General Factor Of Personality Research Articles

Genetic and Environmental Architecture of Five Factor Model and Super-Factors: An Italian Twin Study.

No previous research explored the genetic and environmental structure of Big Five dimensions of personality and higher-order factors in a single twin study, except, in part, for just one study. We used the twin design to estimate the effects of genes and environment on both Five Factor model and related second- and third-order factors (i.e., Alpha [stability], Beta [plasticity], and GFP [general factor of personality]). We analyzed data from 314 adult twins (157 pairs: 83 monozygotic, 74 dizygotic; mean age: 52 years) enrolled in the Italian Twin Register. Participants underwent clinical and instrumental evaluations, and completed a 25-adjective list drawn from the Short Adjectives Checklist to Measure Big Five (SACBIF). We applied quantitative genetic models to unravel the sources of variation and covariation for the Big Five and higher-order factors. We found a similar etiological architecture across the different levels of analysis, with moderate to substantial non-additive genetic and unique environmental influences on all the personality traits, and no shared environmental contribution for any of them. We also detected significant genetic correlations for the Big Five dimensions and the Alpha and Beta super-factors. With some limitations, our results suggest that the etiological architecture of personality may be invariant to the factor level of analysis.

Predicting Big Five Model Personality Traits in Recent Social Context

The theory of the five great factors of personality (Big Five theory) is currently considered to be the best at explaining the most individual variability in terms of personality factors between subjects. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and the recent social context, and to determine whether social support can act as a moderating factor in the process. While previous research has established that personality traits are significant predictors of well-being, the extent to which the big five personality traits influence social well-being remains unknown. This research paper employs a qualitative method based on a deductive research approach, as the author used deductive logic to predict the big five model personality traits in a recent social context. Five personality traits were found to be significantly related to the overall social context and social support functions as a determinant in the relationships between extraversion/agreeableness/conscientiousness/neuroticism/openness and social context. Numerous studies now concur, and there is a high degree of consensus in the literature regarding the Big Five theory as a useful theory for identifying and describing the major general factors of personality.

The General Factor of Personality as Ego-Resiliency.

It was originally hypothesized by Block that what has come to be known as the General Factor of Personality (GFP) reflects ego-resiliency. We test Block’s hypothesis in two studies. In Study 1 a meta-analysis (N = 15,609) examining the relationship between the GFP and ego-resiliency/resilience was conducted. In Study 2 (N = 157) archival data from Block and Block was used to examine the association between rater judged ego-resiliency across childhood, adolescence, and into early adulthood and the GFP based on self-report in early adulthood. Using structural equation modeling for the meta-analytic data, the correlation between the GFP and ego-resiliency/resilience was estimated at r = 0.93. Using a trait-state occasion model to test the hypothesis in Study 2, the correlation between the GFP and rated ego-resiliency was estimated at r = 0.85. The results of the two studies offer substantial support for Block’s original hypothesis. Given the strength of the associations between the GFP and ego-resiliency/resilience one may conclude that the two constructs largely reflect the same underlying phenomenon.

A delphi procedure on rehabilitation outcome for patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury; first phase of the Neurotraumatology Quality Registry (NET-QURE).

ObjectiveTo select a set of rehabilitation outcome instruments for a national Neurotrauma Quality Registry (Net-QuRe) among professionals involved in the care of patients with traumatic brain injury.DesignA 3-round online Delphi procedure.SubjectsEighty professionals from multiple disciplines working in 1 of the 8 participating rehabilitation centres were invited to participate. The response rate varied from 70% to 76% per round.MethodsFor the Delphi procedure, multiple outcome categories were defined based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) with concomitant measurement instruments. For each category we strived for consensus on one instrument of at least 75%.ResultsAfter the first round, consensus was reached for the category subjective cognitive functioning. After the second round for quality of life, pain, general functioning, anxiety and depression, general psychological functioning, communication (impairment), and personal factors. Finally, after the third round, consensus was reached for activities of daily living, participation, self-awareness, and aphasia. No consensus was reached for the categories motor function, cognitive function, comorbidity, fatigue, and employment status.ConclusionConsensus was reached in 12 out of 17 outcome categories. A Delphi procedure seems to be a feasible method to collectively select measurement instruments for a multicentre study.LAY ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to select a set of rehabilitation outcome instruments for a national Neurotrauma Quality Registry (Net-QuRe) among professionals involved in the care of patients with traumatic brain injury. Eighty professionals from multiple disciplines working in 1 of the 8 participating rehabilitation centres were invited to participate in a 3-round online Delphi procedure. Consensus was reached for the categories subjective cognitive functioning, quality of life, pain, general functioning, anxiety and depression, general psychological functioning, communication (impairment), personal factors, activities of daily living, participation, self-awareness, and aphasia. No consensus was reached for the categories motor function, cognitive function, comorbidity, fatigue, and employment status. A Delphi procedure seems to be a feasible method to collectively select measurement instruments for a multicentre study.

