California Psychological Inventory Profiles Research Articles

Parents' Personality and the Creative Potential of Exceptionally Gifted Boys

This investigation is part of an ongoing longitudinal investigation of exceptional giftedness. Personality was examined by administering the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) to the 2 samples of exceptionally gifted adolescents (N = 54) and their parents. Creative potential was assessed using various tests of divergent thinking. The exceptionally gifted adolescents had been selected based on either IQ (all in excess of 150) or Math–Science abilities (e.g., age 11 Scholastic Assessment Test Mathematics scores in the 99th percentile). CPI profiles indicated that both groups of adolescents had low scores on the Well-Being scale, and there was some indication across several scales of low sociability. The parents' profiles were relatively uniform, and differences between the two groups were slight. Correlational analyses indicated that several scales from the CPI were associated with creativity scores of the adolescent boys.

Subclinical manifestations of psychosis-proneness, ego strength, and creativity

A study was conducted to examine the joint influence of psychosis-proneness and ego strength on creativity in college students. Psychosis-proneness and ego strength were defined psychometrically by means of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and California Psychological Inventory profile, a procedure that resulted in creation of four categories of research subjects: (1) psychosis-prone/high ego strength, (2) psychosis-prone/low ego strength, (3) not psychosis-prone/high ego strength, and (4) not psychosis-prone/low ego strength. As predicted, psychosis-prone persons who were high in ego strength exhibited the highest level of evaluated creativity in their proposed solutions to an engineering problem and also the highest scores on the Remote Associates Test.

Personality characteristics of condom users.

The California Psychological Inventory (CPI) and a survey of sexual behavior and condom use specifically developed for this descriptive study were administered to 132 sexually active, heterosexual male university students (mean age = 19.2 years; 75% Caucasian). Condom "users" (44% of this sample) were defined as those who reported using a condom in their last sexual encounter to ejaculation. "Sexually active" men were defined as those who reported some form of intercourse with a partner to ejaculation within the past 3 months. On the CPI, the condom users scored significantly higher than nonusers on the Achievement via Independence scale and marginally higher on the Socialization and the Social Presence scales. The mean CPI profile for the condom users yielded the Gamma personality type which denotes an externally-oriented, norm questioning personality. Gammas tended to be uninhibited, clever, witty, pleasure-seeking risk takers. Those men who did not use a condom in their last sexual encounter offered their reasons for not doing so. The most common reasons were not expecting intercourse to occur and they were not available. In terms of perceived risk for HIV-infection, only 12.3% of the men had taken the antibody test and 75% considered themselves to be at zero or low risk. Several suggestions were made for counseling strategies in promoting condom use in college-age populations.

Common Structure Dimensions of the American College Testing Program Academic Test and the California Psychological Inventory

Factor and canonical correlation analyses were used to investigate possible relationships between achievement and personality variables. Data were obtained from the American College Testing Program Academic Test and the California Psychological Inventory profiles of 125 university students. The analyses indicated two common dimensions underlying the two sets of data. The first dimension included potential for achievement and positive interpersonal and intrapersonal characteristics. The second dimension included low interest in science, high verbal ability, and interpersonal warmth.

Low Scores on California Psychological Inventory as Predictors of Psychopathology in Alcoholic Patients

This study concerned the use of generally low California Psychological Inventory (CPI) profiles to predict elevated MMPI scores. In a sample of 110 subjects, a CPI profile with T-scores of 25 or less reflects major psychopathology and there is a 79% chance of correct prediction of MMPI T-scores over 80. As a further validation, a Goldberg Individual Index was established with a cut-off score of 70 to classify profiles as psychotic or nonpsychotic. It appears that the California Psychological Inventory can be expanded in making dual diagnoses for alcoholic patients. Scores can be used in treatment planning for alcoholic patients and to identify those individuals who should complete an MMPI for additional treatment planning and diagnoses.

