![]() |
Gordon Allport (1897-1967) |
I remember reading, around forty-five years ago, something by the influential psychologist Gordon Allport, who developed Trait Theory. It was about very highly successful individuals. He asked whether there might be any particular quality or qualities common to high levels of achievement.
The successful people he studied were distinguished academics: university professors known internationally for their work, who had published shelves full of academic articles, attracted large amounts of research funding, and influenced lots of others in their field; people like himself, perhaps.
There seemed to be only one factor common to them all: a total, unshakeable belief in their own infallibility. The trouble was that this sense of infallibility often extended beyond their area of expertise.
I suppose a modern-day example might be a very rich and successful engineering and technology entrepreneur, who becomes an instant self-appointed expert on politics and social policy, making pronouncements on topics such as child protection, and belittling the judgment and experience of those who have been working in the field for years, because “they know better”.
But then, what do I know? I have tried to find the Allport article again, but been unable to, so am working from memory, and personality psychology has never been my area, anyway. Although things like that don’t seem to matter much these days.
This is what I got from ChatGPT
ReplyDeleteI understand you’re seeking an article by Gordon Allport from around 45 years ago, focusing on highly successful individuals and attributing their success to a strong belief in their own abilities. After reviewing available resources, I couldn’t locate a specific article matching that exact description.
However, Gordon Allport, a prominent psychologist known for developing Trait Theory, extensively studied personality traits and their influence on individual behavior and success. His work emphasized the importance of self-perception and intrinsic motivation in personal development.
One of Allport’s significant contributions is his exploration of the “proprium,” which refers to the aspects of a person that contribute to their sense of self or self-identity. He outlined stages of self-development, including the development of self-esteem between ages two and four, where individuals recognize their value and competencies. This foundational self-awareness and confidence can be linked to later success, as individuals with a strong sense of self are more likely to trust in their abilities and pursue their goals with determination. 
While I couldn’t find the exact article you mentioned, Allport’s body of work consistently highlights the role of self-confidence and personal belief in achieving success. His Trait Theory suggests that inherent personality traits, such as self-assuredness, significantly contribute to an individual’s accomplishments.
If you can provide more specific details about the article or its context, I’d be happy to assist further in locating it.
DeleteThank you for trying to find it. The article would I guess be 1940s or 1950s - I was reading it much later. There is lots of general information about Allport around, but this specific referense is elusive. The Professor at Hull met Allport several times, and found him likeable, helpful, interested and very intelligent. I thing these are apparent in his photograph.
And then there is this
ReplyDeleteI understand you’re seeking writings by Gordon Allport that discuss the role of self-confidence and belief in one’s abilities in achieving success. While I couldn’t locate an article matching your exact description, several of Allport’s works explore related themes:
1. “Personality Traits: Their Classification and Measurement”: In this work, Allport discusses the classification of personality traits and their measurement, emphasizing the importance of individual differences in personality. 
2. “The Functional Autonomy of Motives”: Here, Allport introduces the concept that motives in mature individuals become independent of their original origins, suggesting that self-sustaining motivations, such as self-confidence, play a crucial role in guiding behavior. 
3. “Becoming”: In this book, Allport emphasizes the process of self-development and individuation, highlighting the formation of a self-aware and self-enhancing individual. 
These writings provide insight into Allport’s perspective on personality development, self-perception, and the intrinsic motivations that contribute to personal success.
This illustrates how inadequate Chat GPT is. Basically, it is simply and irrelevant brain dump. Allport wrote lots about personality and personal development, but the article I read was specifically about very very high achievers who think they are infallible outside their field. I may well have remembered it wrongly. Allport never thought personality was simple.
DeleteAllport I remember reading him way back, was studying the traits of well connected white males. Like himself. Of course they were confident -- there was nobody permitted to challenge them!
ReplyDeleteAny study like this may not be applicable to other individuals or situations, but there again, it might.
DeleteGiven what Boud contributed I wonder if today's female CEOs and Dragons share the same traits anyway.
ReplyDeleteWell, it probably needs further research to find out.
DeleteI am well acquainted with the concept of infallibility after 40+ years of marriage to someone who epitomises that trait.