The General Factor of Personality (GFP) and Vocational Interests: a Test of Social Effectiveness at the Behavioral and Genetic Level

Previous studies have examined how personality models (e.g., Big Five, HEXACO) relate to vocational interests. We adopt a novel approach by testing the associations between personality and vocational interests from the perspective of the general factor of personality (GFP). One interpretation of the GFP is that it reflects social effectiveness. Based on this interpretation, we predicted that the GFP is particularly related to interest in social jobs because people generally tend to be attracted to activities in which they perform well. To test this, we used four large data sets: the Professional Worker Career Experience Survey (study 1a; N = 752), OpenPsychometrics.org (study 1b, N = 108,209), Project Talent (study 2; N = 81,130), and the National Merit Twin Study (study 3: N = 1536 in 768 twin pairs). In each sample, we presented the direct associations as well as the results after using control variables (gender and cognitive ability). In study 1a and 1b, the GFP particularly related to interest in social and enterprising occupations. In study 2, the GFP related to interest in working with people and was also associated with a range of occupational scales involving social aspects. In study 3, the GFP only showed a consistent relation with social interests. This association was present at the phenotypical as well as genetic level. Notwithstanding some variation in findings across the different studies, the overall pattern seems to be in line with the notion that the GFP is positively associated with the preference for more socially laden jobs.

Overlap between general factors of psychopathology and personality: They share associations with daily life functioning and communication style

Previous studies have shown that specific personality dimensions, -e.g., the Big Five-, consistently intercorrelate, such that they form a general factor of personality (GFP). It has been hypothesized that the GFP reflects social effectiveness. Similarly, in the clinical domain, overlap between various psychopathological symptoms has also been reported, leading to a general factor of Psychopathology, or p factor. The aim of this study was to test the overlap between the higher-order factors in personality and psychopathology, and how they relate to daily life functioning and communication style. We tested a sample of 165 outpatients of a psychological therapy institute, using a multi-source approach that included self-reports and other ratings. The outpatients’ self-reports of personality, general psychological problems, and interpersonal problems were available. Psychotherapists rated the outpatients’ functioning in daily life with the well-known Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. A spouse or friend also rated the impact of the patient’s communication/social behavior. Patients with lower GFP scores and higher scores on general psychopathology, displayed more distress and daily functioning deficits (i.e., lower GAF scores) and, in terms of communication styles, were also rated as being less dominant, less in control socially, and more submissive and aggressive. We proposed that part of the overlap between the general factors (GFP, psychopathology factors) may relate to a lower general life functioning and less social effectiveness.

Toward a biological basis of the FFM Meta-traits: Associations between the Fisher Type Indicator (FTI) temperament construct and the hierarchical Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality

BackgroundThis large-scale (N = 1870) replication effort of Fisher et al. (2015) (N = 190) examines associations between the Fisher Type Indicator (FTI) temperament construct and the hierarchical Big5/Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality. AimThe original and current studies are among contemporary efforts to link biologically related temperament/personality dimensions with socio-cultural and lexical personality traits. In this context, the current study explores possible links between FFM traits and higher-order personality factors such as the ‘Big Two’ (Stability and Plasticity) and the General Factor of Personality (GFP) and their implications. MethodsBoth studies examine possible associations between four broad neural systems—dopamine and related norepinephrine, serotonin, testosterone, and estrogen/oxytocin and Big5/FFM personality traits. The current sample size is ten times larger (1870 vs. 190) and represents a much broader age distribution (13–82 vs. 20–22) than the original study. Similar statistical procedures were employed to ensure accurate methodological replication. Results and conclusionsThe current study replicated most FTI-FFM associations reported in the original study, thereby lending greater validity to the original findings. Given the current study's larger sample and broader age range, it extended into three other domains: 1. Improved understanding of dopamine-serotonin based meta-traits in the FFM construct and beyond; 2. Consolidated and expanded understanding of gender-related temperament differences; 3. Explore developmental aspects concerning how associations between biological-temperament and socio-cultural FFM personality traits change with age.

Do Early Life Experiences Predict Variation in the General Factor of Personality (GFP)?

