Lecture 11: personality and consequential outcomes

Question 1

we can use measures of personality to make ________about ______ or ________ outcomes

Answer 1

1. valid inferences or predictions
2. theoretically relevant
3. practically useful

Question 2

why might personality predict life outcomes? (describe the following)

1. direct effects
2. indirect effects
3. interactive/conditional effects

Answer 2

1. general to specific e.g. does C predict specific expressions of C behaviour?
2. indirect effects via situation selection
3. interactive/conditional effects: (PxE) via differential reactivity to events/situation

Question 3

what is the lexical hypothesis?

-> important in what sense?

Answer 3

important characteristics will over human history be coded into language

-> making predictions (e.g. predict behaviour)
= harness this predictive power to make decisions about individuals (e.g. who will hurt me, who will offer me friendship)

Question 4

Formal assessment of personality and abilities

1. educational contexts
2. occupational contexts

Answer 4

1. binet and simon
   - > identification of children requiring alternate education (special needs)
   - > development of SAT 1920s
2. military selection and placement - Robert Yerkes (1915)

1950s-70s diversification and mobility of work = assessing individual differences to determine most suited

Question 5

The prediction of achievement

“how well can we assess people for their placements?”

1. job performance
   - > Schmidt and hunter (1998) describe meta analysis
2. results
3. strongest predictor

Answer 5

1. 85 years of research

predictors included abilities, traits, work experience

criterion = job performance measured in terms of supervisory ratings and sales records etc

2. years of education .10
   job experience (years) .18
   reference checks .26
   employment interviews .38-.51

personality =
C = .31 (not as predictive as a formal interview)
integrity tests C & A = .41

3. cognitive ability (intelligence) = .51

BUT personality adds to the predictive validity of cognitive ability

= cognitive ability + C = .60

= cognitive ability + integrity test (C+A) = .65 (very high!)

Question 6

the prediction of achievement

Barrick and Mount
1. what did the meta-analysis focus on?

2. results : jobs & relevant personality scores
   - > “will do” criteria

Answer 6

1. big 5
2. C predicts performance across ALL occupations .20-.23
   - > for “will do”: effort/application .42

E predicted performance in 2 specific job areas:

• > management .18
• > sales: .15

Question 7

the prediction of achievement

Hurtz and Donovan

• > updated meta-analysis to check the reliability of first studies
• > what did they find?

Answer 7

C predicts broadly .20

A, O/I and (low) N = performance in customer service roles

E and (low) N = predicts management and sales roles

Question 8

The prediction of achievement

“occupational success”
= what do the indices in this test show
= top scorers include what jobs?

predictive validity for?

what did the regression model show?

Answer 8

• > job desirability or prestige related to wages/years of education
• > doctor, dentist, lawyer

O/I = r.18
E = .16
C = .15

• > Iq = top predictor over 0.25
• > personality = just under .25
• > parental income = just under .15
• > SES = under .1

Question 9

The prediction of achievement

“creative achievement”
Kaufman 2015

Openness vs intellect =?

1. what is intellect?
2. what is openness?

Intellect = achievement in?

openness = achievement it?

Answer 9

distinct aspects “sub-traits” of the O/I domain

1. reflects engagement with semantic information (i like to solve complex problems)
2. reflects engagement with perceptual information (enjoy beauty of nature)

intellect -> sciences

openness -> arts

achievement indicated by outputs, publications and awards

Question 10

The prediction of achievement

“educational achievement”

GPA = combination of what predicts achievement across programs?

Poropat: predicting school/university GPA from…(4)

of personality measures only what adds to prediction of cognitive ability?

Answer 10

= combination of cognitive ability and C

1. cognitive ability = .25
2. C = .22
3. O/I = .12
4. A = .07

= Conscientiousness!

Question 11

The prediction of achievement

1. “educational attainment”
2. “educational engagement”

Answer 11

1. highest level completed/years spent in full time education
   Openness = strongest B5 predictor .35
2. Openness predicts intrinsic motivation (internal interest) in uni student = .35

and breadth/depth of reading = .25

Question 12

The prediction of achievement

“choice of college major” (Vedel)

political science =

psychology =

law =

medicine =

Humanities =

Answer 12

O+E

O+C+A+N

E+C

E+A+C

N+A+O

Question 13

why does personality predict achievement?

1. direct effects
2. indirect effects
3. interactive effects

= simultaneous operation

Answer 13

1. performing well is assessed in working hard (C)
   = C predicts more strongly for effort-related criteria
2. selecting into program that increases later likelihood of particular outcomes:
   a. C + E predict ‘occupational success’ (higher wages) via choice of major (law)
   b. O predicts ‘creative achievement’ (awards, publications) via choice of major (arts)
3. responding to the demands of work

E respond well to the interpersonal challenges of leadership and management roles, unlike N

= links between C and achievement-related outcomes = direct and indirect and interactive. they are NOT mutually exclusive

Question 14

Example: Conscientiousness

indirect effects on educational achievement via study strategies
Corker 2012

= what does this explain about C and educational achievement?

