Cited by 1,682Personality Traits and PsychologyPsychological Testing and AssessmentPsychometric Methodologies and Testing

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A contrarian view of the five-factor approach to personality description.

Block, Jack·1995·Psychological Bulletin

DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.117.2.187

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Abstract

The 5-factor approach (FFA) to personality description has been represented as a comprehensive and compelling rubric for assessment. In this article, various misgivings about the FFA are delineated. The algorithmic method of factor analysis may not provide dimensions that are incisive. The "discovery" of the five factors may be influenced by unrecognized constraints on the variable sets analyzed. Lexical analyses are based on questionable conceptual and methodological assumptions, and have achieved uncertain results. The questionnaire version of the FFA has not demonstrated the special merits and sufficiencies of the five factors settled upon. Serious uncertainties have arisen in regard to the claimed 5-factor structure and the substantive meanings of the factors. Some implications of these problems are drawn.

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Wood, J. K., Anglim, J., & Horwood, S. (2021) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1177/08902070211012920 · Cited by 21
“In particular, greater variation in socially desirable responding leads to increased correlations between the Big Five (Block, 1995; Costa Jr & McCrae, 1992; Costa & McCrae, 1992; Funder, 2001; Goldberg, 1990; McCrae & John, 1992; van der Linden et al., 2010).”
Background
What falls outside of the Big Five? Darkness, derailers, and beyond
Harms, P. D., & Sherman, R. A. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-819200-9.00016-8 · Cited by 15
Conceptualization, Measurement, and Analysis of Negative Affective Risk Factors
Smith, T. W. (2010) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-09488-5_12 · Cited by 16
Incremental validity of positive and negative valence in predicting personality disorder.
Simms, L. J., Yufik, T., & Grös, D. F. (2010) · Personality Disorders Theory Research and Treatment · doi:10.1037/a0019752 · Cited by 17
“However, the Big Five is not without its critics (e.g., Block, 1995; Waller, 1999), who have argued against its cross-cultural robustness, comprehensiveness, and suitability as a dimensional PD taxonomy.”
Understanding the Independent Influence of Duty and Achievement Striving When Predicting the Relationship Between Conscientiousness and Organizational Cultural Profiles and Helping Behaviors
Moon, H. K., Livne-Ofer, E., & Marinova, S. V. (2012) · Journal of Personality Assessment · doi:10.1080/00223891.2012.740539 · Cited by 16
“One such criticism is the lack of theoretical development (Block, 1995; McAdams, 1992).”
Background
Axis of criticism model (ACRIM): An integrative conceptualization of person–context exchanges in vulnerability to adolescent psychopathology.
Shahar, G., & Henrich, C. C. (2013) · Journal of Psychotherapy Integration · doi:10.1037/a0031418 · Cited by 16
Personality and the Self
Robinson, M. D., & Sedikides, C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.031 · Cited by 18
Microgenesis in Making Sense of Oneself: Constructive Recycling of Personality Inventory Items
Diriwächter, R., Valsiner, J., & Sauck, C. C. (2008) · Forum qualitative Sozialforschung · doi:10.17169/fqs-6.1.520 · Cited by 16
Assessing the Big Five
Schulze, R., & Roberts, R. D. (2006) · Zeitschrift für Psychologie · doi:10.1026/0044-3409.214.3.133 · Cited by 16
Evaluación de la personalidad de sujetos drogodependientes que solicitan tratamiento mediante el Big-Five Questionnaire
Pérez, E. J. P. (2002) · Trastornos Adictivos · doi:10.1016/s1575-0973(02)70069-x · Cited by 16
NEO-FFI scores in college men and women: A view from McDonald’s unified treatment of test theory
Becker, G. (2005) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2005.09.009 · Cited by 16
The Big Five personality traits and foreign language speaking confidence among Japanese EFL students
Apple, M. T. (2011) · ProQuest Demo Repository · Cited by 16
The Five-Factor Model of Personality: Consensus and Controversy
McCrae, R. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.013 · Cited by 20
The intraindividual dynamics of university students' motivation and emotions: The role of autonomy‐supportive learning climates and learning activities
Lo, M. (2024) · British Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjep.12703 · Cited by 20
Personality assessment using multiple online social networks
Bhardwaj, S., Atrey, P. K., Saini, M. K., & Saddik, A. E. (2015) · Multimedia Tools and Applications · doi:10.1007/s11042-015-2793-0 · Cited by 15
Comparing the lexical similarity of the triarchic model of psychopathy to contemporary models of psychopathy
Gatner, D. T., Douglas, K. S., & Hart, S. D. (2017) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12337 · Cited by 15
“Nevertheless, the lexical approach has been criticized (Block, 1995) because of difficulties comprehending and comparing linguistic descriptions of vague personality attributes—a possibility for our undergraduate student sample.”
Background
Criterion‐related validity of a Big Five general factor of personality from the TIPI to the IPIP
Burns, G. N., Morris, M. B., Periard, D. A., LaHuis, D. M., Flannery, N. M., Carretta, T. R., & Roebke, M. A. (2017) · International Journal of Selection and Assessment · doi:10.1111/ijsa.12174 · Cited by 15

Authors: Block, J.
Affiliations: University of California, Berkeley (US)
Corresponding author: Block, Jack
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1995
Volume: 117
Issue: 2
Pages: 187-215
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.117.2.187
OpenAlex: W2042236540
Cited by: 1,682
References: 182
Citations by year: 2026: 28 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 155 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 57 · 2017: 50 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 54 · 2014: 63 · 2013: 60 · 2012: 66
FWCI: 75.95
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (MH-16080, R01MH016080)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
Keywords: Big Five personality traits, personality structure, personality assessment, questionnaire validity
MeSH terms: Factor Analysis, Statistical, Humans, Personality Assessment, Personality Development, Personality Disorders, Psychometrics, Reproducibility of Results

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A contrarian view of the five-factor approach to personality description.

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