PERSONALITY STRUCTURE AND THE CIRCUMPLEX

A computer simulation employing the responses of hypothetical respondents answering solely in terms of D. N. Jackson's (1968) threshold model for stylistic responding reproduced closely the circumplex structure reported by J. S. Wiggins (see record 1980-23392-001) as representing adjective trait endorsements in the interpersonal domain of personality. Wiggins's data are interpreted as defining 2 general dimensions, the 1st representing the differential salience of trait desirability, and the 2nd, differential thresholds for responding desirably in the middle range, resulting in the endorsement of many or few traits as self-descriptive. These processes are considered of primary importance in self-description and presentation but are stylistic in nature and are to be distinguished from trait content. The circumplex structuring of trait content is considered too simple a model for describing the complexities of personality and is judged to be inconsistent with much of modern measurement theory, which highlights convergent and discriminant validity, simple structure, and the mutual independence of traits. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.