Self-reported Personality Traits Research Articles

Differential Behavioral Pathways Linking Personality to Leadership Emergence and Effectiveness in Groups.

This study integrates leadership process models with process models of personality and behavioral personality science to examine the behavioral-perceptual pathways that explain interpersonal personality traits' divergent relation to group leadership evaluations. We applied data from an online group interaction study (N = 364) alternately assigning participants as leaders conducting brief tasks. We used four variable types to build the pathways in multiple mediator models: (a) Self-reported personality traits, (b) video recordings of expressed interpersonal behaviors coded by 6 trained raters, (c) interpersonal impressions, and (d) mutual evaluations of leadership emergence/effectiveness. We find interpersonal big five traits to differently relate to the two leadership outcomes via the behavioral-perceptual pathways: Extraversion was more important to leadership emergence due to impressions of assertiveness evoked by task-focused behavior being strongly valued. Agreeableness/emotional stability were more important to leadership effectiveness due to impressions of trustworthiness/calmness evoked by member-focused/calm behavior being stronger valued.

Confounding Effects of Insufficient Effort Responding Across Survey Sources: The Case of Personality Predicting Performance

Insufficient effort responding (IER) to surveys, which occurs when participants provide responses in a haphazard, careless, or random fashion, has been identified as a threat to data quality in survey research because it can inflate observed relationships between self-reported measures. Building on this discovery, we propose two mechanisms that lead to IER exerting an unexpected confounding effect between self-reported and informant-rated measures. First, IER can contaminate self-report measures when the means of attentive and inattentive responses differ. Second, IER may share variance with some informant-rated measures, particularly supervisor ratings of participants’ job performance. These two mechanisms operating in tandem would suggest that IER can act as a “third variable” that inflates observed relationships between self-reported predictor scores and informant-rated criteria. We tested this possibility using a multisource dataset ( N = 398) that included incumbent self-reports of five-factor model personality traits and supervisor-ratings of three job performance dimensions—task performance, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and counterproductive work behavior (CWB). We observed that the strength of the relationships between self-reported personality traits and supervisor-rated performance significantly decreased after IER was controlled: Across the five personality traits, the average reduction of magnitude from the zero-order to partial correlations was |.08| for task performance, |.07| for OCB, and |.14| for CWB. Because organizational practices are often driven by research linking incumbent-reported predictors to supervisor-rated criteria (e.g., validation of predictors used in various organizational contexts), our findings have important implications for research and practice.

Perception is reality? Understanding user perceptions of chatbot-inferred versus self-reported personality traits

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can infer one's personality from online behavior, which offers an interesting alternative to traditional, self-reported personality assessments. Recent studies comparing AI-inferred personality to personality derived from traditional assessments have found noticeable differences between the two (meta-analyses have found mean correlations of 0.3 between AI-inferred personality and personality from surveys). One important but unanswered question is how users perceive their personality derived from both methods. Which do users perceive to be more accurate, and more satisfying to use? To answer this question, we used both methods to conduct personality assessments of 595 participants and then asked users how well the two sets of results fit them, as well as their satisfaction and intention to use them. Participants reported that both results fit them equally well, even though the two methods reported different personality scores. Users were equally satisfied with both methods but were more likely to use the survey, likely because it took less time. Our findings imply that both methods measure different aspects of user personality, and both may be useful. We discuss the pros and cons of AI-inferred versus traditional, self-reported personality and indicate future research directions of AI-inferred personality assessment and the implications of their use for real-world applications.

The effects of a personality intervention on satisfaction in 10 domains of life: Evidence for increases and correlated change with personality traits.

The desire to change one's personality traits has been shown to be stronger if people are dissatisfied with associated aspects of their life. While evidence for the effects of interventions on personality trait change is increasing, it is unclear whether these lead to subsequent improvements in the satisfaction with various domains of life. In this study, we examined the effects of a 3-month digital-coaching personality change intervention study on 10 domains of satisfaction. We focused on the three largest intervention groups of the study (N = 418), which included participants who wanted to increase their Emotional Stability, Conscientiousness, or Extraversion. Bivariate latent change score models were used to examine correlated change between the targeted personality traits and satisfaction domains. We found that global life satisfaction and satisfaction with oneself as a person increased in all three intervention groups. In addition, increases in specific satisfaction domains were reported for the Conscientiousness (e.g., work/school, health, friendships) and Emotional Stability (e.g., family, sexual relationships, emotions) group. Increases were stable up to the 3-month follow-up. In contrast, the waitlist control group did not report any changes in global or domain-specific life satisfaction. Changes in the satisfaction domains were positively correlated with self-reported personality trait change to a similar degree as the cross-sectional associations, but not to observer-reported personality trait change. The personality intervention thus seemed to have a positive effect on satisfaction with various domains of life, which was associated with the degree of self-reported personality trait change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Trajectories and Personality Predictors of Eating-Pathology Development in Girls From Preadolescence to Adulthood

