Eysenck Personality Profiler Research Articles

Personality and intelligence

A total of 233 subjects completed the Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP), which measures the three primary (superfactor) traits, as well as 21 second-order factors; the Wonderlic Personnel Test, which is a brief measure of general cognitive ability/intelligence, and the Baddeley Reasoning Test (sentence verification intelligence test). Correlational and regressional analysis showed that scores on these highly inter-correlated intelligence measures ( r = 0.62) were associated with stability (rather than neuroticism), introversion (rather than extraversion) and low psychoticism. The time taken to complete the computer administration EPP (response latency) was, along with stability, the most powerful predictor of intelligence test scores, suggesting that test-taking style is an important factor in terms of intelligence test scores.

Personality scores and test taking style

Three groups of subjects (total N = 1006) completed the Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP) which measures the three Eysenckian superfactors (E, N, P), as well as 21 factors (7 per superfactor) online. The EPP also measures dissimulation, total time spent completing all items and the total number of ‘can't decide’ responses. The latter three measures were correlated with the 21 factors and three superfactors in the three samples to demonstrate replicable results. A fairly clear pattern emerged which showed dissimulation, and to a lesser extent time taken, was related to the personality factors, especially neuroticism and psychoticism. The implications for personality measurement are considered.

Primary traits of Eysenck's P-E-N system: three- and five-factor solutions.

The Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP), a set of 21 scales measuring primary traits hypothesized to be definers of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Psychoticism factors, was administered to 229 adults together with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire--Revised (H. J. Eysenck & S. B. G. Eysenck, 1991) and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1992b). Correlations of EPP scales with NEO-PI-R facet scales provided preliminary evidence supporting the convergent and discriminant validity of the EPP scales. However, varimax and targeted validimax factor analyses suggested that some EPP scales were misclassified and that EPP scales could better be understood in terms of the 5-factor model than the intended 3-factor model.

The personality of physicists

The Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP) was given to 109 male and 133 femalephysicists and comparisons made with male and female population norms. Results confirm previous research with male scientists, showing them to be introverted and cautious (particularly careful, controlled, inhibited and unsociable). They were not, however, especially stable relative to same-sex controls. The personality profile of the female physicists showed a similar pattern to that of males (as regards comparisons with gender norms). Although significantly more tough-minded than women at large, female physicists could not be described as generally masculine.

Mad, bad or sad? The personality of bikers

Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP) scores of 29 motorcycle enthusiasts were compared with population norms separately by sex. Male bikers ( n = 22) appeared as tough, aggressive, dogmatic, sensation-seeking, impulsive, risk-taking, irresponsible and lacking in self-esteem and ambitiousness. They were also significantly anxious and depressed compared with male norms. The female sample ( n = 7) was too small for many significant differences to appear, although, even then, the lack of ambitiousness among bikers was replicated ( P < 0.01). These results are generally in accord with the public image of bikers as adventure-seeking drop-outs and support the construct validity of the EPP as providing an accurate, detailed picture of personality.

Personality and stress in performing artists

The Eysenck Personality Profiler and a stress symptom checklist were given to 162 performing artists (33 actors, 26 dancers, 65 musicians and 38 singers) and scores were compared against test norms and a control group. Actors emerged as extraverted and expressive, dancers as unhappy, anxious, hypochondriacal and low in self-esteem, and musicians as somewhat introverted and unadventurous. Singers fell between actors and musicians on most attributes. Around one-third of actors, dancers and singers reported suffering from performance anxiety, and 47% of musicians. All except actors suffered from shoulder-ache significantly more than controls. An exceptionally high incidence of depression (38%) was reported by dancers. Results were compared with previous findings and interpreted as being due to a combination of self-selection in choice of occupation, qualities required for survival within the profession and reactions to the unusual stresses imposed by the performer's lifestyle.