Abstract
The differentiation of personality by intelligence hypothesis suggests that there will be greater individual differences in personality traits for those individuals who are more intelligent. Conversely, less intelligent individuals will be more similar to each other in their personality traits. The hypothesis was tested with a large sample of managerial job candidates who completed an omnibus personality measure with 16 scales and five intelligence measures (used to generate an intelligence g-factor). Based on the g-factor composite, the sample was split using the median to conduct factor analyses within each half. A five-factor model was tested for both the lower and higher intelligence halves and were found to have configural invariance but not metric or scalar invariance. In general, the results provide little support for the differentiation hypothesis as there was no clear and consistent pattern of lower inter-scale correlations for the more intelligent individuals.
Highlights
Research testing the differentiation of personality by intelligence hypothesis has had varied results.Following the finding of greater differentiation in cognitive ability measures for those individuals who were more intelligent (Spearman 1927; see Deary et al 1996; Deary and Pagliari 1991; Detterman and Daniel 1989; Lynn 1992), Brand et al 1994 (1994) suggested that the variability of personality measures may be higher for those higher in intelligence
The present study provides little support for the differentiation of personality by intelligence hypothesis
For applicants, it can be suggested that the factorial structure of the 16PF will most likely remain the same across groups varying in intelligence
Summary
Research testing the differentiation of personality by intelligence hypothesis has had varied results.Following the finding of greater differentiation in cognitive ability measures for those individuals who were more intelligent (Spearman 1927; see Deary et al 1996; Deary and Pagliari 1991; Detterman and Daniel 1989; Lynn 1992), Brand et al 1994 (1994) suggested that the variability of personality measures may be higher for those higher in intelligence. If the differentiation of personality by intelligence hypothesis is found to have some generality, it suggests that intelligence may interact with personality in ways that have not been sufficiently considered in the literature. This interaction may have important implications for the measurement of personality if measures are effected by the intelligence level of the test-taker. There may be a restriction in the personality test score range, because the sample were applicants and presumably presenting themselves in the most favourable manner, if the pattern of results do suggest more personality variability for those higher in intelligence, this finding would support the differentiation hypothesis within a high-stakes setting
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