Use of the California Psychological Inventory in Law Enforcement Officer Selection

This research consisted of two investigations of the use of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) in law enforcement officer selection. The first study examined preemployment profiles of academy' graduates (N = 5791, comparing subjects rated psychologically suited for law enforcement to those rated unsuited by training instructors, Graduates rated unsuited had significantly lower overall CPI profiles. The second study compared preemployment CPI profiles of law enforcement officers who had experienced serious job performance problems (n = 45) to those of matched officer controls who had experienced no such difficulties. Officers with serious job problems scored lower on scales comprising Gough's Class II group of variables, Scales that primarily differentiated between the two officer groups were So, St, Wb, and To. Results provide support for the use of the CPI as an addition to law enforcement officer selection procedures.

The effects of role-playing high gender identification on the California Psychological Inventory.

This study of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) demonstrates that subjects can alter significantly their CPI profiles through role-playing high gender identification, i.e., males attempt to appear more masculine and women attempt to appear more feminine. The majority of these subjects did so without being detected by the validity scales designed to detect faking good or bad. Thirty-two volunteers, 16 male and 16 female, participated as subjects. A 2 X 2 ANOVA (subject gender by instructions to role-play vs. standard instructions) design was used. A significant main effect (p less than .01) for instructions was found on 14 of 18 scales and a significant interaction effect (p less than .01) on 4 of 18 scales. The profiles from the role-playing subjects indicate that the stereotypes of both genders, as seen by these subjects, are maladaptive. Implications for practical application of these findings are discussed.

An Attempt to Obtain Configural Correlates for the California Psychological Inventory

The study was designed to obtain empirical correlates of previously defined California Psychological Inventory profiles. Undergraduate females took the inventory and a biographical questionnaire. Those 54 whose profiles could be classified into groups of 10 or more were each rated by two female friends using Wiggins' Interpersonal Adjective Scales. Type 1 (“anti-social”) profiles were significantly associated with having been in trouble with the law. Subjects with Type 3 (“neurotic”) profiles obtained higher scores on the aloof-introverted scale. Few other findings were noted. Problems with the types and the study were discussed. Future work might more profitably focus on potential correlates of code-types for the inventory.

A comparison of personality characteristics between in vitro fertilization patients and other infertile patients

Fifty patients of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program were compared to 25 individuals undergoing fertility investigation other than IVF. Each subject was given the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) and a social history interview during which behavioral signs of anxiety were noted. The CPI profile indicated the IVF subjects to be higher on characteristics of ambitiousness, creativity, and independence. No major differences were noted on the interview questions and behavioral ratings. Both groups may view IVF as a possible treatment for their infertility; however, the IVF patients have certain personality characteristics which make them more likely to actually become involved.

CAN JOB PERFORMANCE BE PREDICTED FROM BIOGRAPHICAL, PERSONALITY, AND ADMINISTRATIVE CLIMATE INVENTORIES?

Relationships of various aspects of on-the-job performance to personal history, personality, and ward administrative climate were studied in 1,018 nurses from 31 Veterans Administration hospitals. A 152-item intercorrelation matrix evidenced relationships among criterion and predictor varibales. First-level performance ratings had more significant correlations with administrative climate. Second-level performance ratings had a greater number of significant correlations with California Psychological inventory (CPI) Sclaes. High-performing staff nurses generally had higher CPI profiles which reached significance for social presence, sense of well-being, responsibility, tolerance, achievement via conformance, and intellectual efficiency (p = .05). High-performing staff nurses described their head nurses as interrupting themselves to help patients and staff, explaining reasons for criticisms mad of staff, not curbing discussions of their decisions, eating with their staff, complimenting staff, using mistakes as teaching opportunities, trying hard to give patients quality care, and not becoming annoyed with problem patients (p = .05). A cross-validation procedure applied after the group had been divided into two sections identified factors in personal history which were consistently associated with various aspects of successful nursing performance.