BIOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND Effect on Approach to Psychology
Gordon Allport was a pioneering psychologist often Allport viewed the experience as an attempt by
referred to as one of the founders of personality Freud to turn a simple observation into an analysis
psychology. He rejected two of the dominant of Allport's supposed unconscious memory of his
schools of thought in psychology at the time, own childhood. The experience would later serve as
psychoanalysis and behaviorism, in favor of his a reminder that psychoanalysis tended to dig too
own approach that stressed the importance of deeply. Behaviorism, on the other hand, Allport
individual differences and situational variables. believed, did not dig deeply enough. Instead,
Allport chose to reject both psychoanalysis and
Today he is perhaps best remembered for his behaviorism and embraced his own unique
contributions to the trait theory of personality. In a approach to personality.
review of the most influential psychologists of the
twentieth century, Allport was ranked as the 11th At this point in psychology history, behaviorism
most eminent psychologist. had become the dominant force in the United States
and psychoanalysis remained a powerful influence.
Early Life Allport's approach to human psychology combined
the empirical influence of the behaviorists with the
Gordon Allport was born in Montezuma, Indiana, acknowledgment that unconscious influences could
on November 11, 1897. He was the youngest of four also play a role in human behavior.
brothers and was often described as shy, but also
hardworking and studious. His mother was a Career and Theory
school teacher and his father was a doctor who
instilled in Allport a strong work ethic. During his Allport began working at Harvard in 1924 and later
childhood, his father used the family home to house left to accept a position at Dartmouth. By 1930, he
and treat patients. returned to Harvard where he would remain for the
rest of his academic career. During his first year at
Allport operated his own printing business during Harvard, he taught what was most likely the
his teen years and served as the editor of his high first personality psychology class offered in the
school newspaper. In 1915, Allport graduated United States. His work as a teacher also had a
second in his class and earned a scholarship to profound effect on some of his students, which
Harvard College, where one of his older brothers, included Stanley Milgram, Jerome S. Bruner, Leo
Floyd Henry Allport, was working on a Ph.D. in Postman, Thomas Pettigrew, and Anthony
psychology. Greenwald.
After earning his bachelor's degree in philosophy Trait Theory of Personality
and economics from Harvard in 1919, Allport
traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, to teach philosophy Allport is perhaps best known for his trait theory of
and economics. After a year of teaching, he returned personality. He began developing this theory by
to Harvard to finish his studies. Allport earned his going through a dictionary and noting every term he
Ph.D. in psychology in 1922 under the guidance found that described a personality trait. After
of Hugo Munsterberg. compiling a list of 4,500 different traits, he
organized them into three different trait categories, Allport GW. Becoming: Basic
including: Considerations for a Psychology of
Personality. New Haven: Yale University
Cardinal traits: These are traits that Press; 1955.
dominate an individual's entire personality.
Cardinal traits are thought to be quite rare. Allport GW. Pattern and Growth in
Personality. New York: Holt, Rinehart &
Central traits: Common traits that make up Winston; 1961.
our personalities. Traits such as kindness,
honesty, and friendliness are all examples of Unlike many other psychologists of his time, Allport
central traits.
placed a strong emphasis
Secondary traits: These are traits that are on conscious motivations and thoughts, and this
only present under certain conditions and led to a strong interest in the development of
circumstances. An example of a secondary personality. Although Allport is noted as being
trait would be getting nervous before
influential in many areas of psychology, he is
delivering a speech to a large group of
people. particularly well known for his trait theory . Allport
determined that every human being possesses
Contributions to Psychology
hundreds of traits that exist on one of three levels:
Allport died on October 9, 1967. In addition to his 1. Cardinal Trait: This characteristic is a
trait theory of personality, he left an indelible mark person’s dominant trait and serves to
on psychology. As one of the founding figures of
mold a person’s identity , emotions , and
personality psychology, his lasting influence is still
behaviors.
felt today. Rather than focusing on the
psychoanalytic and behavioral approaches that were 2. Central Trait: These are seen as core
popular during his time, Allport instead chose to traits. Although they are not dominant,
utilize an eclectic approach.
they are inherent in most people and lay
Selected Publications the foundation for our personalities and
actions.
Here are some of Allport's works for further
3. Secondary Trait: These traits are
reading:
privately held, and often only revealed in
Allport GW. Personality: a Psychological confidence or under certain conditions.
Interpretation. New York: Holt, Rinehart &
Allport also identified the existence of what he
Winston; 1937.
termed genotypes and phenotypes—internal and
Allport GW. The Individual and His external conditions that motivate a person’s
Religion. New York: McMillan; 1950.
behavior. He continued to develop the field of
Allport GW. The Nature of Prejudice. personality psychology while examining the nature
Cambridge, MA: AddisonWesley; 1954. of a person’s will, motivation, and determination.
He distinguished between drive and motive and
explored the conditions that support and affect
each. Allport attempted to draw a clear distinction
between motives and drives. For him, a drive is
more akin to an unconscious behavior. For
example, a woman might initially have a strong
need to make friends because of early
childhood abandonment or feelings
of inadequacy . But an independent motive can
develop out of this drive, and the same woman
might nurture her friendships because of her
concern for her friends, or because she enjoys
doing activities with them. Allport was adamant that
people are autonomous beings with free will;
they're not solely driven by instincts and drives,
and not just governed by the past. He emphasized
the primacy of learning and argued that current
behavior and thoughts are the product of an entire
life history—including the present—rather than just
some brief period in early development.
