According to Gordon Allport, which theory categorizes personality traits into three levels?

• A. Big 5 Personality Traits
• B. Trait Theory of Personality
• C. Biopsychosocial Model
• D. Social Learning Theory

Answer: (B)

Gordon Allport's approach to understanding personality traits is articulated through his Trait Theory of Personality, which classifies traits into three distinct levels: cardinal traits, central traits, and secondary traits. This framework is crucial for comprehensively understanding how personality functions on both a broad and nuanced level.

Cardinal traits are those that dominate an individual's personality and behavior, often defining who they are at their core. Central traits are the general characteristics that form the foundation of a person's personality, influencing a range of behaviors in various situations but not as overwhelmingly as cardinal traits. Secondary traits, on the other hand, are more situational and can vary across different contexts; they are less prominent in shaping overall personality.

This structured approach to categorizing traits provides insights into the complexity of human personality, allowing for a more tailored understanding of individual behaviors and motivations.

The other options, while related to psychology, do not focus on Allport's trait theory nor do they categorize traits in the manner described. The Big 5 Personality Traits model is a separate theory that identifies five broad dimensions of personality. The Biopsychosocial Model emphasizes the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors in health and behavior, and Social Learning Theory focuses on learning behaviors through observation and modeling rather