Discussion Question
February 14th, 2023
List and define the five traits included in the Big Five theory of personality. What are the limitations of this approach?.
List and define three of Henry Murray’s needs. For one of the needs, provide an example of an occupation that would help to satisfy that need and explain why. For another need, describe how the need can cause trouble for a person in an occupational role.
Answer:
The Big Five theory of personality includes the following traits:
- Openness: characterized by imagination, creativity, and a willingness to try new things.
- Conscientiousness: characterized by responsibility, organization, and a strong work ethic.
- Extraversion: characterized by outgoingness, assertiveness, and sociability.
- Agreeableness: characterized by compassion, cooperativeness, and a focus on others’ needs.
- Neuroticism: characterized by emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness.
Limitations of this approach include cultural biases, the fact that personality traits can change over time, and the difficulty of accurately measuring personality traits.
Henry Murray’s needs include:
- Achievement: the need for success and a sense of accomplishment. An occupation that would satisfy this need is an entrepreneur, as they are often driven by the desire to build and grow a successful business.
- Power: the need for control and influence over others. This need can cause trouble for a person in an occupational role if they become too controlling and overbearing, leading to conflicts with coworkers or subordinates.
- Affiliation: the need for social connections and a sense of belonging. An occupation that would help to satisfy this need is a social worker, as they are often motivated by a desire to help others and create meaningful relationships with their clients.
