Trait theorists believe personality can be understood via
the approach that all people have certain traits, or characteristic ways of
behaving. Do you tend to be sociable or shy? Passive or aggressive? Optimistic
or pessimistic? Moody or even-tempered? Early trait theorists tried to describe
all human personality traits.
For example, one trait theorist, Gordon
Allport, found 4,500 words in the English language that could describe
people. He organized these personality traits into three categories: cardinal
traits, central traits, and secondary traits. A cardinal trait is one that
dominates your entire personality, and hence your life—such as Ebenezer
Scrooge’s greed and Wesley Autry – the Subway Hero’s - altruism. Cardinal
traits are not very common: Few people have personalities dominated by a single
trait. Instead, our personalities typically are composed of multiple traits.
Central traits are those that make up our personalities (such as loyal, kind,
agreeable, friendly, sneaky, wild, and grouchy). Secondary traits are those
that are not quite as obvious or as consistent as central traits. They are
present under specific circumstances and include preferences and attitudes. For
example, one person gets angry when people try to tickle him; another can only
sleep on the left side of the bed; and yet another always orders her salad
dressing on the side. And you—although not normally an anxious person—feel
nervous before making a speech in front of your English class.
In an effort to make the list of traits more manageable,
Raymond Cattell (1946, 1957) narrowed down the list to about 171 traits.
However, saying that a trait is either present or absent does not accurately
reflect a person’s uniqueness, because all of our personalities are actually
made up of the same traits; we differ only in the degree to which each trait is
expressed. Cattell identified 16 factors or dimensions of personality: warmth,
reasoning, emotional stability, dominance, liveliness, rule-consciousness,
social boldness, sensitivity, vigilance, abstractedness, privateness,
apprehension, openness to change, self-reliance, perfectionism, and tension. He
developed a personality assessment based on these 16 factors, called the 16PF.
Instead of a trait being present or absent, each dimension is scored over a
continuum, from high to low. For example, your level of warmth describes how
warm, caring, and nice to others you are. If you score low on this index, you
tend to be more distant and colder. A high score on this index signifies you
are supportive and comforting.
The 16 Personality Factors
The following personality trait list describes some of
the descriptive terms used for each of the 16 personality dimensions described
by Cattell.
1.
Warmth (Outgoing versus reserved)
Warmth means the extent of friendliness or sociability in
a person. Cattell named this Factor A. Based on the level of warmth, a person
can be outgoing or reserved.
2.
Reasoning (Abstract versus concrete)
This is Cattell’s Factor B. It denotes the intelligence
of a person. It gives a measure of how a person can do an action or task in a
logical or sensible way.
3.
Emotional Stability (Calm versus
high-strung)
Emotional stability allows a person to develop an
integrated and balanced way of responding to the problems faced in daily life.
This was Cattell’s Factor C.
4.
Dominance (Forceful versus submissive)
In simple terms, dominance refers to an individual’s
power and authority over others. Some people prefer to be dominant while others
prefer to be submissive. Cattell called this his Factor E.
5.
Liveliness (Spontaneous versus
restrained)
Cattell termed this as Factor F. Liveliness refers to the
quality of being outgoing, energetic, and enthusiastic.
6.
Rule-consciousness (Conforming versus
non-conforming)
As one can understand from the name, rule-consciousness
means an individual’s will to follow rules or disregard them. This was
Cattell’s Factor G.
7.
Social boldness (Uninhibited versus
shy)
Social boldness implies how comfortably a person acts and
feels in social situations. Cattell called this Factor H.
8.
Sensitivity (Tender-hearted versus
tough-minded)
In simple terms, the sensitivity means the quality or
condition of being sensitive. Cattell named this Factor I.
9.
Vigilance (Suspicious versus trusting)
Vigilance means keeping a careful watch for possible
danger or difficulties. This was Cattell’s Factor L.
10.
Abstractedness (Imaginative versus
practical)
In simple words, this refers to a state of mind
characterized by detachment from reality. It means how preoccupied a person is
in their own thoughts. This is the Factor M.
11.
Privateness (Discreet versus open)
Cattell termed this as his Factor N. This indicates how
discreet or open a person prefers to be in his or her daily life.