Answer 14

• > 347 us college students
• > various study strategies:

deep processing (think through topics)

persistence (work my hardest to learn)

= use of effortful study strategies explained the relation between C and educational achievement

Question 15

Example: extraversion

interactive effects on

the role of rewards

1. salesforce
2. management

Answer 15

Es respond more to rewards (smillie and wacker)

1. make use of rewards (bonuses)
2. bring a range of rewards (pay and status)

Question 16

Example: extraversion
interactive effects

Extraverts should ONLY predict performance in salespeople when performance is linked with rewards

1. 2 hypothesis (stewart)
2. results

Answer 16

1. a) if new sales are rewarded, E will predict new sales
   b. if customer retention is rewarded, E will predict customer retention
2. a) when sales are rewarded, E perform better on sales. When customer retention rewarded, E perform worse on sales

b) when customer retention is rewarded, E perform better on customer retention. When sales rewarded, E perform worse on customer retention

= E performance is contingent on what they are being rewarded/incentivised for

Question 17

personality traits predict achievement outcomes (summary)

1. C predicts
2. E predicts
3. O predicts
4. A “
5. low N “

Answer 17

1. Board predictor of educational and occupational achievement
   - > indirect effect: study strategies
2. achievement and choice for some work areas (management, sales)
   - > interactive/conditional effects of incentive structures
3. educational attainment = engagement, occupational success = creative achievement
4. customer service
5. performance

Question 18

Longevity (how long people live)

Martin (2007)

1. study
2. results

age 75 low vs high

Answer 18

1. 1254 ppl over 7 decades

C estimated from parent and teacher reports of children

C in adulthood assessed at 2 points in time

outcomes = age of death
health/risk behaviours

2. probability of death continually increases across lifespan
   trends are different:

a) inconsistent (high/low as a child and adult or low/high)

high-low = best chance after high-high (second best)

low-high = worst chance after low-loe (second worst)

(but both very similar = in between low-low and high-high)

b) consistent (high/high as child and adult or low/low)

high-high = lowest chance of death

low-low = worst chance - more likely to be dead across a large section of the lifespan

age 75 = 15% difference in likelihood of them still being alive

Question 19

Longevity (how long people live)

replication of martin’s study using peer report findings
males
females

Answer 19

males rated as more C in their 20s lived longer

females lower N and higher A lived longer

Question 20

Protective effect of C

what health-related effects does it predict?

why?

Answer 20

• better health and living longer
• health-promoting behaviours
• less alcohol use -.25
• less drug -.28
• less unhealthy eating -.13
• less risky driving -.25
• less sexually risky -.13

Question 21

Health promoting behaviours

Armon and Toker
participation in periodic health checks outcome (personality)

Answer 21

odds of returning for a 2nd health check within 7 years

1. C strongest predictor
2. E and O less predictive
3. N = curvilinear predictor = neither high nor low a strong predictor

N = people in low N don’t perceive risk, people high in N worry but dont want to know if anything’s wrong =

Question 22

changes over time

what is the trait that clearly shows an increasing trend over the average lifespan

Answer 22

C

Question 23

changes over time

do changes in C predict changes in health?
- takahashi, edmonds, jackdon and roberts

1. what did the study assess
2. results
   a) C
   b) changes in C

what type of effect supported here?

Answer 23

1. 898 individuals assessed 3 years apart

preventative health behaviours: physical activity, healthy eating

also assessed current health = overall health, physical functioning

2. a) C associated with preventative health behaviours and overall heath at both points in time

b) changes in C = associated with changed in preventative health and overall health
c) changes in preventative health behaviours mediates the association between changes in C and changed in overall health

C -> health behaviour -> health

= indirect link

Question 24

psychological wellbeing

• > measures of wellbeing also predict?
• > these are predicted by what personality traits?
• > links between the traits and wellb being

what type of effect here?

Answer 24

-> longevity
= positive emotional diary content of nuns predicted longevity 60 years later

• > high in E and low in N
• > E and wellbeing = quality of social connections

indirect link

Question 25

disease risk 1. whats "type A personality" - > what does hostility capture 2. agreeableness protects against? evidence

Answer 25

1. competitive, ambitious, restless, impatient and hostile = risk of heart disease = hostility = main ingredient, low A 2. protect against biological risk factors for cardiovascular disease =reduced sympathetic nervous system response to stress and frustration

Question 26

longevity - meta-analysis how long does personality predict longevity up to here? strongest predictors? what does this say about SES + significance? effect sizes

Answer 26

76 years ``` C = strongest E and positive emotionality = next strongest IQ N A SES = lowest ``` traits aren't confounded by SES -> e.g. people who come from high ses backgrounds are NOT more likely to have higher C, E etc effect sizes = all below .10 BUT can be very significant when applied to larger populations