Understanding eating-pathology development may enable meaningful prescriptions for its prevention. Here, we identified common trajectories of eating-pathology development and the personality factors associated with these trajectories. Participants were 760 female twins from the Minnesota Twin Family Study who reported on eating pathology at approximate ages 11, 14, 18, 20, 24, and 29. Parents reported on twins’ personality characteristics at age 11, and twins completed self-report personality questionnaires at ages 14 and 18. Latent class growth analysis identified two distinct trajectories for total eating pathology, binge eating, and weight preoccupation and three distinct trajectories for body dissatisfaction. Girls with more pathological trajectories already showed elevated eating pathology at age 11. These subgroups of high-risk girls self-reported greater proneness to anxiety, stress, and alienation, and less sociable personality styles. Prevention efforts may be enhanced by using self-reported personality traits to identify girls at high risk for eating pathology.

Neuropeptide Y gene variants and Agreeableness: interaction effect with the birth cohort and the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a powerful regulator of anxious states, including social anxiety, but evidence from human genetic studies is limited. Associations of common gene variants with behaviour have been described as subject to birth cohort effects, especially if the behaviour is socially motivated. This study aimed to examine the association of NPY rs16147 and rs5574 with personality traits in highly representative samples of two birth cohorts of young adults, the samples having been formed during a period of rapid societal transition. Both birth cohorts (original n = 1238) of the Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study (ECPBHS) self-reported personality traits of the five-factor model at 25 years of age. A significant interaction effect of the NPY rs16147 and rs5574 and birth cohort on Agreeableness was found. The T/T genotype of NPY rs16147 resulted in low Agreeableness in the older cohort (born 1983) and in high Agreeableness in the younger cohort (born 1989). The C/C genotype of NPY rs5574 was associated with higher Agreeableness in the younger but not in the older cohort. In the NPY rs16147 T/T homozygotes, the deviations from average in Agreeableness within the birth cohort were dependent on the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism. The association between the NPY gene variants and a personality domain reflecting social desirability is subject to change qualitatively in times of rapid societal changes, serving as an example of the relationship between the plasticity genes and environment. The underlying mechanism may involve the development of the serotonergic system.

Is (actual or perceptual) personality similarity associated with attraction in initial romantic encounters? A dyadic response surface analysis

A central assumption in lay and psychological theories is that people are attracted to potential mates who are similar to themselves in personality traits. However, the empirical findings on this idea have been inconclusive. Only a few studies have considered real-life dating contexts, and the statistical approaches they applied have sometimes spuriously identified similarity effects. In our study, 397 heterosexual singles (aged 18–28) participated in real speed-dates (N_dates = 940). Using dyadic response surface analysis, we investigated effects of actual similarity (similarity between self-reported personality trait levels) and perceptual similarity (similarity between an actor’s personality and his/her perception of the partner’s personality) concerning the Big Five traits. Neither type of similarity was related to initial romantic attraction. That is, the empirical evidence contradicted the idea that attraction occurs when people’s personalities match. We conclude that understanding initial attraction requires a deeper understanding of interpersonal dynamics in first encounters.

No Compelling Evidence that Self-Reported Personality Traits Explain Basal Testosterone and Cortisol’s Associations with Status-Relevant Behavior

ObjectiveA goal of behavioral neuroendocrinology is to understand how basal hormone levels relate to behavior. Studies of human participants sometimes measure self-reported personality traits, in addition to or instead of direct behavioral observation. Although personality traits often predict their respective behaviors, whether personality explains hormone-behavior relationships remains unclear.MethodsWe obtained data from eight previous studies (total N = 985) that examined baseline testosterone and cortisol as predictors of status-relevant behavior (competitiveness, dominance, risk-taking, aggression, affiliation, and social status). We tested whether the previously reported hormone-behavior relationships are mediated by self-reported personality traits (e.g., trait dominance, prestige, extraversion). As a secondary research question, we also tested whether trait dominance moderated the testosterone-behavior relationships.ResultsAs expected, self-reported personality traits often predicted status-relevant behaviors, but there was little evidence that traits also correlated with basal testosterone or the testosterone × cortisol interaction. Across all eight studies, personality traits did not significantly mediate hormone-behavior relationships. Indeed, the effect sizes of the hormone-behavior relationships were robust to the inclusion of personality traits as covariates. Further, we did not find strong or consistent evidence that trait dominance moderates the testosterone-behavior association.ConclusionResults suggest that basal testosterone and cortisol predict status-related behavior independent of self-reported personality. We discuss how these results may have broader implications for the physiological mechanisms by which testosterone and cortisol influence behavior, a process that could be unconscious and automatic. We also discuss alternative explanations, limitations, and future directions.

