The actor, agent, and author across the life span: interrelations between personality traits, life goals, and life narratives in an age-heterogeneous sample

Abstract

According to the integrative framework for studying people, personality manifests and develops along three separate, but related, levels: the actor (e.g. traits), agent (e.g. goals), and author (i.e. narratives). Although these levels are thought to be conceptually interrelated, few studies have empirically examined such interrelations. To address this gap, the present study tested how traits, goals, and narratives are longitudinally related to each other and whether master motives (getting along and getting ahead) serve as helpful tools to structure these interrelations. Applying a developmental approach, we further explored these interrelations against the background of age-related effects. A sample of 141 participants (14-68 years, M = 35.40 years) completed self-reports on traits and goals at the beginning and end of a 2-year study. In between these measurements, participants took part in a life story interview that assessed narratives. We applied multilevel analyses and found that traits, goals, and narratives were meaningfully related to each other. Interactions with age occurred in less than 20% of the cases, emerged among the majority of variables (except for agreeableness and openness), were most pronounced for narratives and were mainly found among young and middle-aged participants. The findings are discussed in view of master motives.

Post‐traumatic growth as positive personality change: Challenges, opportunities, and recommendations

“…In conclusion, our view is that researchers interested in doing credible research examining PTG should consider the following recommendations: Clarify the types of life event being examined in a study, examine different perceived characteristics of those events, and (where possible) consider using structured interviews or written narrative to verify the events’ influence Plan deliberately how to obtain a sufficient sample of individuals who have experienced an event or type of event, ideally prospectively Examine the influence of adversity on a variety of traits, and develop theoretical rationales for the traits that may be sensitive to change following adversity based on past findings and exploratory research Explore the relation between adversity and narrative identity, and the links between changes in narrative identity and manifested behaviors. We recommend that narrative identity change be measured prospectively using coded personal narratives unprompted by the mention of a potentially traumatic event, as well as studies combining assessments of multiple personality characteristics across levels (Bühler, Weidmann, & Grob, 2020). Develop theories (and appropriate assessments) that are sensitive to cultural variations in how adversity, narrative identity, and emotion regulation are understood Use measures that are sensitive to changes in persons and cultures Take advantage of existing longitudinal studies, while being open about the limitations of using data from studies that have not been explicitly designed to examine PTG and utilize measures that may not be sufficiently sensitive to change Use appropriate statistical methods (e.g., growth mixture modeling; propensity score matching) while being aware of the assumptions behind these methods Adopt open science methods …”

“…To reference the dynamic personality example in the previous paragraph, PTG may consist of changes in goals (i.e., the “doing” side of personality) that subsequently lead to changes in characteristic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (the “having” side of personality; Cantor, 1990; Fleeson & Jayawickreme, 2021). However, some personality changes following adversity may be best characterized as changes in how an individual narrates their life (the “being” side of personality; Bühler, Weidmann, & Grob, 2020; McAdams, 1996). Understanding the “level” of personality at which PTG occurs, the benefits of such change, and the extent to which PTG occurs across multiple “levels” of personality can help illuminate how life events impact personality and broader developmental outcomes across the lifespan.…”

Personality dynamics

“…In addition, each of the three domains also has its own distinctive characteristics and dynamics. McAdams' framework has been highly generative for the field, invigorating scholarship that seeks to investigate the ways in which different aspects of personality emerge, develop, and interact over time (e.g., Bühler et al, 2020) and for understanding holistic personality development (e.g., McAdams & West, 1997). For example, thematic aspects of narrative identity develop alongside, but in empirically separable ways from, dispositional traits (Adler et al, 2016;McLean et al, 2020).…”

Understanding personality pathology in a clinical sample of youth: study protocol for the longitudinal research project ‘APOLO’

“…Testing across level and longitudinal associations in the three layers and functioning will be done using structural equation modelling (SEM) in MPlus. Due to the large number of constructs in the complete model, specific associations between different layers will be tested separately to ensure adequate power and avoid the problem of multiple testing 82. For example, one study will focus on whether and how the predictive association between maladaptive personality traits (layer 1) and agency and communion in narratives (layer 3) is moderated or mediated by interpersonal style (layer 2).…”