ObjectiveThe controversial General Factor of Personality (GFP) has been proposed as an indicator of social effectiveness and a slower life history strategy. An alternative hypothesis holds that only meta-trait alpha, comprising agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability, is a slow life history indicator. This study tested whether the GFP and/or alpha emerges from both self- and stranger-ratings, and whether either is predicted by indicators of harsh childhood ecologies.MethodsU.S. undergraduate participants (N = 366) completed a Big Five instrument, a measure of socially desirable response bias, and brief (thin slice) videotaped interviews. Raters scored the interviews using the same Big Five instrument.ResultsStructural equation modeling of the self-report data yielded a well-fitting GFP, which was positively associated with father closeness. Meta-trait alpha, based on self-report, was associated with both father closeness and neighborhood stress, but showed positive loadings only for agreeableness and emotional stability. Stranger-rating data failed to yield either a well-fitting GFP or metatrait alpha.ConclusionsOur findings are equivocal regarding the usefulness of the GFP specifically, and higher-order personality factors generally, in evolutionary personality science.

Genetic and environmental correlations between the General Factor of Personality (GFP) and working memory

The present study examines the association between the General Factor of Personality (GFP) and working memory and its etiology with a behavioral genetic approach. The GFP, which explains the common variance among lower-order personality traits, is considered to reflect social effectiveness. Meanwhile, working memory also plays a significant role in social competence. Hence, we expected a substantial association between the GFP and working memory. A total of 253 Japanese twin pairs (124 monozygotic female; 52 monozygotic male; 28 dizygotic female; 17 dizygotic male; and 32 opposite sex twins) were included in the analyses. Phenotypic analyses confirmed a significant positive correlation between the GFP and working memory. Biometric analysis with a bivariate Cholesky decomposition model showed that the phenotypic correlation derived from additive genetic and non-shared environmental correlations. The present findings are in line with social effectiveness account of the GFP.

The General Factors of Personality Disorder, Psychopathology, and Personality.

There is considerable interest in the study of the general factors of personality disorder (g-PD), psychopathology (p factor), and personality (GFP). One prominent interpretation of the g-PD is that it is defined by the self-interpersonal impairments of Criterion A of the DSM-5 Section III. However, no study has directly tested this hypothesis as no prior g-PD study has included a measure of Criterion A. The current study provides a direct test of this hypothesis, along with comparing g-PD with the general factors of psychopathology and personality. Also extracted was a common general factor across all three domains. Suggested herein is that the g-PD, the p factor, and the GFP reflect the impairments (e.g., social and occupational dysfunction) that are secondary to the traits and disorders rather than the traits and/or disorders themselves.

Longitudinal Associations Between the Five-Factor Model of Personality and The Bi-Factor Model of Psychopathology: Continuity, Pathoplasty and Complication Effects in Adolescents

The study of the bifactor structure of psychopathology, which includes a general factor of psychopathology (or p factor) in addition to the internalizing and externalizing factors, has gained attention. However, its associations with the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality has been addressed in few studies, and none has examined different plausible etiological models (i.e., continuity, pathoplasty, complication) to explain its relationship, which is the aim of the present research. Additionally, the longitudinal association of the General Factor of Personality (GFP) and the p factor will be also explored. Personality and psychopathological symptoms of high school students were assessed at three time points (once a year) (n = 655; M = 13.79, SD = 1.24; 49.8% girls). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (and measurement invariance across waves) were tested for the traits, the GFP and the bifactor model of psychopathology. While the bifactor model and the one-factor solution for each personality trait displayed good fit to the data and remained invariant over time, the structure of the GFP was adequate and invariant in two of the three waves. The resulting factors were included in cross-lagged panel models and showed that the FFM traits and the psychopathology factors influenced each other reciprocally. Most associations fell in line with the continuity model, but minor pathoplastic and complication effects were also reported. Similar associations were found between the GFP and the p factor. These results suggest that interventions in riskier personality profiles might prevent the development of general and more specific psychopathology spectra.

Energy and Personality: A Bridge between Physics and Psychology

The objective of this paper is to present a mathematical formalism that states a bridge between physics and psychology, concretely between analytical dynamics and personality theory, in order to open new insights in this theory. In this formalism, energy plays a central role. First, the short-term personality dynamics can be measured by the General Factor of Personality (GFP) response to an arbitrary stimulus. This GFP dynamical response is modeled by a stimulus–response model: an integro-differential equation. The bridge between physics and psychology appears when the stimulus–response model can be formulated as a linear second order differential equation and, subsequently, reformulated as a Newtonian equation. This bridge is strengthened when the Newtonian equation is derived from a minimum action principle, obtaining the current Lagrangian and Hamiltonian functions. However, the Hamiltonian function is non-conserved energy. Then, some changes lead to a conserved Hamiltonian function: Ermakov–Lewis energy. This energy is presented, as well as the GFP dynamical response that can be derived from it. An application case is also presented: an experimental design in which 28 individuals consumed 26.51 g of alcohol. This experiment provides an ordinal scale for the Ermakov–Lewis energy that predicts the effect of a single dose of alcohol.

