The consistency of personality type classification across samples and five-factor measures

Caspi (1998), Asendorpf and Van Aken (1999), and Asendorpf et al. (2001) described three personality types derived from Q-factor analysis of Q-sorts or cluster analysis of multiple trait ratings. The types were labelled as resilients, undercontrollers, and overcontrollers and they were described in terms of averaged Five-Factor Model (FFM) scores. The present study aimed to investigate the consistency and replicability of these prototypes across different FFM measures (i.e. HiPIC and NEO PI-R) and ages (children and adolescents). In addition, the stability of prototype classification across a 3 year interval was examined. The types described by Caspi and Asendorpf and colleagues were only partially replicable and consistent across ages starting from HiPIC ratings, but not for NEO-PI-R ratings. Prototype classification was not stable across a 3 year interval. It is concluded that cluster replicabilitly, consistency, and stability depend on sample characteristics and the multiple trait measures, although these difficulties do not necessarily limit the usefulness of the types for applied purposes. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.