12.
Apprehension (Worried versus
confident)
This refers to the fear that something bad or unpleasant
will happen. Cattell called this Factor O.
13.
Openness to change (Flexible versus
attached to the familiar)
This was the Factor Q1. It indicates how open-minded a
person is.
14.
Self-reliance (Self-sufficient versus
dependent)
Cattell called this Factor Q2. It denotes the extent of
autonomy of a person. It indicates how self-sufficient an individual is.
15.
Perfectionism (Controlled versus
undisciplined)
This denotes the extent to which an individual strives to
be flawless in everything they do. It also gives an idea about the
self-criticizing tendencies of a person. Cattell termed this as Factor Q3.
16.
Tension (Inpatient versus relaxed)
This gives an idea of whether an individual tends to be impatient or relaxed. This is the last of the personality factors described by Cattell. He marked this as Factor Q4.
Uses of the 16 Personality Factors
Cattell's 16-Factor Personality Model has been used for
various practical purposes in the field of psychology and beyond. Here are some
of the ways in which the model has been applied:
1. Personnel
Selection and Job Placement: The 16PF has been used to assess candidates'
suitability for specific job roles. By matching individuals' personality traits
to job requirements, employers can make more informed hiring decisions,
resulting in better job-person fit and increased job satisfaction.
2. Career
Counseling and Development: Career counselors use the 16PF to help
individuals understand their strengths and weaknesses, as well as identify
potential career paths that align with their personality traits. This assists
individuals in making informed decisions about their educational and
professional pursuits.
3. Psychological
Assessment and Diagnosis: Clinicians and psychologists use the 16PF to
assess and diagnose various psychological disorders. Personality traits can
provide insights into an individual's coping mechanisms, vulnerabilities, and
areas of concern.
4. Couples
Counseling: The model has been used to assess compatibility between
romantic partners. By identifying areas of alignment and potential conflicts in
personality traits, couples counselors can provide tailored guidance to improve
relationships.
5. Team
Building: Understanding the mix of personality traits within a team can
help leaders optimize team dynamics. Balancing traits such as dominance,
sensitivity, and social boldness can lead to more effective collaboration and
communication.
6. Educational
Settings: Teachers and educators can use the 16PF to understand their
students' learning styles, preferences, and potential challenges. This
information can inform instructional strategies and help create a more
supportive learning environment.
7. Leadership
Development: The model can aid in identifying individuals with leadership
potential based on factors such as dominance, self-reliance, and emotional
stability. Leadership training and coaching can then be tailored to address
specific areas of development.
8. Personal
Growth and Self-Understanding: Individuals can use the 16PF as a tool for
self-reflection and self-improvement. By gaining insights into their
personality traits, strengths, and areas for growth, individuals can work
towards personal development goals.
9. Research
and Psychometrics: The 16PF has been extensively used in psychological
research to explore relationships between personality traits and various
outcomes, such as academic performance, job satisfaction, and mental health.
10. Cultural
Studies: Researchers have applied the model to cross-cultural studies to
examine how personality traits manifest in different cultural contexts and
whether the model's factors hold across diverse populations.
Online Test
The following website allow to perform free measurement online
of Cattell's 16 personality factors
https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/16PF.php
This personality test consists of 164 statements about
yourself, for each indicate how accurate it is on the scale of (1) disagree (2)
slightly disagree (3) neither agree nor disagree (4) slightly agree (5) agree.
It will take most people around ten minutes to complete.
Test Interpretation of 16PF Test
Based on the answers to the questions, each of the 16
traits can get a score ranging from 0 to 4. A score of 1.6 or less indicates a
“low score”. 2.8 or more indicates a “high score”. Note that these are
personality traits. So, a low score does not mean that someone has done poorly
on the test. Similarly, a high score does not mean someone has done well. These
just indicate that people have different kinds of character traits.
Sources and Additional Information:
https://www.verywellmind.com/cattells-16-personality-factors-2795977
https://opened.cuny.edu/courseware/lesson/72/overview
https://thepleasantpersonality.com/cattells-16-personality-factors/
