A General Factor of Personality From Multitrait–Multimethod Data and Cross–National Twins

Abstract

In three studies, a General Factor of Personality (GFP) was found to occupy the apex of the hierarchical structure. In Study 1, a GFP emerged independent of method variance and accounted for 54% of the reliable variance in a multitrait-multimethod assessment of 391 Italian high school students that used self-, teacher-, and parent-ratings on the Big Five Questionnaire -Children. In Study 2, a GFP was found in the seven dimensions of Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory as well as the Big Five of the NEO PI-R, with the GFPtci correlating r = .72 with the GFPneo. These results indicate that the GFP is practically the same in both test batteries, and its existence does not depend on being extracted using the Big Five model. The GFP accounted for 22% of the total variance in these trait measures, which were assessed in 651 pairs of 14-to 30-year-old Japanese twins. In Study 3, a GFP accounted for 32% of the total variance in nine scales derived from the NEO PI-R, the Humor Styles Questionnaire, and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire assessed in 386 pairs of 18-to 74-year-old Canadian and U.S. twins. The GFP was found to be 50% heritable with high scores indicating openness, conscientiousness, sociability, agreeableness, emotional stability, good humor and emotional intelligence. The possible evolutionary origins of the GFP are discussed.

Trait Emotional Intelligence and the Dark Triad Traits of Personality

“…The negative association with Machiavellianism is also straightforward in the context of trait EI theory, given that high trait EI individuals view themselves as empathetic and basically good-natured (hence the possibility of mapping high trait EI onto the positive pole of the General Factor of Personality; Petrides et al, 2010;Rushton et al, 2009). This association was also in line with previous findings (Ali et al, 2009;Austin et al, 2007).…”

Are g and the General Factor of Personality (GFP) correlated?

“…The nonclinical inventories include the Big Five and Big Five alternatives, the California Psychological Inventory, the Comrey Personality Scales, the EAS Temperament Scales, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey, the Hexaco Personality Inventory, the Hogan Personality Inventory, the Jackson Personality Inventory, the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire, the Personality Research Form, the Temperament and Character Inventory, and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (Erdle, Irwing, Rushton, & Park, 2010;Figueredo, Vásquez, Brumbach, & Schneider, 2004;Loehlin & Martin, 2011;Musek, 2007;Rushton et al, 2008;Rushton, Bons, Ando, Hur, Irwing,, Vernon, Petrides, & Barbaranelli;2009;Rushton & Irwing, 2008, 2009c, 2009dSchermer & Vernon, 2010;Veselka, Schermer, Petrides, & Vernon, 2009a;Veselka, Schermer, Petrides, Cherkas, Spence, & Vernon, 2009b;Zawadzki & Strelau, 2010).…”

“…One study found the GFP was independent of method variance using a multitrait-multimethod analysis of self-, teacher-, and parent-ratings of 391 13-to 14-year-olds on the Big Five Questionnaire-Children (Rushton et al, 2009). Several cross-national twin studies have found 50% of the variance on the GFP is attributable to genetic influence and 50% to nonshared environmental influence, including from 322 pairs of twins in the United Kingdom, 575 pairs of 2-to 9-year-old twins in South Korea, 651 pairs of 14-to 30-year-old twins in Japan, and 386 pairs of 18-to 74-year-old twins in Canada and the United States (Figuerdo et al, 2004;Rushton et al, 2008Rushton et al, , 2009Veselka et al, 2009aVeselka et al, , 2009b. The South Korean twin data showed that the GFP had emerged by 2-to 3-years of age (Rushton et al, 2008).…”

“…Therefore, if higher order factors of personality are the result of method bias and/or artifacts, theoretically they should not emerge from cross method correlation matrices. To date, five MTMM studies have provided evidence against the GFP (Anusic et al, 2009;Biesanz & West, 2004;DeYoung, 2006;McCrae, Yamagata, Jang, Riemann, Ando, Ono, et al, 2008;Riemann & Kandler, 2010), and two MTMM studies have reported positive support for a GFP (Rushton, et al, 2009;Zawadzki & Strelau, 2010). Thus the evidence from MTMM studies of a GFP is somewhat inconclusive.…”

Beyond the Big Five: The Dark Triad and the Supernumerary Personality Inventory

“…Lastly, a principal factor analysis Dark Triad Versus the Supernumerary Personality Inventory will be carried out with the Dark Triad traits and the SPI traits to assess whether these traits load on common factors, and to determine whether the factors reflect the three Dark Triad dimensions of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and subclinical psychopathy. This analysis will also be helpful in determining whether a heritable General Factor of Personality (GFP) can be extracted from the Dark Triad and SPI traits, such as has been reported in previous studies involving different personality traits (e.g., Figueredo & Rushton, 2009;Rushton, et al, 2009;Veselka et al, 2009a;Veselka et al, 2009b).…”