Genetic Testing and Other Healthcare Use by Black and White Individuals in a Genomic Sequencing Study

Introduction: Early adopters play a critical role in the diffusion of medical innovations by spreading awareness, increasing acceptability, and driving demand. Understanding the role of race in the context of other characteristics of potential early adopters can shed light on disparities seen in the early implementation of genomic medicine. We aimed to understand the association between self-identified race and individual experience with genetic testing outside of the research context. Methods: We assessed factors associated with the odds of having ever received genetic testing prior to enrollment in a genomic sequencing study among 674 self-identified white and 407 self-identified African, African American, or Afro-Caribbean (“Black”) individuals. Results: Controlling for individual determinants of healthcare use (demographics, personality traits, knowledge and attitudes, and health status), identifying as Black was associated with lower odds of prior genetic testing (OR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.27–0.68], p < 0.001). In contrast, self-identified race was not associated with the use of non-genetic clinical screening tests (e.g., echocardiogram, colonoscopy). Black and white individuals were similar on self-reported personality traits tied to early adoption but differed by sociodemographic and resource facilitators of early adoption. Conclusion: Persistent racial disparities among early adopters may represent especially-entrenched disparities in access to and knowledge of genomic technologies in clinical settings.

Individual differences in contingencies between situation characteristics and personality states.

Contingencies between situational variables and psychological states have been proposed as key individual difference variables by many theoretical approaches to personality. Despite their relevance, the basic properties, nomological correlates, and factor structure of individual differences in contingencies have not been examined so far. We address these fundamental questions in five studies with overall N = 952 participants and N = 32,052 unique assessments. Individual differences in situation characteristic-state contingencies (SCSCs) between DIAMONDS situation characteristics and Big Five personality states were examined in everyday life. SCSCs showed substantial variation across participants, and individual differences in them were moderately reliable (average meta-analytic reliability = .47) and short-term stable (average meta-analytic latent stability = .43). They were weakly and inconsistently related to average personality states, self-reported personality traits, subjective happiness, and sociodemographic variables across studies. However, there were meaningful intercorrelations among SCSCs that could be described by four factors: contingencies involving (1) positive states and situational problems, (2) positive states and situational rewards, (3) thinking/work and requirements of thinking/work, and (4) neurotic states. Overall, our findings support the notion of SCSCs as potentially important individual difference variables, and we sketch future lines of research on contingencies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Patient Experience During COVID-19: How the Introduction of Telehealth has Influenced Patient Practices

Background: Melbourne underwent one of the strictest lockdowns in the world in 2020, with the swing to telehealth-based appointments, bringing into focus the effectiveness of communication between staff and patients. Due to the ongoing provision of a hybrid model of in-person and telehealth appointments, it is important to learn how this shift in delivery of service has impacted patient experiences. Aim: To examine patient experiences with telehealth appointments, and to assess any associations between self-reported personality traits and preferred communication method. Method: Data was collected from a patient satisfaction survey administered in May 2021 (N=127). The patient satisfaction survey consisted of 5-point Likert scale responses regarding specific aspects of IVF care, self-reported personality trait descriptions and qualitative responses. Frequencies and ordinal logistic regression analyses was used to examine associations between personality traits and satisfaction responses. Results: Overall 80% (N=101) of patients liked the flexibility of telehealth appointments. However 68% (N=87), while understanding the need for telehealth during COVID-19, preferred face to face communication. Exploring self-reported personality traits, patients who described themselves as assertive were more likely to prefer succinct written information, whereas patients who described themselves as anxious and/or shy preferred both verbal and written communication. Patients who described themselves as optimistic, were more likely to rate themselves as pleased with their overall experiences at Newlife IVF and felt emotionally supported during treatment. Conclusion: Despite shifting to a majority telehealth service provision, most patients reported high levels of satisfaction with communication, and have continued to actively use telehealth since the lifting of lockdown, indicating that it doesn’t introduce significant barriers to patient and clinic communication. Inadvertently, necessary change due to COVID-19 has spontaneously broadened the scope of patient centered care providing further insight into patient preferences. Further exploration into using heuristics to identify links between personality types and mode of communication is warranted.

