What Do We Assess when We Assess a Big 5 Trait? A Content Analysis of the Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive Processes Represented in Big 5 Personality Inventories
Abstract
What are personality traits? Are all “broad” traits equally broad in the constructs they encompass and in the pervasiveness of their effects? Or are some traits more or less affective, behavioral, or cognitive in nature? The present study examined these issues as they applied to the Big 5 traits of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Expert and novice raters judged the extent to which items from four popular Big 5 inventories contain behavioral, cognitive, or affective components. Traits and inventories were then compared in terms of their relative assessment of these components. Results indicate convergence among inventories but remarkable differences between traits. These findings have implications for the conceptualization and assessment of traits and suggest directions for future research.
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The three components of traits (affect, behavior, cognition) are differentially emphasized across the Big Five traits.
“Even though traits are thought to reflect relatively stable patterns of affect, behavior, and cognition, these three components of traits have been found to be differentially emphasized across the Big Five traits”
From Life Events and Personality Trait Change. (2018) · cites this paper as Pytlik Zillig, Hemenover, & Dienstbier, 2002
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References 52 · Cited by 348
- Authors
- Zillig, L. M. P., Hemenover, S. H., & Dienstbier, R. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
- Kansas State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Zillig, Lisa M. Pytlik
- Venue
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2002-06
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 847-858
- ISSN
- 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7433
- OpenAlex
- W2138164532
- Cited by
- 348
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 3.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- Lincoln (University of Nebraska) (submittedVersion)
- 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 tests, trait assessment, emotional processing, behavioral processes, cognitive processes, neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, rater judgment
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