Trait Theory vs Personal Conduct

Although there are many different constructs and theories that attempt to describe explain behaviour/personality; there are two particular perspectives that offer very different and contrasting approaches to personalities. The first being Hans Eysenck's trait theory, in the simplest terms trait theory is the theory that ones personality is made up of different traits: a characteristic that means that people will behave in different ways in the same situation. Eysenck developed his theory by further developing the work of others before him, he based his work on patients that were mentally
ill such as soldiers suffering from PTSD. Eysenck's model of personality is based on just 2 universal trait dimensions: extroversion and neuroticism, Cattell before him considered that you needed 16 basic personality traits to describe someone adequetly; while others suggested 5, 2 or 3 different dimensions. He believed that these kind of traits were governed by biology. He suggested that behavioural patterns and behaviour are a result of innate inherited brain structures.(Butt, 2007) The other perspective is George Kelly's personal construct theory, Kelly believed that people behave and act differently thus constructing their personalities based on how they view 'things' and most importantly other people. He theorised that with this phenomenology, people and 'things' seem different to everyone and that each person develops a set of personalty   constructs based on individual experience. (Butt, 2007) This assignment will attempt to discuss the main points of Eysenck's Trait theory and compare and contrast its strengths and weaknesses with Kelly's Personal construct theory. It   will show that although Trait theory is an accepted one and does have some strong points; ultimately the Personal Construct theory is far superior as it encompasses the change of personality through our social life. Even though Personal Construct may be the stronger theory there are still ways both theories...