Cattell's 16 Personality Factors

Psychologist Raymond Cattell's 16 personality factors describe what he saw as components of a personality, as measured by his 16PF Questionnaire. These include emotional stability, perfectionism, reasoning, warmth, and other traits that, in their unique combinations, explain differences among human individuals.

The Trait Approach to Personality

Psychologists have long debated exactly how personality should be defined and described. One of these key ideas is known as the trait theory of personality.

Some of the earliest trait theories attempted to describe every trait that could possibly exist. For example, psychologist Gordon Allport identified more than 4,000 words in the English language that describe personality traits.

Although this broad approach identified traits well, it's unwieldy, ambiguous, and difficult to use. For example, many traits are very similar and, therefore, difficult to distinguish.

The 16 Personality Factors

Psychologist Raymond Cattell whittled Allport's list down to 171 characteristics, mostly by eliminating redundant and uncommon ones. He then used a statistical technique known as factor analysis to identify interrelated traits and condense his list into 16 key personality factors.

The following are Cattell's 16 personality factors:

1. Abstractedness: Imaginative versus practical
2. Apprehension: Worried versus confident
3. Dominance: Forceful versus submissive
4. Emotional stability: Calm versus high-strung
5. Liveliness: Spontaneous versus restrained
6. Openness to change: Flexible versus attached to the familiar
7. Perfectionism: Controlled versus undisciplined
8. Privateness: Discreet versus open
9. Reasoning: Abstract versus concrete
10. Rule-consciousness: Conforming versus non-conforming
11. Self-reliance: Self-sufficient versus dependent
12. Sensitivity: Tender-hearted versus tough-minded
13. Social boldness: Uninhibited versus shy
14. Tension: Inpatient versus relaxed
15. Vigilance: Suspicious versus trusting
16. Warmth: Outgoing versus reserved

The 16PF Personality Factors Questionnaire

Cattell's 16PF Personality Factors Questionnaire is still used frequently today, especially in career counseling, marital counseling, and employee testing and selection. The respondent must choose one of three alternatives in forced-choice questions. The score is expressed in a range and falls between the highest and lowest extremes.

Researchers use various systems to interpret scores, depending on the test's purpose. Some of the resulting interpretive reports take a clinical approach; others focus on areas such as career selection, teamwork development, and leadership potential.

Other Personality Tests

Although they test somewhat varying traits, similar personality assessments are available. These include:

• The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
• The HEXACO Personality Inventory
• The Revised NEO Personality Inventory
• The Eysenck Personality Inventory
• The DISC Personality Test

Uses for Cattell's 16 Personality Factors Test (16PF)

The 16PF has a variety of uses, including:

• Career development
• Human resources
• Personality assessment
• Research
  

It also helps psychologists address their patients' needs and plan their therapy by assessing anxiety, adjustment, and behavioral problems.

Test Interpretation

The 16PF Questionnaire takes approximately 30 to 50 minutes. It's administered electronically or on paper, usually by a trained professional who then scores each personality factor on a 10-point scale. A score below four is considered low and above seven, high. The context, interaction, and overall score also figure into the scores on each factor.

History of the 16 Factors

Born in 1905, Cattell witnessed the advent of many 20th-century inventions, such as electricity, telephones, cars, and airplanes. Inspired by these innovations, he was eager to apply the scientific methods used to make such discoveries to studying the human mind and personality.

Cattell later used the factor analysis techniques developed by psychologist Charles Spearman, known for his pioneering work in statistics, to create the 16PF Questionnaire.

A Word From Verywell

The 16 Factors of Personality is one example of the trait approach. According to trait theory, human personality comprises many traits in unique combinations. The 16PF Questionnaire is widely used in a variety of settings for numerous purposes, including healthcare, human resources, investigations, and much more.