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Trait Means and Desirabilities as Artifactual and Real Sources of Differential Stability of Personality Traits
Author(s) -
Wood Dustin,
Wortman Jessica
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2011.00740.x
Subject(s) - trait , psychology , personality , social psychology , big five personality traits , agreeableness , trait theory , scale (ratio) , stability (learning theory) , alternative five model of personality , big five personality traits and culture , computer science , physics , quantum mechanics , machine learning , extraversion and introversion , programming language
Using data from 3 personality trait inventories and 7 samples, we show that trait items that have means near the scale midpoint and that vary more in their perceived desirability (e.g., items related to dominance, creativity, traditionalism, and organization) tend to be more stable over time, whereas items with means near the scale maximum or minimum and that vary less in their perceived desirability (e.g., items related to agreeableness, intellect, and reliability) tend to be less stable. Our findings indicate that items with means near the scale maximum or minimum have lower stabilities primarily due to having lower measurement dependability (i.e., short‐term stabilities unlikely to reflect true change). However, items varying more in their desirability are more stable even after accounting for measurement dependability, consistent with the view that trait stability is facilitated in part by individuals actively working to develop in the direction they find desirable.