Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2001

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Monson, Thomas C.

Abstract

Professional psychologists have frequently examined cross-situational correlations in behavior. Based upon low correlations in the range of 0.15 to 0.30, many professional psychologists have questioned the utility of using personality traits to describe and predict behavior. In contrast, the "naive psychologist" appears to have an inordinately high expectation that the behaviors that individuals exhibit are strongly related to the traits that they possess. This discrepancy in the views of professional psychologists and naive psychologists has been termed the "consistency paradox". Based upon the many errors and biases that have been documented in the attribution process, most psychologists have assumed that the viewpoint held by the professional psychologist is correct and that held by the naive psychologist is wrong. The results of several studies are presented suggesting that naive psychologists are capable of accurately detecting traits through a behavior averaging process even when cross-situational correlations reach zero.

Extent

157 p.

Comments

FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2001.|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Identifier

FADT12846

Format

pdf

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