Who is NOT associated with the trait approach of personality?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Sheldon
Option (1) Costa and McCrae — Trait approach (Incorrect). Paul Costa and Robert McCrae examined all possible personality traits and found five factors, the Big Five: the five-factor model of traits.
Option (2) Allport — Trait approach (Incorrect). Gordon Allport is considered the pioneer of the trait approach; he grouped traits into cardinal, central and secondary.
Option (3) Sheldon — Type approach (Correct). Sheldon used body build and temperament to propose the endomorphic, mesomorphic and ectomorphic typology. Placing people into types is the type approach, so he is the one not associated with the trait approach.
Option (4) Cattell — Trait approach (Incorrect). Raymond Cattell used factor analysis to find 16 primary or source traits and built the 16PF questionnaire.
NCERT (2025-26): “Type Approaches … Within psychology, the personality types given by Sheldon are fairly well-known. Using body build and temperament as the main basis, Sheldon proposed the Endomorphic, Mesomorphic, and Ectomorphic typology. The endomorphs are fat, soft and round. By temperament they are relaxed and sociable. The mesomorphs have strong musculature, are rectangular with a strong body build. They are energetic and courageous. The ectomorphs are thin, long and fragile in body build. They are brainy, artistic and introvert.…” “Allport’s Trait Theory … Gordon Allport is considered the pioneer of trait approach.…” “Cattell: Personality Factors … Raymond Cattell believed that there is a common structure on which people differ from each other. This structure could be determined empirically. He tried to identify the primary traits from a huge array of descriptive adjectives found in language. He applied a statistical technique, called factor analysis, to discover the common structures. He found 16 primary or source traits. The source traits are stable, and are considered as the building blocks of personality.…” “Five-Factor Model of Personality … Paul Costa and Robert McCrae have examined all possible personality traits. The findings indicate a set of five factors. They are often called Big Five Factors.…” |