An interactional approach to the study of personality and emotion

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation between personality and emotional feelings within ecologically valid settings Nineteen subjects rated their emotions in a wide variety of work, recreation, social, and alone situations sampled over a 30-day period They were also administered the Personality Research Form and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Although theoretically predictable relations were found between certain personality traits and specific emotions averaged across situations, it was not until we distinguished chosen from imposed situations that the most meaningful results were obtained Both temperament and nontemperament personality traits were found to be related to specific emotions Implications of the present findings for research on situation selection and the status of personality traits are discussed     

A cross-cultural comparison using the act frequency approach (AFA) in West Germany and the United States

Two studies were conducted in West Germany and the United States to investigate cultural similarities and differences on features of personality assessed through act frequency methods. The first study analysed the acts considered to be central and peripheral to each of six dispositional categories: dominance, quarrelsomeness, gregariousness, submissiveness, agreeableness, and aloofness. The results indicated moderate to strong similarity between the cultures in the prototypicality structure for all categories except agreeableness, which showed little concordance. The second study examined the manifested structure of act performance as assessed through retrospective act reports. The results indicated greater similarity of act endorsements between the two sexes within each culture than between cultures within each sex. Generally, the Americans showed higher base rates than the Germans. Furthermore, over all samples, females showed lower base rates than males. The correlations between relative base rates within each of the six different categories were moderately strong between the cultures (0.56, p < 0.001). Analyses of the relations between the prototypicality structure and the manifested structure yielded a complex picture that was highly dependent on dispositional category. For quarrelsome acts, for example, the more central acts were reported to be performed less frequently in both cultures, while other categories showed positive correlations between base rates and prototypicality. The limitations of these studies are described, and future research directions regarding expanding the range of act frequency methods and the number of nations in the search for personality functioning across cultures are suggested.     

Toward a new approach to the study of personality in culture

We review recent developments in the study of culture and personality measurement. Three approaches are described: an etic approach that focuses on establishing measurement equivalence in imported measures of personality, an emic (indigenous) approach that studies personality in specific cultures, and a combined emic-etic approach to personality. We propose the latter approach as a way of combining the methodological rigor of the etic approach and the cultural sensitivity of the emic approach. The combined approach is illustrated by two examples: the first with origins in Chinese culture and the second in South Africa. The article ends with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of the combined emic-etic approach for the study of culture and personality and for psychology as a science.     

Assessing within-person personality variability via frequency estimation: More evidence for a new measurement approach

Variability in personality has been recognized in recent years as an important aspect of personality both conceptually and empirically. A relatively new and efficient method of obtaining variability information is frequency-based personality assessment (Edwards & Woehr, 2007). The purpose of the present research is to further examine the viability of frequency-based personality measurement as an alternative to traditional (Likert-type) measurement and to assess the usefulness of the variance-based parameters. Toward this end, three studies are presented. Specifically, Study 1 examined relationships between a frequency-based measure of the Big Five personality traits and several motivational variables. Study 2 examined the moderating role of temporal consistency information (provided by frequency-based measurement) on relationships between personality and peer ratings of task performance. Study 3 compared the frequency-based measure to a Likert-type measure with respect to each measure’s susceptibility to deliberate response distortion. Results indicated that consistency information increases the predictive validity of agreeableness and conscientiousness and that a frequency-based format is less susceptible to faking than a Likert-type format for conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience.     

A general approach to testing multifaceted personality constructs.

Some personality characteristics are composed of multiple, distinct subcomponents (e.g., Type A, hardiness, attributional style, self-monitoring). The advantages and disadvantages of 3 typical approaches to testing these constructs are reviewed. An alternative approach based on structural equation modeling is then offered. This approach has many advantages over its alternatives, including the provision of an explicit test of the structure of the multifaceted construct, the simultaneous test of the effects of this general construct and the unique aspects of its subcomponents, and the explicit consideration of measurement error. Although the modeling approach does have limitations, these limitations are equally applicable to all of its alternatives. Indeed, the principal disadvantages of the modeling approach seem to be its statistical complexity and the lack of education regarding its proper use.     

Validity and student acceptance of a graphoanalytic approach to personality

Forty-eight handwriting specimens were rated by 6 handwriting analysts on 16 personality variables. Correlations of analysts ratings and personality inventory scores were nonsignificant. Analysis of variance shewed that there were significant differences between the analysts on their judgments of 10 of the 15 traits. Subjects were also given the reports prepared for them and a bogus report and asked to rate the analysts' assessments for accuracy. Subjects were able to choose 2 of the 15 traits with significant accuracy on the real report when considering individual traits. There were no significant differences between the accuracy ratings on the real and bogus reports on overall rating. It was concluded that the analysts could not accurately predict personality from handwriting.     

