The lexical approach to the study of personality structure: toward the identification of cross-culturally replicable dimensions of personality variation.
The structure of personality variation is discussed from the perspective of the lexical approach, which is based on the examination of relations among personality-descriptive adjectives that are indigenous to various languages. The results of this approach--which reveal a cross-culturally replicated set of six dimensions--are described. Specifically, the obtained structure corresponds rather closely to the Five-Factor Model, but differs from that model in the nature of the Agreeableness and Emotionality/Neuroticism factors and also in the existence of a sixth factor known as Honesty-Humility. It is suggested that the emergence of this structure provides support for attempts to establish a cross-culturally generalizable structural model that could summarize normal and abnormal personality variation.
Ashton
Michael C
MC
Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada. mashton@brocku.ca
Lee
Kibeom
K
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000592:standards; D011594:Psychometrics; D009626:Terminology as Topic