Final answer:
A nomothetic approach to personality would create generalized principles applicable to everyone, in contrast to an idiographic approach, which is individual-centered. Trait theorists categorize traits into cardinal, central, and secondary, with the Big Five model being a prominent nomothetic example.
Step-by-step explanation:
An approach to personality would be called nomothetic if it aims to create general laws and principles that apply to all individuals, as opposed to focusing on the unique, individual aspects of personality. This contrasts with the idiographic approach, which is tailored to the individual. The nomothetic approach often involves statistical methods to analyze traits across populations, looking for patterns that can be generalized.
Trait theorists, such as Gordon Allport, categorized traits into three groups: cardinal, central, and secondary traits, signifying differing levels of influence on a person's behavior. The Five Factor Model or the Big Five personality traits, which include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, is an example of the nomothetic perspective in practice. These traits are assessed to determine consistent patterns of thought and behavior across various contexts and cultures, thereby providing a standardized framework for understanding personality.