A less evaluative measure of Big Five personality: Comparison of structure and criterion validity

Researchers and practitioners have long been concerned about detrimental effects of socially desirable responding on the structure and criterion validity of personality assessments. The current research examined the effect of reducing evaluative item content of a Big Five personality assessment on test structure and criterion validity. We developed a new public domain measure of the Big Five called the Less Evaluative Five Factor Inventory (LEFFI), adapted from the standard 50-item IPIP NEO, and intended to be less evaluative. Participants ( n = 3164) then completed standard (IPIP) and neutralized (LEFFI) measures of personality. Criteria were also collected, including academic grades, age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, protesting, religious worship, music preferences, dental hygiene, blood donation, other-rated communication styles, other-rated HEXACO personality, and cognitive ability (ICAR). Evaluativeness of items was reduced in the neutralized measure. Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability were maintained. Correlations between the Big Five were reduced in the neutralized measure and criterion validity was similar or slightly reduced in the neutralized measure. The large sample size and use of objective criteria extend past research. The study also contributes to debates about whether the general factor of personality and agreement with socially desirable content reflect substance or bias.

A meta-analysis on the general factor of personality and its relation with leadership outcomes: Evidence from mainland China

In the past decades, many studies have confirmed that specific personality traits correlate such that a general factor of personality (GFP) emerges. In order to test whether the characteristics of this general factor are universal, thorough tests in various cultures are required. Accordingly, we conducted a meta-analysis on the GFP in mainland China. After testing the sensitivity of the GFP, correction for attenuation, testing for samples' geographical distribution, types of samples, and types of questionnaires, we confirmed the GFP in the population of mainland China (N = 30,863, K = 53). To further examine the nature of the GFP, we tested whether it is indicative of general social effectiveness by studying the associations of the GFP with (1) leadership effectiveness and (2) abusive supervision. The results implied that high-GFP leaders indeed work more effectively (r = 0.17) and were less abusive (−0.20), as rated by their subordinates. This study among Chinese samples adds to the literature by showing the consistency of the GFP in a large Eastern country.

The "Big Everything": Integrating and investigating dimensional models of psychopathology, personality, personality pathology, and cognitive functioning.

Common factors are increasingly used to model the structure of psychopathology ("p"), personality (General Factor of Personality [GFP]), pathological personality (General Factor of Pathological Personality [GFPP]), and intelligence ("g"). Using 4 waves spanning ages 18-29 in a cohort of college students (baseline n = 489), this study used indicators of psychopathology, personality, pathological personality, and cognitive functioning to compare models that included Cognitive Functioning, p, GFP, GFPP, and a "Big Everything" factor (which included cross-domain measures as indicators). GFP, GFPP, and p exhibited substantial overlap, and the Big Everything factor accounted for considerable variance in psychopathology, personality, and pathological personality indicators. Only a self-report measure of cognitive functioning loaded significantly onto the Big Everything. This study highlights concerns in the pursuit of identifying and reifying common factors based on the modeling of residual variances and limitations of using factor modeling to determine the structure of psychologically relevant phenomena. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Is the General Factor of Personality Really Related to Frequency of Agreeable, Conscientious, Emotionally Stable, Extraverted, and Open Behavior?

Abstract. Proponents of the general factor of personality have suggested that it is related to more instances of agreeable, conscientious, emotionally stable, extraverted, and open behavior. We tested this frequency hypothesis by relating the GFP from personality self-ratings to the number of instances of typical Big Five behaviors in real life. For a period of 18 consecutive days, 108 students provided responses to experience sampling items on their mobile phones. The items described concrete behaviors that were rated by experts of the Big Five as typical of either of the five traits and were phrased in a way that made them easy to interpret and respond to. The items were then validated in study 1 and it was found that the behavior correlated with Big Five ratings. In a second study, we tested the hypothesis that GFP is related to a higher frequency of GFP related behavior. The results provided little support for the frequency hypothesis and are more compatible with an interpretation of the GFP in terms of style rather than substance.