Question 27

personality traits predict health and longevity (summary 2) 1. C 2. E, low N and A 3. O/I

Answer 27

1. indirect effects via state expressions (health promoting behaviours) 2. vis physical and psychological well being 3. O/I = no clear link with longevity/health

Question 28

relationships what traits predict relationship outcomes? (3) 1. Dyrenforth 2. Schmitt 3. Kelly and Conley actor and partner effects

Answer 28

1. A & C = higher marital satisfaction (actor and partner) 2. A & C = lower likelihood of infedelity (actor) 3. N = decreased marital stability (actor and partner)

Question 29

relationships - divorce meta-analysis what personality traits predict? (roberts)

Answer 29

N + lower C + lower A predicts divorce up to 45 years later

Question 30

divorce - why? soloman and jackson explained in terms of indirect effects via relationship dynamics 1. enduring dynamics 2. emergent distress 3. clearer support for? 4. examples

Answer 30

1. entire duration of relationship dynamics exist that impact on satisfaction: certain personality characteristics will be associated with a less harmonious relationship 2. changes in relationship satisfaction related to personality traits. Stressor/event causes a dynamic shift in relationship. 3. enduring dynamics (1) 4. low A and C via negative communication patterns high N via negative emotionality (experiencing negative moods, reacting with irritability)

Question 31

personality and social dynamics 1. whats the reciprocal effects model? 2. A (partial) test - what happened? eaton and funder

Answer 31

1. how personality plays a role in relationship and social dynamics more broadly personality -> impact behaviour -> impacts other person's impressions (shaped by their own personality) -> impacts how they behave -> impacts on original persons behaviour -> broader social environment -> impacts back on person 1 personality 2. pairs of participants A & B interact for 5 minutes behaviour videotaped and coded, self-reported assessment administered after focus on E target personality + partner personality -> target behaviour -> partner impression of target -> impacts targets behaviour = social reputation -> impacts target personality broadly = the personality of the individuals within a social relation impacts how that social relationship evolves - dynamics, impressions and how that relationship might be sustained

Question 32

whats assortive mating Mccrae 2008 -> correlations traits of partners

Answer 32

similar personality types are attracted to one another positive correlations between partners' personality traits = up to .35 for big 5 = highest for O/I bc-> O/I relates to values

Question 33

criminal and antisocial behaviour personality traits associated 1. antisocial behaviour criminal 2. white-collar criminal explanations: direct effects indirect effects

Answer 33

1. low C and low A = antisocial behaviour and aggression 2. C positively predicted direct: aggressive behaviour = state expression of low A indirect: low A (disagreeableness) predicts aggression VIA moral disengagment = belief that fighting and teasing can be justified/isn't harmful

Question 34

political orientation 1. liberal 2. conservative = compare traits for 1 + 2 3. multi-dimensional approaches a) RWA b) SDO: egalitarian (Duckitt and Sibley) how is this explained?

Answer 34

1. equality and equal opportunity, protection of human rights 2. personal responsibility, protection of individual freedoms, order and tradition = 1: higher on O/I .20 and lower on C .10 3.a) social conservatism = traditions + authorities/institution upheld (conservatism) + belief in social control (authoritarianism) ``` O/I = .36 C = .15 ``` b) economic conservatism = endorsement of hierarchies and social/group inequality ``` O/I = .16 A = .29 ``` terms of VALUES high on O = value change and inclusiveness (liberal) high on C = value order and structure (conservatism) high on A = value harmony and co-operation (liberal

Question 35

personality traits and life outcomes (summary 3) 1. A 2. C 3. O/I

Answer 35

1. A = prefer social harmony, less moral disengagement > more positive relationship outcomes > lower involvement in crime > more tolerant, egalitarian (SDO) 2. C = self-regulation, preference for order > more positive relationship outcomes > lower involvement in crime > somewhat socially conservative (respect for tradition; RWA) 3. O/I = receptivity to new ideas, tolerance for change > more progressive, less socially conservative (RWA)

Question 36

Robustness of trait + life outcome findings 1. all of psychology: reproducibility project, results 2. life outcomes of personality replication (LLOORP)

Answer 36

1. - only 39% findings replicated - 50% the effect size = less likely to be replicated and effect sizes much smaller 2. 78 previously reported associations - 87% replication success - 75% as strong effect sizes (dropped but not as significantly as reproducibility project findings)

Question 37

Implications of the robustness of findings linke between personality traits and consequential life outcomes.... 1. have theoretical implications for testing predictions from personality theory (predictive validity) 2. have implications in terms of predicting important outcomes and intervening to change important outcomes (predictive power)

Answer 37

1. does a measure predict what it should - > is C a predictor of effort-related performance criteria? 2. what are the practical implications -> behaviour change for health = should we seek to promote higher levels of A + C? -> job/college selection = should we include measures of C in selection protocols?