Lexical Approach in Psychology
The lexical approach in personality psychology views personality traits as words used to describe personality. The central assumption of this approach is that each individual possesses a unique set of personality traits that can be measured and described using lexical terms. The lexical approach aims to identify the most critical personality traits and create a classification system that defines personality based on these traits. The purpose of the lexical approach is to provide a comprehensive system that enables the measurement and comparison of personality traits across different individuals.
Description of the Personality Models
A personality model derived from the lexical approach is exemplified by the Big Five model, also known as the “Five-Factor Model of Personality,” which comprises five primary traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience. These traits were selected based on an analysis of terms used to describe personality across different languages.
The Cattell model is another example of a personality model based on the lexical approach. It encompasses 16 primary personality traits, which were also chosen based on an analysis of lexical terms (Alexiou, 2022). These traits include sociality, anxiety, dominance, and intellectual organization.
Comparison of the Models
Although both models were created using the lexical approach, they differ in several ways. Firstly, the Big Five model includes fewer traits than the Cattell model. This may be because the Big Five model was based solely on an analysis of English terms, whereas the Cattell model was based on analyzing terms from multiple languages.
Secondly, the Big Five model includes more widely used terms, making it more accessible and easier to use than the Cattell model, which provides more specific terms. Thirdly, the Big Five model is more user-friendly, as it encompasses only five primary personality traits (Maltby, 2010). In contrast, the Cattell model can be more complex and less convenient due to its greater complexity.
Moreover, these models may differ in the content of personality traits. For example, Cattell’s model includes personality traits such as expertise and autonomy, which are not included in the Big Five model. On the other hand, the Big Five model includes openness to experience, which is not present in Cattell’s model (Alexiou, 2022). This may reflect the different cultural and linguistic contexts in which these models were created. Thus, although both models were created using the lexical approach and are used to describe personality traits, they differ in several respects, including the number of included traits, ease of use, and the content of the personality traits.
Reference
Alexiou, A. (2022). The psychology of anger. Springer International Publishing.
Maltby, J., Day, L., & Macaskill, A. (2010). Personality, individual differences, and intelligence. Pearson Education.