Common genetic basis of the five factor model facets and intelligence: A twin study

The main aim of this study was to explore the etiology of relations between general cognitive ability (g) and different hierarchical phenotypic levels of the Five Factor Model (FFM), including the General Factor of Personality (GFP), the Big Two, the five domains of the FFM, and their 30 facets. The second aim was to detect personality facets that contribute to the prediction of general intelligence. The sample consisted of 424 young adult twins (134 pairs of monozygotic twins) on whom the NEO-PI-R and Advanced Progressive Matrices were administered. The results did not support hierarchical solutions above the FFM. Thus, five-domain and facet level of personality were analyzed, showing that only Openness and Neuroticism had significant genetic or environmental correlations with intelligence. The several facets from all domains had significant associations, among which Ideas and Positive Emotions showed the highest positive correlations, while Order and Modesty showed the highest negative genetic correlations with intelligence. Furthermore, seven facets significantly predicted g factor (35%), with higher genetic (0.52) than environmental (0.13) correlations with intelligence. The results reveal the common genetic basis of narrow traits and intelligence, highlighting the importance of specific traits in the explanation of general cognitive abilities.

Personality traits and preferred exercise environment of fitness club members

Background: Fitness environment can be adjusted to better combine with salient personality characteristics. Nevertheless, previous research seems to neglect the personal characteristics of individuals. It would be beneficial if the fitness club environment will be adapted to the personality characteristics of their visitors because these changes could increase adherence to various exercise programs. However, there is a lack of research on individual preferences and predispositions of fitness club members. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess associations between personality traits and physical/social environment preferences of fitness club members. Methods: A total of 613 fitness club members (286 men and 327 women), age (M ± SD) 29.2 ± 10.1 years, answered 15 questions regarding physical and social environment preferences and the short version of the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. Results: The path analysis showed that a general personality factor, represented by Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Agreeableness, predicted preferred environment in a fitness club setting, especially concerning to performing new/repeated exercises and social aspects of exercise. Furthermore, Openness and Neuroticism did not correlate to fitness club exercise practice preferences. Conclusions: The study found evidence suggesting that a general personality factor represented by Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness can predict preferred fitness environment regarding the performance of new/repeated exercises and social aspects of the exercise.

Perspectives of people with late age-related macular degeneration on mental health and mental wellbeing programmes: a qualitative study.

People with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) experience high rates of depression, but rarely engage in or have access to tailored mental wellbeing programmes. This qualitative study investigated the perspectives of those primarily with late AMD on mental health and mental wellbeing programmes. Twenty-eight people with late AMD in at least one eye, and one person with early AMD in both eyes, aged 56-87years (mean age 78years) attending a private eye clinic between December 2019 and January 2020 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, participated. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed deductively using content analysis, following the individual level factors for health promotion interventions in the behaviour change wheel: Capability (Physical & Psychological), Opportunity (Physical & Social), and Motivation (Reflective & Automatic). Six major themes were identified: Capability: (1) Impact of vision loss on mobility and leisure pursuits; (2) Adjustment to living with vision loss; Opportunity: (3) Program considerations for those with AMD; (4) Stigma and self-perception of vision loss and mental health; Motivation: (5) Accumulation of vision-related issues as a barrier to participation; (6) Examples of others living with vision loss. General personal factors relevant to delivery of a programme in this age group were also identified: Comorbidities; Limitations using technology; Isolation; Financial concerns and Beliefs that undesired effects of aging are inevitable. Complex individual, environmental and social factors influence the perspectives of people with late AMD on mental health, and potential participation in mental wellbeing programmes. These factors should be considered when developing and implementing mental wellbeing programmes to improve the emotional and functional rehabilitation outcomes for people with AMD.

Is there a Meaningful General Factor of Personality?

Numerous studies and meta-analyses have now confirmed that personality traits tend to correlate such that a general factor of personality (GFP) emerges. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing debate about what these correlations, and therefore the GFP, represents. One interpretation is that the GFP reflects a substantive factor that indicates general social effectiveness or emotional intelligence. Another interpretation is that the GFP merely is an artifact based on measurement or response bias. In the present paper, we elaborate on a selection of topics that are central to the debate about this construct. Specifically, we discuss (a) the GFP in relation to more specific personality dimensions (e.g., Big Five, facets), (b) the validity of the GFP and under what circumstances it seems to 'disappear', and (c) the theoretical and practical relevance of the general factor. Overall, the review should provide insight into the nature of the GFP and whether or not it represents a meaningful factor that can contribute to a better understanding of personality.