Question

Newer theories in personality psychology tend to ____ than older theories?

1) be more accurate
2) be less accurate
3) be more complex
4) be less complex

Answer 1

Newer theories in personality psychology are generally more complex, aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding of personality, exemplified by the widely respected and more empirically supported Five Factor Model.

Step-by-step explanation:

Newer theories in personality psychology tend to be more complex than older theories. This complexity arises from attempts to incorporate a wider variety of psychological phenomena and provide a more comprehensive understanding of personality. Earlier theories, like those of Freud, often leaned towards explanations rooted in specific mechanisms or stages of development and were critiqued for their lack of empirical testability. As new research has accumulated, more nuanced theories have developed. For instance, the Five Factor Model, also known as the Big Five personality traits, is one of the latest and most respected frameworks in personality psychology. It is considered a more accurate approximation of basic personality dimensions and balances breadth with specificity more effectively than its predecessors.