Assessment 1: Case Study: Lola from a Traits Perspective
Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX 2900
Instructor Name
July 2024
Case Study: Lola from a Traits Perspective
Lola, a college student, is currently navigating an identity crisis. The data has gathered significant insights into her personality traits through discussions with her family and Lola herself. She is often described as anxious, moody, and creative. These characteristics provide a complex picture of Lola that requires careful analysis.
To gain insight into Lola’s personality, the five-factor model of personality and Eysenck’s hierarchical model can be utilized. These models provide a systematic approach to analyzing Lola’s characteristics, clarifying how her traits have evolved. This dual approach not only helps us understand her current personality but also offers a framework to trace the development and influences on her traits throughout her life.
Overview of the Five-Factor Model of Personality
The Five-Factor Personality Model outlines five general characteristics, offering a detailed framework for understanding individual variations (Angelini, 2023). The first trait, extraversion or surgency, assesses sociability and the propensity to seek stimulation through social interaction (Mazzetti et al., 2020). People high in extraversion are often seen as outgoing, talkative, adventurous, and eager for new experiences (Abu et al., 2023). They thrive in social settings and gain energy from interacting with others. In contrast, those low in extraversion are more reserved, introverted, cautious, and prefer privacy. They often feel exhausted by prolonged social interactions and favor solitude or small groups.
Trait Categories
The second dimension, agreeableness, reflects the quality of an individual’s interpersonal interactions. People with agreeableness are typically good-natured, cooperative, empathetic, and friendly (Fuente et al., 2024). They are inclined to maintain harmonious relationships and are often seen as trustworthy and compassionate. In contrast, individuals low in agreeableness may come across as more irritable, competitive, and sometimes antagonistic. They might prioritize self-interest over social harmony, leading to more conflictual interactions.
Conscientiousness is the third trait. According to Mazzetti et al. (2020), this trait pertains to an individual’s degree of organization, dependability, and perseverance. People with high conscientiousness levels are generally thorough, reliable, and goal-oriented objectives. They display strong self-discipline and a sense of duty, enabling them to manage tasks efficiently and achieve their goals. On the flip side, those with low conscientiousness often face challenges with organization, procrastination, and maintaining focus, which can negatively affect their overall productivity (Fuente et al., 2024).
Emotional stability, the fourth dimension, measures an individual’s emotional resilience and stability (Angelini, 2023). Those with high emotional stability are calm, composed, and poised under pressure. They manage stress well and maintain a balanced outlook, even in challenging situations. In contrast, individuals low in emotional stability may experience anxiety, mood swings, and emotional turbulence, making it difficult for them to cope with stress and adversity effectively (Pan et al., 2024).
The fifth dimension, often called openness to experience or culture, involves curiosity about intellectual pursuits, innovative thinking, and an inclination for new and diverse experiences (Abu et al., 2023). Those scoring high in openness are inventive and receptive to new ideas. They appreciate art and beauty and frequently seek new ideas and experiences. In contrast, those with low openness tend to favor routine, familiarity, and conventional approaches, showing less interest in creative activities and abstract thinking.
Eysenck’s Hierarchical Model of Personality
The Hierarchical Personality Model by Eysenck is built upon psychophysiological principles, focusing on traits he identified as largely inheritable (Živković et al., 2022). Eysenck’s model revolves around three primary traits and the first is psychoticism, characterized by behaviors such as aggression, coldness, egocentrism, impulsivity, creativity, and tough-mindedness (Muntean et al., 2022). The second key trait is extraversion-introversion. Eysenck posited that extroverted individuals are friendly, lively, active, and carefree (Pan et al., 2024). The third significant trait is neuroticism, where individuals often exhibit anxiety, depression, guilt, tension, shyness, or moodiness.
Application to Lola
Eysenck’s Hierarchical Model of Personality provides a fitting framework to describe Lola’s personality traits, emphasizing their biological and genetic underpinnings. Interviews with Lola’s family reveal that she is often anxious and moody, aligning with Eysenck’s neuroticism trait. Moreover, neuroticism appears in her family, as her mother exhibits similar behaviors. It supports Eysenck’s hypothesis that such traits are genetically influenced.
Developmental Influences
Lola’s neurotic tendencies may have genetic roots. Her mother notes that Lola has always been challenging to interact with and has had few friends, a pattern similar to her experiences. Lola, in turn, describes her mother as an “ice princess,” suggesting a strained relationship possibly rooted in similar personality traits. This familial pattern underscores the potential genetic basis of neuroticism in Lola’s personality.
Childhood Experiences
Lola’s childhood experiences also likely contributed to her personality development. She recalls feeling lonely due to her parents’ demanding work schedules and frequent relocations, which hindered her ability to form stable friendships. This lack of social connection during formative years may have exacerbated her feelings of anxiety and moodiness. However, Lola found solace and expression in music and art, discovering a creative outlet that she continues to enjoy as a young adult, excelling particularly in painting.
PSYC FPX 2900 Assessment 1 Conclusion
Analyzing Lola’s personality through the Five Factors and Eysenck’s Hierarchical Model helps us understand her traits and their development. Recognizing the interplay of genetic and biological factors and the impact of her childhood experiences provides a deeper insight into Lola’s personality and the challenges she faces. This holistic approach helps us understand her behaviors and the underlying reasons for her struggles.
PSYC FPX 2900 Assessment 1 References
Abu, M., Ogunyemi, A. O., Rojas, V., Broder, J., Illanes, M., & Rankin, K. P. (2023). The reciprocal relationship between openness and creativity: From neurobiology to multicultural environments. Frontiers in Neurology, 14, 1235348. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1235348
Angelini, G. (2023). Big five model personality traits and job burnout: A systematic literature review. BMC Psychology, 11(1), 49. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01056-y
Fuente, L., Sander, P., & Garzón, A. (2024).The big five factors as differential predictors of self-regulation, achievement emotions, coping and health behavior in undergraduate students. BMC Psychology, 12, 267 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01768-9
Mazzetti, G., Guglielmi, D., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2020). Same involvement, different reasons: How personality factors and organizations contribute to heavy work investment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(22), 8550. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228550
Muntean, L. M., Nireștean, A., Popa, C. O., Strete, E. G., Ghiga, D. V., Comaniciu, A., & Lukacs, E. (2022). The relationship between emotional stability, psychological well-being and life satisfaction of Romanian medical doctors during covid-19 period: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 2937. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052937
Pan, L., Zhou, R., Chen, Z., Ke, D., Huang, Z. Y., Wu, W., & Yan, J. (2024). Latent profile analysis of Eysenck’s personality dimensions and psychological constructs in university students. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1379705. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1379705
Redelmeier, D. A., Najeeb, U., & Etchells, E. E. (2021). Understanding patient personality in medical care: Five-factor model. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(7), 2111–2114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06598-8
Živković, D., Nedeljković, J., Veljković, B., Đošić, A., Bojanić, Ž., Bratić, M., & Pantelić, S. (2022). The role of personality in predicting satisfaction with life in recreational athletes during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 820045. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.820045
