Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Preeti is a hardworking and sincere social worker, who is famous amongst the community she works with as ‘Sakhi Saheli’ because of her empathetic and warm personality. Her friends often call this phenomena ‘Preetism’, a label that denotes her loving generous and friendly nature. She is always seen in ethnic clothes and a khadi shoulder bag. For her self-less service towards the less privileged, Preeti was recognised by several organisations and the government.
Characteristics such as hardworking, sincere, warm, loving and empathetic can also be called __________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Central traits
Option (1) Central traits — Correct. Less pervasive in effect, but still quite generalised dispositions, are called central traits. These traits (e.g., warm, sincere, diligent) are often used in writing a testimonial or job recommendation. Hardworking, sincere, warm, loving and empathetic, listed one by one as in a testimonial, are such traits.
Option (2) Cardinal traits — Incorrect. A cardinal trait is a single highly generalised disposition that dominates a life and takes the person’s name, like ‘Gandhian’. Here the qualities are listed one by one, not summed up in one ruling disposition.
Option (3) Secondary traits — Incorrect. Secondary traits are the least generalised characteristics, such as liking mangoes. Sincerity and warmth show in most of what a person does, so they are far broader.
Option (4) Neurotic traits — Incorrect. In Eysenck’s neuroticism dimension, neurotic people are anxious, moody, touchy, restless and quickly lose control. Preeti’s warm, sincere nature is the very opposite.
NCERT (2025-26): “Allport’s Trait Theory … 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.…” “Eysenck’s Theory … (1) Neuroticism vs. emotional stability : It refers to the degree to which people have control over their feelings. At one extreme of the dimension, we find people who are neurotic. They are anxious, moody, touchy, restless and quickly lose control.…” |