A Framework for Testing Causality in Personality Research

Abstract

Causal explanations in personality require conceptual clarity about alternative causal conditions that could, even in principle, affect personality. These causal conditions crucially depend on the theoretical model of personality, each model constraining the possibility of planning and performing causal research in different ways. We discuss how some prominent models of personality allow for specific types of causal research and impede others. We then discuss causality from a network perspective, which sees personality as a phenomenon that emerges from a network of behaviours and environments over time. From a methodological perspective, we propose a three-step strategy to investigate causality: (1) identify a candidate target for manipulation (e.g. using network analysis), (2) identify and test a manipulation (e.g. using laboratory research), and (3) deliver the manipulation repeatedly for a congruous amount of time (e.g. using ecological momentary interventions) and evaluate its ability to generate trait change. We discuss how a part of these steps was implemented for trait conscientiousness and present a detailed plan for implementing the remaining steps.

Bridging the gap: A network approach to Dark Triad, Mental Toughness, the Big Five, and perceived stress

“…Albeit network analysis alone is not itself sufficient to prove the presence of causal paths, it constitutes an important guide for future experimental research (Epskamp, Waldorp, et al, ). Whereas personality traits such as the B5 have been traditionally considered immutable, a large body of evidence has shown that personality traits can change because of interventions (Roberts et al, ) and experimental studies in personality, based on network results, are currently being developed (Costantini & Perugini, ). Our results suggest that joint and specialized intervention programs could be developed in order to inspect whether boosting certain traits (e.g., the MT), while weakening other traits (e.g., Neuroticism) in individuals willing to do so might result in a reduction of symptoms of psychopathology, such as perceived stress.…”

Is Within–Individual Variation in Personality Traits Associated with Changes in Health Behaviours? Analysis of Seven Longitudinal Cohort Studies

“…The present quasi-experimental study design cannot be leveraged to gain insight on causality of between-individual measures but only on time-varying personality differences. Other quasi-experimental study designs are needed to test the causality of stable personality traits (Briley, Livengood, & Derringer, 2018;Constantini & Perugini, 2018;Lawlor et al, 2017;Mõttus, 2016;Zapko-Willmes, Riemann, & Kandler, 2018).…”

Hopelessness: A Network Analysis

“…Alternative to the latent factor approach, a new way to conceptualize psychological phenomena has recently been proposed, namely network approach . According to this perspective, psychological constructs (i.e., hopelessness) do not necessarily stem from latent factors, but they may emerge from the mutual interactions among their observable indicators (i.e., questionnaire items; Briganti, Braun, Fried, & Linkowski, 2018;Costantini & Perugini, 2018;Dalege et al, 2016). For example, the belief that one's own behavior does not bring about any positive consequence could lead the person to believe that his/her future is dark, which, in turn, could elicit feelings of giving-up.…”

“…For example, the belief that one's own behavior does not bring about any positive consequence could lead the person to believe that his/her future is dark, which, in turn, could elicit feelings of giving-up. Over time, the reiteration of this (simplified) sequence of thoughts could facilitate the development of a densely connected network, where most of the beliefs reinforce one another and eventually lead to generalized hopelessness (i.e., Costantini & Perugini, 2018;Dalege et al, 2016).…”

“…In particular, network analysis can help identify (i) which nodes are the most central in the structure of network (see below for more details) and (ii) which edges between nodes function as the main pathways of the network. For all these reasons, network analysis is highly valuable approach both for describing psychological constructs and generating testable hypotheses for further research Costantini & Perugini, 2018).…”