain rooms (situations).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question refers to Gordon Allport's trait theory of personality and asks for the term he used to describe a rare but all-pervasive trait.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Gordon Allport organized personality traits into a hierarchy of three levels:

Cardinal trait (B): This is a single, dominant trait that defines a person's life. A person with such a trait is often known for it. Allport considered cardinal traits to be rare; not everyone has one. Examples might be the Machiavellianism of Machiavelli or the Christ-like compassion of Mother Teresa.
Central trait (A): These are the major characteristics that form the basic building blocks of personality. Everyone has a handful of central traits (e.g., honesty, kindness, shyness) that could be used to describe them in a letter of recommendation.
Secondary trait (D): These are traits that are more limited in scope and appear only in specific situations or under particular circumstances (e.g., getting anxious when speaking in public).
Source trait (C) is a term from Raymond Cattell's trait theory, not Allport's.
Step 3: Final Answer:
According to Allport, a single, dominating trait is called a cardinal trait.