In preparation
A Formal Theoretical Model of Personality Functioning and Traits
Trace the explanatory architecture
Functioning, traits, context, and clinical meaning play different roles.
Functioning represents capacities that support coherent selfhood and mutual relatedness.
A theory needs separable parts
Severity and style are often measured together even though they answer different questions.
The project separates basic capacities for self and interpersonal functioning from the dispositional styles through which personality is expressed. The aim is to make the relation among development, structure, traits, context, and clinical outcomes explicit.
From developmental capacities to expression
The model is designed to make causal and descriptive claims distinguishable.
LevelTheoretical model
Core distinctionFunctioning versus traits
InputsDevelopmental capacities and context
GoalA clearer explanatory architecture
What the theory must make explicit
A formal account should show where each construct enters.
- 01
What belongs to personality structure rather than style?
- 02
How should functioning constrain or shape trait expression?
- 03
Where does context enter the explanatory model?