The K-factor, Covitality, and personality: A Psychometric Test of Life History Theory
Abstract
We present a psychometric test of life history theory as applied to human individual differences using MIDUS survey data (Brim et al. 2000). Twenty scales measuring cognitive and behavioral dimensions theoretically related to life history strategy were constructed using items from the MIDUS survey. These scales were used to construct a single common factor, the K-factor, which accounted for 70% of the reliable variance. The scales used included measures of personal, familial, and social function. A second common factor, Covitality, was constructed from scales for physical and mental health. Finally, a single general factor, Personality, was constructed from scales for the "Big Five" factors of personality. The K-factor, covitality factor, and general personality factor correlated significantly with each other, supporting the prediction that high K predicts high somatic effort and also manifests in behavioral display. Thus, a single higher-order common factor, the Super-K factor, was constructed that consisted of the K-factor, covitality factor, and personality factor.
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Religiosity and moral attitudes are correlates of slow life history strategy.
“Religiosity and moral attitudes are also correlates of slow life history strategy (e.g., Figueredo et al. 2007; Gladden et al. 2009).”
From Parasite-stress promotes in-group assortative sociality: The cases of strong family ties and heightened religiosity (2012) · cites this paper as Figueredo et al. 2007
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Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: an integrated life history approach
Ellis, B. J. (2004) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.6.920 · Cited by 1,014 · see citing works
The origin of mind: Evolution of brain, cognition, and general intelligence.
Geary, D. C. (2005) · doi:10.1037/10871-000 · Cited by 551 · see citing works
Contribution of Psychosocial Factors to Socioeconomic Differences in Health
Marmot, M. G., Fuhrer, R., Ettner, S. L., Marks, N. F., Bumpass, L. L., & Ryff, C. D. (1998) · The Milbank Quarterly · doi:10.1111/1468-0009.00097 · Cited by 317 · see citing works
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Consilience and Life History Theory: From genes to brain to reproductive strategy
FIGUEREDO, A., VASQUEZ, G., BRUMBACH, B., SCHNEIDER, S., SEFCEK, J., TAL, I., HILL, D., WENNER, C., & JACOBS, W. (2006) · Developmental Review · doi:10.1016/j.dr.2006.02.002 · Cited by 793 · see citing works
Self-citationFincher, C. L., & Thornhill, R. (2012) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x11000021 · Cited by 526 · see citing works
Assortative Pairing and Life History Strategy: A Cross-Cultural Study
Figueredo, A. J., & Wolf, P. S. A. (2009) · Human Nature · doi:10.1007/s12110-009-9068-2 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Self-citationUrie Bronfenbrenner: Toward an Evolutionary Ecological Systems Theory
Hertler, S. C., Figueredo, A. J., Peñaherrera-Aguirre, M., Fernandes, H. B. F., & Woodley of Menie, M. A. (2018) · Life History Evolution · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90125-1_19 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Figueredo, A. J., Vásquez, G., Brumbach, B. H., & Schneider, S. M. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Arizona (US)
- Corresponding author
- Figueredo, Aurelio José
- Venue
- Human Nature
- Published
- 2007-03
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 47-73
- ISSN
- 1045-6767 (ISSN-L)
- 1936-4776
- OpenAlex
- W2147377023
- Cited by
- 268
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 11.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Human Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Keywords
- K-factor, life history theory, covitality, personality, Big Five personality traits, individual differences, physical and mental health, psychometric scale
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