Typological personality research by configural frequency analysis

After discussing diverse concepts of types or syndromes the definition of types, according to configural frequency analysis (CFA), is given. A type, in this theory, is assumed to be a configuration of categories belonging to different attributes. This configuration should occur with a probability which is higher than the conditional probability for given univariate marginal frequencies. The conditional probability is computed under the null hypothesis of independence of the attributes. Types are identified by simultaneous conditional binomial tests and interpreted by means of an interaction structure analysis in a multivariate contingency table. Two further versions of CFA are explained. By prediction CFA it is possible to predict certain configurations by other ones while by c-sample CFA it is possible to discriminate between populations by means of configurations. The procedures are illustrated by an example concerning the responses of patients to lumbar punctures.     

A dog's got personality: a cross-species comparative approach to personality judgments in dogs and humans

This research offers a blueprint for how a cross-species comparative approach can be realized empirically. In a single design, parallel procedures and instruments were used in 2 species, dogs (Canis familiaris) and humans (Homo sapiens), to test whether personality differences exist and can be judged in dogs as accurately as in humans. Personality judgments of humans and dogs were compared on 3 accuracy criteria: internal consistency, consensus, and correspondence. Results showed that, on all 3 criteria, judgments of dogs were as accurate as judgments of humans. These findings are consistent with the evolutionary continuity hypothesis and suggest an important conclusion not widely considered by either personality or animal researchers: Personality differences do exist and can be measured in animals other than humans.     

Gender differences in the frequency of personality disorders in depressed outpatients

We examined gender differences in the frequency of DSM-III-R personality disorder diagnoses and symptomatology in a sample of 225 depressed outpatients. This research partially replicates and extends one of the first studies in this area by Golomb et al. (1995). Males were significantly more likely than females to meet diagnoses for schizotypal, paranoid, narcissistic, antisocial, obsessive compulsive, and borderline personality disorder. Compared to females, males were also significantly more likely to have schizoid, schizotypal, narcissistic, antisocial, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder symptomatology. Females did not predominate in any personality disorder symptomatology or diagnoses. A possible explanation for these findings is discussed. The results of this study challenge traditional assumptions about gender differences in the frequency of personality disorders, and confirm the need for future studies to investigate the relation between gender and personality disorders in specific Axis I samples.     

A prototype matching approach to diagnosing personality disorders: toward DSM-V

The current diagnostic system for personality disorders (PD) has a number of problems that may require a thorough revision for DSM-V. This article (a) outlines problems with the current taxonomy that suggest the need for a different approach to PD diagnosis that preserves the strengths of the current system while addressing some inherent weaknesses; (b) discusses key issues that must be addressed in moving toward DSM-V, such as revising the distinction between Axis I and Axis II and combining categorical and dimensional diagnosis; and (c) describes a prototype matching approach to diagnosis, which we believe has the potential to be both psychometrically sound and faithful to the clinical data.     

PLS model building: A multivariate approach to personality test data

The aim of this study was to demonstrate how personality test data can be plotted with a multivariate method known as Partial Least Squares of Latent Structures (PLS). The basic methodology behind PLS modeling is presented and the example demonstrates how a PLS model of personality test data can be used for diagnostic prediction. Principles for validating the models are also presented. The conclusion is that PLS modeling appears to be a powerful method for extracting clinically relevant information from complex personality test data matrixes. It could be used as a complement to more hard modeling methods in the process of examining a new area of interest.     

The relationship between personality, approach to learning and academic performance

This study considers the relationship between students' approaches to learning, as measured by a short-form of Entwistle and Tait's (1995) Revised Approaches to Studying Inventory (RASI), the Big Five personality factors, as measured by Cattell's 16PFi, and the background variables of age, gender and prior educational achievement and academic performance. Subjects were 146 social science undergraduate students at a university in Scotland. Structural equation modelling identifies the Big Five personality factor scores account for between 22.7% and 43.6% of the variance across scores on the three approach to learning dimensions. Four of the Big Five personality factors and the three approach to learning dimensions were found to be poor predictors of academic performance. A linear regression analysis with academic performance as the dependent variable and age, prior educational attainment and conscientiousness as independent variables, accounted for 24.1% of the variance in performance. Our investigation suggests approach to learning is a subset of personality. However, we conclude it makes sense to measure these two groups of variables separately in educational settings.     

An integrated approach to psychotherapy techniques for patients with personality disorder

Personality disordered patients present with multiple problem areas and potential targets of change. This complex clinical situation can be addressed by an integrated approach to the treatment by using treatment strategies and techniques from the various schools of therapy, sequenced and adapted to the individual patient. An optimal choice and sequencing of treatment techniques is organized around general treatment strategies (assessment and case formulation, treatment structuring, observing the therapeutic relationship, addressing problematic personality organization, and addressing sequential goals) with the severity of the personality disturbance in mind. The biggest threat to successful integration of the treatment is the reaction of severe personality disordered patients who lack an integrated sense of self and suffer from intense, fluctuating emotions that challenge an inexperienced, reactive therapist.     

Classifying personality disorders: an evolution-based alternative to an evidence-based approach

The study of personality disorders, no less psychology as a wole, remains divorced from broader spheres of scientific knowledge. Development of a conceptual schema for classifying personality disorders should include the examination of research limitations and inductive inconsistences that undermine the likely achievements of the evidential approach. An alternative course of action is outlined here, one that looks to evolutionary theory rather than evidence-based methods for classification guidance.