Associations between personality and driving behavior are mediated by mind-wandering tendency: A cross-national comparison of Australian and Italian drivers

ObjectiveThis study examined the associations between personality traits (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and aberrant driving behaviors in a sample of Australian and Italian drivers by investigating the mediation effect of mind-wandering (MW) tendency. BackgroundAlthough unsafe driving behaviors are influenced by both a driver’s MW tendency and personality traits, the potential interaction between these variables and their association with aberrant driving behaviors has not been previously investigated. MethodNine-hundred and four active drivers (n = 452 Australians, n = 452 Italians) completed an online survey related to their self-reported personality traits, driving behaviors, and MW tendency. ResultsA multi-group path analysis showed that MW tendency significantly mediated the effects of neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness on aberrant driving behavior with invariances across nationality groups. ConclusionThese results suggest that the association between personality traits and aberrant driving behaviors is partially explained by a driver’s MW tendency while driving. Further research is needed to understand these relationships using objective measures of MW while driving (e.g., the probe-caught method). The findings of this study suggest that the assessment of personality traits may have important implications for inattentive and distracted driving and fitness-to-drive evaluation purposes.

Perceived personality traits and presumptions of vulnerability to victimization in women

PurposeIn women, having a history of sexual victimization has been linked to certain personality traits (e.g. low levels of assertiveness) and nonverbal behaviors (e.g. fewer head movements). The majority of research in this area, however, has considered how self-reported personality traits and gait relate to victimization. As such, the present study aims to examine how observers’ perceptions of personality impact judgments of targets’ vulnerability to sexual and violent victimization, and how the nonverbal behaviors used when making these judgments may vary depending on perceived personality traits.Design/methodology/approachA total of 309 participants watched eight audio-less videos of a woman speaking. Following each video, participants rated each woman on varying personality and emotionality traits, as well as their perception of how vulnerable the woman was to future victimization, and how they came to their decision according to a number of predetermined nonverbal cues.FindingsConsistent with previous research, observers’ perceptions of sexual vulnerability were negatively related to perceptions of targets’ self-esteem and confidence, and positively related to anxiety. While violent vulnerability displayed a similar pattern of results, the nonverbal behaviors cited during the vulnerability appraisal process varied between personality traits. Though few results emerged within the latter query, anxiety exhibited the majority of all significant relationships, including being positively associated with facial expressions and upper and lower body movements.Originality/valueResults suggest that different behavioral and personality interventions (e.g. increasing self-esteem) may serve to increase self-efficacy, autonomy and confidence, as well as help women feel more in control of their destiny and interpersonal communications.

Examining the reliability and validity of two versions of the Effort-Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT).

The Effort-Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT) has gained validity evidence from several studies. However, various modifications have been applied to the original version, which have never been compared systematically. In Study 1, we tested 120 healthy participants to directly compare two versions of the EEfRT. In Study 2, we tested a larger sample of 394 healthy participants to further examine the original EEfRT. We replicated the split-half reliability of both task versions. However, self-reported personality traits (e.g., trait BAS) correlated with only some task performance parameters in Study 1, which did not replicate for the original EEfRT in Study 2. Our results indicate complex and sometimes inconsistent relations between different personality traits, task properties, and reward attributes.

The Self in the Mind’s Eye: Revealing How We Truly See Ourselves Through Reverse Correlation

Is there a way to visually depict the image people “see” of themselves in their minds’ eyes? And if so, what can these mental images tell us about ourselves? We used a computational reverse-correlation technique to explore individuals’ mental “self-portraits” of their faces and body shapes in an unbiased, data-driven way (total N = 116 adults). Self-portraits were similar to individuals’ real faces but, importantly, also contained clues to each person’s self-reported personality traits, which were reliably detected by external observers. Furthermore, people with higher social self-esteem produced more true-to-life self-portraits. Unlike face portraits, body portraits had negligible relationships with individuals’ actual body shape, but as with faces, they were influenced by people’s beliefs and emotions. We show how psychological beliefs and attitudes about oneself bias the perceptual representation of one’s appearance and provide a unique window into the internal mental self-representation—findings that have important implications for mental health and visual culture.