ReplyDeleteSo is my wife.
DeleteIn all seriousness, everyone I've personally known with such an "unshakeable belief in their own infallibility" have all been extremists, ruthless assholes, and/or mentally ill. Certainly sounds like Trump, Elon Musk, et al to me!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree. It's a personality defect. I wasn't going to name names, but Jess Phillips, the English MP and with a long record of working in child protection (Musk called her an evil witch) got it spot on when she said Musk should concentrate on getting to the moon.
DeleteIn the fourth paragraph, I suspect that you are referring to a certain South African fellow whose surname rhymes with the general term for a toasted biscuit that babies might crunch and suck upon when weaning. Co-incidentally, I was also thinking about him in today's "Yorkshire Pudding" blogpost.
ReplyDeleteIt also rhymes with the name of a large elephant tooth, illegal to export.
DeleteOr the outer layer of a coconut.
DeleteOr what must be removed from an ear of corn before it can be eaten.
DeleteOr that time of day also known as twilight.
Or sing and play your guitar in the street.
DeleteMight you have someone in mind as you ponder?
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot with this personality defect. They should stick to what they are good at.
DeleteActually, represents the personality disorder of our entire incoming elected and appointed government.
ReplyDeleteWhat? All of them? Surely not. Unless they are selected for that particular quality.
DeleteInteresting as it how applies to our new billionaire oligarchy. Worth exploring.
ReplyDeleteThe article came back to me while watching the video posted by Thelma on her blog (North Stoke).
DeleteAn ineffable belief in one's own superiority will carry people forward and up.
ReplyDeleteAt the expense of all others who get in their way.
DeleteAn engineer work colleague from some time ago used to have a sign on his desk - those of you who think you know it all really piss off those of us who do know.
ReplyDeleteI like that one.
DeleteI am not surprised that this trait is so prominent in high achievers. It does not necessarily mean they are nasty characters; I guess if you do not really believe in what you do (and in your own ability to do it well), you won't achieve much, be it in arts, science, politics, sports or whatever else.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, you have to, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is when it extends beyond and outside ones area of expertise that it becomes toxic.
DeleteSome people with lots of money are playing fast and loose with the truth. I have often said that there should be a penalty for telling lies.
ReplyDeleteI say it is ignorance and lack of education. Many of them could not stick it out, and failed to learn proper standards of reasoning.
DeleteI think perhaps confidence might be a more appropriate word than infallibility.
ReplyDeleteBack at Cambridge, the most academic and learned of my professors were extremely confident (arising from their copious reading on everything about their subject and having pondered it for years!) but they often engaged in academic debates and were apt to be persuaded. They sometimes changed their minds. I had a Professor Lionel Smith on the law of restitution, as an example, and he did a 180 change on some theories of his.
Quite honestly, in certain areas of hotly contested subject, they accepted that their arguments and ideas weren't accepted by everybody - and hence hardly qualifying as infallibile.
But, hey-ho, it may have been different in Allport's day?
Liam.
Allport I believe was not referring to "ordinary" professors, of which there are many impressive examples like you describe, but to those even more accomplished, in different academic fields. There are less than a handful. I don't think they all go outside their area, and think they know everything about everything, but some do and when they have influence it creates problems for us all. I don't know whether Allport's conclusions were justified, or how generalisable they are.
DeleteHmm. I am immediately thinking of Prof Noam Chomsky.
DeleteA first rate professor of linguistics, but when he dives into political treatises he tends to look a bit naff and ridiculous.
An excellent example.
DeleteDear Tasker, am I right that you wrote that tongue in cheek - or, as someone asked above: is there a special person you are thinking of? :-)
ReplyDeleteThere have been a number of such individuals in history, and come contemporary ones, too.
DeleteI think I am with Britta on this. Being male has for so many centuries given them a superior knowledge of their own prowess, in whatever field.
ReplyDeleteNature or nurture ;)
An interesting issue, Thelma. Is the point generalisable to women, now it is possible they can achieve such pre-eminence? I suspect it may well be, because to get there you need similar psychology. But would it afflict as larger percentage of them? Possibly not.
Delete