Match List-I with List-II
| List-I Traits | List-II Characteristics | ||
| (A) | Cardinal traits | (I) | Quite generalised dispositions |
| (B) | Central traits | (II) | Building blocks of personality |
| (C) | Secondary traits | (III) | Highly generalised dispositions |
| (D) | Source traits | (IV) | Least generalised dispositions |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (A)-(III), (B)-(I), (C)-(IV), (D)-(II)
Allport categorised traits into cardinal, central and secondary by how generalised they are; source traits come from Cattell.
(A) Cardinal traits — this matches (III) Highly generalised dispositions. They indicate the goal around which a person’s entire life seems to revolve, like Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence.
(B) Central traits — this matches (I) Quite generalised dispositions. They are less pervasive than cardinal traits but still quite generalised, such as warm, sincere or diligent, the words used in a testimonial.
(C) Secondary traits — this matches (IV) Least generalised dispositions. They are the least generalised characteristics, such as ‘likes mangoes’ or ‘prefers ethnic clothes’.
(D) Source traits — this matches (II) Building blocks of personality. Cattell found 16 primary or source traits by factor analysis; they are stable and are considered the building blocks of personality.
NCERT (2025-26): “Allport’s Trait Theory … Allport, based on this, categorised traits into cardinal, central, and secondary. Cardinal traits are highly generalised dispositions. They indicate the goal around which a person’s entire life seems to revolve. Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence and Hitler’s Nazism are examples of cardinal traits. Such traits often get associated with the name of the person so strongly that they derive such identities as the ‘Gandhian’ or ‘Hitlerian’ trait. Less pervasive in effect, but still quite generalised dispositions, are called central traits. These traits (e.g., warm, sincere, diligent, etc.) are often used in writing a testimonial or job recommendation for a person. The least generalised characteristics of a person are called secondary traits. Traits such as ‘likes mangoes’ or ‘prefers ethnic clothes’ are examples of secondary traits.…” “Cattell: Personality Factors … He found 16 primary or source traits. The source traits are stable, and are considered as the building blocks of personality.…” |