Mischel's argument against personality trait psychology is a very strong one and is supported by other psychologists. Mischel has some very interesting ideas on why we should not use personality traits to judge peoples behavior. Some of those ideas are that personality traits tend to label and stereotype people, and even discriminate against them. Mischel also says that personality traits exist only in the observer's mind. So personality traits might be better used to study the way people think about other people, instead of the way people behave.
This argument against personality traits is very interesting and I believe that mischel has some good ideas, as to why personality traits should not be used to predict people's actions. For one reason, traits tend to label people, which groups people together unfairly and this could lead to discrimination. If someone is said to have obsessive-compulsive disorder, people might think that they have a mental problem or think that the person is crazy.
Helena Mischel
Sommarhögskolan 2012
Hans Dunkelberg mit seinen BuechernWhy should someone be labeled just for having strange habits or a strange way of living? Mischel's argument against personality trait psychology is a very strong one and is supported by other psychologists. Mischel has some very interesting ideas on why we should not use personality traits to judge peoples behavior. Some of those ideas are that personality traits tend to label and stereotype people, and even discriminate against them. Mischel also says that personality traits exist only in the observer's mind. So personality traits might be better used to study the way people think about other people, instead of the way people behave.