Towards a refined structure of personality traits

Abstract

In this article we pursue two goals. The first is a further articulation of the dimensionality of the Dutch trait domain. The second is a detailed mapping of the factorial trait structure, one which includes intelligible and proper niches for various nuances of the trait language and for different interpretations of the main factors of personality language. In realizing these goals, we discuss the reliance on theory in structuring and modelling the domain in question, the type of model to be used, and the comprehensiveness versus the economy of domain representation. The advantages and disadvantages of the simple structure model and the circumplex model are commented upon, and a new framework that integrates these two models is presented. The present results provide confirmation of the existence of five major dimensions that cover the trait domain: (I) Extraversion or Surgency, (II) Agreeableness, (III) Conscientiousness, (IV) Emotional Stability, and (V) Intellect or Openness to Experience. The newly developed representational model, revealing a refined structure of personality characteristics, not only clarifies some of the problems faced in interpreting the Big Five factors, but also forms a starting point for applications.

What Are We Measuring? Convergence of Leadership with Interpersonal and Non-interpersonal Personality

“…We constructed eight adjective scales to represent the octants of the interpersonal circumplex in the following way. First, we obtained adjectives from 400 self-ratings on 551 Dutch personality adjectives (Brokken, 1978;De Raad, 1992;De Raad et al, 1992). Second, the loadings on the first two factors of the six-factor solution , which represented extraversion and agreeableness, were re-rotated to obtain the highest loading adjectives on eight circumplex octants.…”

Personality traits in learning and education

“…This set of traits has subsequently been used to specify the Big Five factor structure both at a basic level (De Raad, 1992) and at a detailed facet level (De Raad, Hendriks and Hofstee, 1992). The Big Five factors, which go by the names Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Intellect/ Creativity/Imagination (De Raad and Van Heck, 1994), were developed in the research programme along the lines set out according to the lexical hypothesis (Goldberg,198 1).…”

German lexical personality factors: relations with the HEXACO model

“…As noted earlier, the Intelligence factor is defined by terms describing intellectual ability, whereas we considered those terms to fall outside the domain of personality proper, and therefore excluded this content from the HEXACO-PI Openness to Experience scale. (This exclusion of intellectual ability traits is shared with the Five-Factor Model and also with some lexical research, such as the Dutch and Italian (Roman) studies of personality structure; see De Raad, Hendriks, & Hofstee, 1992;Caprara & Perugini, 1994. ) In contrast, a rather strong convergent correlation was observed between HEXACO-PI Openness to Experience and the adjective marker scale representing the German Creativity factor that emerged in the seven-factor solution of Ostendorf (1990;Angleitner & Ostendorf, 1989).…”