Reconsidering the Link Between Self-Reported Personality Traits and Political Preferences

Research on personality and political preferences generally assumes unidirectional causal influence of the former on the latter. However, there are reasons to believe that citizens might adopt what they perceive as politically congruent psychological attributes, or at least be motivated to view themselves as having these attributes. We test this hypothesis in a series of studies. Results of preregistered panel analyses in three countries suggest reciprocal causal influences between self-reported personality traits and political preferences. In two two-wave survey experiments, a subtle political prime at the beginning of a survey resulted in self-reported personality traits that were more aligned with political preferences gauged in a previous assessment. We discuss how concurrent assessment within the context of a political survey might overestimate the causal influence of personality traits on political preferences and how political polarization might be exacerbated by political opponents adopting different personality characteristics or self-perceptions thereof.

Do voices carry valid information about a speaker’s personality?

Research on links between peoples’ personality traits and their voices has primarily focused on other peoples’ personality judgments about a target person based on a target person’s vocal characteristics, particularly voice pitch. However, it remains unclear whether individual differences in voices are linked to actual individual differences in personality traits, and thus whether vocal characteristics are indeed valid cues to personality. Here, we investigate how the personality traits of the Five Factor Model of Personality, sociosexuality, and dominance are related to measured fundamental frequency (voice pitch) and formant frequencies (formant position). For this purpose, we conducted a secondary data analysis of a large sample (2217 participants) from eleven different, independent datasets with a Bayesian approach. Results suggest substantial negative relationships between voice pitch and self-reported sociosexuality, dominance and extraversion in men and women. Thus, personality might at least partly be expressed in people’s voice pitch. Evidence for an association between formant frequencies and self-reported personality traits is not compelling but remains uncertain. We discuss potential underlying biological mechanisms of our effects and suggest a number of implications for future research.

The longitudinal impact of DSM–5 Section III specific personality disorders on relationship satisfaction.

Maladaptive personality features, in the form of dimensional traits or symptoms of personality disorders, have been linked with lower levels of relationship satisfaction. Most of this research, however, has been cross-sectional, and little is known about the effect of specific personality disorder types, as measured dimensionally, on relationship satisfaction. In the current study, we used actor partner interdependence modeling (APIM) with self-reported personality traits from the Personality Inventory for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition and spouse-reported traits from the Personality Inventory for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Informant Report Form. Composite scores for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Section III Specific Personality Disorder Types, based on combinations of PID facets as outlined in the Section III criteria, were used to predict relationship satisfaction 1 year after personality was assessed. The alternative model of personality disorders composites significantly predicted relationship satisfaction both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Results indicated that spouse reports of personality disorder types from the alternative model of personality disorders framework were robust predictors of satisfaction. Thus, individuals who perceive their partners as high in personality pathology (at any point in a relationship) are likely to be subsequently dissatisfied in the relationship. Interventions targeting perceptions of one's partner might be an effective way to improve marital satisfaction for these individuals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Sex Differences in Personality in Saudi Arabia

Research has consistently found that there are sex differences in self-reported personality traits. Studies have also found that there are intercultural variations in the magnitude of these sex-based personality differences, with these differences being the most pronounced in prosperous, gender-egalitarian Western societies. In this study, we contribute to this body of research by exploring sex-related personality differences on the HEXACO personality inventory in a large student sample in Saudi Arabia. Consistent with previous research, we find that sex differences in personality are of rather small magnitude, in line with the Socioecological Complexity Hypothesis whereby personality differentiation is found to be more pronounced the more complex a society is. We also report substantial sex differences in response styles, with acquiescent responding and evidence of “careless responding“ higher in males than in females

Validation of DSM-5 clinician-rated measures of personality pathology.

The American Psychiatric Association supported the development of several instruments to assess personality pathology according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) Section III. These instruments include self- and informant report forms as well as clinician-rated measures of personality traits and impairment. To date, the psychometric properties of the DSM-5 Section III clinician-rated measures have received limited investigation. The objective of the current investigation was to evaluate the convergence between self-report and clinician-rated measures of DSM-5 personality pathology in a diagnostically heterogeneous psychiatric patient sample. A total of 201 outpatients with current psychiatric symptoms were recruited from a psychiatric hospital patient research registry. Participants completed both clinician-rated and self-reported measures of personality pathology. Self-reported personality traits converged with clinician-rated personality traits, with medium to large effect sizes. Current and Section III personality disorder criteria demonstrated significant convergence, most with medium to large effect sizes. Self-reported and clinician-rated personality impairment correlated with small to medium effect sizes. The current investigation incorporates a multi-informant assessment of personality in a psychiatric outpatient sample. These results provide evidence for the validity of the scores of the clinician-rated instruments used to implement this model. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).