Chart of Raymond Cattell's 16PF
The 16PF is a questionnaire that measures major personality traits. These were discovered by a factor analysis of adjectives describing human behaviours. Some of the original factors were dropped (D, J, K) and others were later added (Q1-Q4) resulting in the following sixteen. Factors nearer the top are thought to be more relevant. Later analysis showed 5 global supertraits that roughly parallel those of the 'Big Five' model.
High Scorers: |
Low Scorers: |
Global 5 Supertraits: |
|
A |
Affectothymia: Warm, outgoing, attentive to others, kindly, easy-going, participating, likes people | Schizothymia: Impersonal, distant, cool, reserved, detached, formal, aloof | Extroversion also Receptivity |
B |
Higher Scholastic Mental Capacity: Abstract-thinking, more intelligent, bright, higher general mental capacity, fast learner | Lower Scholastic Mental Capacity:Concrete thinking, lower general mental capacity, less intelligent, unable to handle abstract problems | n/a |
C |
Higher Ego Strength: Emotionally stable, adaptive, mature, faces reality calmly | Lower Ego Strength: Reactive emotionally, changeable, affected by feelings, emotionally less stable, easily upset | Anxiety |
E |
Dominance: Dominant, forceful, assertive, aggressive, competitive, stubborn, bossy | Submissiveness: Deferential, cooperative, avoids conflict, submissive, humble, obedient, easily led, docile, accommodating | Independence |
F |
Surgency: Lively, animated, spontaneous, enthusiastic, happy go lucky, cheerful, expressive, impulsive | Desurgency: Serious, restrained, prudent, taciturn, introspective, silent | Extroversion also Self Control(-) |
G |
High Super Ego Strength: Rule-conscious, dutiful, conscientious, conforming, moralistic, staid, rule bound | Low Super Ego Strength: Expedient, nonconforming, disregards rules, self indulgent | Self Control |
H |
Parmia: Socially bold, venturesome, thick skinned, uninhibited | Threctia: Shy, threat-sensitive, timid, hesitant, intimidated | Extroversion also Independence |
I |
Premsia: Sensitive, aesthetic, sentimental, tender minded, intuitive, refined | Harria: Utilitarian, objective, unsentimental, tough minded, self-reliant, no-nonsense, rough | Receptivity |
L |
Protension: Vigilant, suspicious, skeptical, distrustful, oppositional | Alaxia: Trusting, unsuspecting, accepting, unconditional, easy | Independence also Anxiety |
M |
Autia: Abstract, imaginative, absent minded, impractical, absorbed in ideas | Praxernia: Grounded, practical, prosaic, solution oriented, steady, conventional | Receptivity also Self Control(-) |
N |
Shrewdness: Private, discreet, nondisclosing, shrewd, polished, worldly, astute, diplomatic | Artlessness: Forthright, genuine, artless, open, guileless, naive, unpretentious, involved | Extroversion(-) |
O |
Guilt Proneness: Apprehensive, self doubting, worried, guilt prone, insecure, worrying, self blaming | Untroubled: Self-Assured, unworried, complacent, secure, free of guilt, confident, self satisfied | Anxiety |
Q1 |
Radicalism: Open to change, experimental, liberal, analytical, critical, free thinking, flexibility | Conservatism: Traditional, attached to familiar, conservative, respecting traditional ideas | Receptivity also Independence |
Q2 |
Self-Sufficiency: Self-reliant, solitary, resourceful, individualistic, self sufficient | Group Adherence: Group-oriented, affiliative, a joiner and follower dependent | Extroversion(-) |
Q3 |
High Self-Concept Control: Perfectionistic, organized, compulsive, self-disciplined, socially precise, exacting will power, control, self-sentimental | Low Integration: Tolerates disorder, unexacting, flexible, undisciplined, lax, self-conflict, impulsive, careless of social rules, uncontrolled | Self Control |
Q4 |
High Ergic Tension: Tense, high energy, impatient, driven, frustrated, over wrought, time driven | Low Ergic Tension: Relaxed, placid, tranquil, torpid, patient, composed low drive | Anxiety |
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