Beyond stability: Predicting inter‐individual differences in intra‐individual change

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens B. Asendorpf
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Developmental Perspective ◽  
Individual Change ◽  
Longitudinal Stability ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Self And Other ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
Overall Stability ◽  
Differential Stability

Demonstration of a high longitudinal stability of inter‐individual diferences in behaviour has been one traditional goal of personality psychology. In recent years, impressively high longitudinal correlations have been reported for self‐and other‐ratings of behaviour in adulthood, indicating a high overall stability of personality differences in that period of development. However, even 5‐year correlations around 0.70 do not exclude major deviations of some of the subjects from this overall stability (i.e. differential stability in the sample). Furthermore, the younger a sample is, the lower will be the longitudinal stability observed, and the less suficient is the explanation of inter‐individual diferences by static traits. This article goes beyond the notion of stability at the sample level by asking from a developmental perspective (a) whether systematic inter‐individual differences in intra‐individual change exist, (b) how they can be assessed, and (c) whether these inter‐individual differences can be explained by characteristics of the person or of the environment.

Core and Surface Characteristics for the Description and Theory of Personality Differences and Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Kandler ◽  
Julia Zimmermann ◽  
Dan P. McAdams
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Social Attitudes ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Potential Core ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Small Set ◽  
Direction Of Causation ◽  
Core Characteristics

Individual differences in personality are often described on the basis of a small set of dimensional core characteristics that are commonly defined as largely consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings and actions across time and situations. Some theoretical approaches even consider them to provide the biologically founded basis for individual differences in so–called surface characteristics such as self–related evaluations, social attitudes, values, goals or interests, which are commonly hypothesized to be less stable or more environmentally malleable than core characteristics. We examine these hypotheses by reviewing findings about potential core and surface characteristics on the basis of four criteria: (i) level of stability in individual differences; (ii) level of heritability; (iii) direction of causation; and (iv) shared genetic variance. The results from our review call into serious question the labelling of some sets of constructs as either core or surface characteristics of personality. Although certain dimensions—often labelled as basic traits (e.g. extraversion)—are systematically linked to more specific characteristics (e.g. social attitudes and interests), the so–called basic traits do not appear to provide an essential basis (i.e. the more stable and genetically anchored source) for these characteristics. We argue for more integrative models of personality in adulthood. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

scholarly journals Early intervention and the growth of children's fluid intelligence: A cognitive developmental perspective

2006 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth M. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Developmental Perspective ◽  
Effective Intervention ◽  
General Development ◽  
Developmental Theories ◽  
The Mind

From the stance of cognitive developmental theories, claims that general g is an entity of the mind are compatible with notions about domain-general development and age-invariant individual differences. Whether executive function is equated with general g or fluid g, research into the mechanisms by which development occurs is essential to elucidate the kinds of environmental inputs that engender effective intervention.

scholarly journals Personality Psychology

Psychology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Latzman ◽  
Yuri Shishido
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Individual Person ◽  
Psychological Science ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
Broad Field ◽  
Diverse Field ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Dynamic Organization

The title of “Godfather of Personality” may well be ascribed to Gordon Allport, who was the first to make public efforts to promote the “field of personality” in the 1930s (see Allport and Vernon 1930, cited under Gordon Allport). Personality psychology—located within what many argue is the broadest, most encompassing branch of psychological science—can be defined as the study of the dynamic organization, within the individual, of psychological systems that create the person’s characteristic patterns of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings (see Allport 1961, also cited under Gordon Allport). The field of personality psychology is concerned with both individual differences—that is, the way in which people differ from one another—and intrapersonal functioning, the set of processes taking place within any individual person. The area of personality psychology is often grouped with social psychology in research programs at universities; however, these are quite different approaches to understanding individuals. While social psychology attempts to understand the individual in interpersonal or group contexts (i.e., “when placed in Situation A, how do people, in general, respond?”), personality psychology investigates individual differences (i.e., “how are people similar and different in how they respond to the same situation?”). Personality psychology has a long history and, as such, is an extremely large and broad field that includes a large number of approaches. Discerning readers will quickly note that the current chapter is largely focused on what has come to be the most commonly studied perspective, the trait approach. Those readers interested in other approaches are referred to a number of resources focusing on Other Approaches within the diverse field.

Introduction to Psychophysiology of Human Personality

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Measurement Methods ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Human Personality ◽  
Biological Basis ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Personality Theories ◽  
Psychological Concepts

The analysis of historical data has shown that there have been numerous attempts in exploring and understanding individual differences in human personality. Many of them have been using the arousal construct seemed as the most dominant one. Since then, personality psychology has revealed many personality theories and measurement methods as a theoretical and methodological frame in understanding human personality. Besides that, the same researchers and many others have tried to explain human personality and its various psychological concepts using different psychophysiological methods. Therefore, contemporary psychophysiology of personality includes all research on the biological basis of personality underlying trait-like differences in psychological functioning. This section will provide a detailed overview of the psychophysiology of human personality along with the most intriguing research questions.

Who Blogs in 2010?

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley M. Okdie ◽  
Rosanna E. Guadagno ◽  
Daniel M. Rempala ◽  
Cassie A. Eno
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Individual Difference ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Interaction ◽  
True Self ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
Multiple Personality ◽  
Technological Advances

Research suggests gender and personality differences are predictive of general Internet use. Specifically, people high in openness and women high in neuroticism are more likely to keep a blog. Given the rapidity of change owing to technological advances, the authors sought to re-examine the validity of these findings in an era where other forms of online interaction are prevalent. Specifically, the authors sought to replicate and expand on these findings and to examine other individual difference factors that may predict who is likely to maintain a blog. Participants filled out multiple personality measures, demographic characteristics, and reported on their blogging behavior (e.g., writing blog entries and reading blogs). Results replicated the prior research, indicating that openness predicted blogging to a greater degree than any other personality trait. Moreover, results also revealed that individuals high in self-consciousness and those who saw more of their “true self” on the Internet were more likely to blog. These findings suggest that in addition to openness, individual differences, such as self-focus and personality, predict who is likely to blog.

scholarly journals Contribution of self- and other-regarding motives to (dis)honesty

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Shuster ◽  
Dino J. Levy
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Potential Harm ◽  
Self And Other ◽  
Potential Value ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Harm To Others ◽  
Potential Losses ◽  
Other Regarding

Abstract Why would people tell the truth when there is an obvious gain in lying and no risk of being caught? Previous work suggests the involvement of two motives, self-interest and regard for others. However, it remains unknown if these motives are related or distinctly contribute to (dis)honesty, and what are the neural instantiations of these motives. Using a modified Message Game task, in which a Sender sends a dishonest (yet profitable) or honest (less profitable) message to a Receiver, we found that these two motives contributed to dishonesty independently. Furthermore, the two motives involve distinct brain networks: the LPFC tracked potential value to self, whereas the rTPJ tracked potential losses to other, and individual differences in motives modulated these neural responses. Finally, activity in the vmPFC represented a balance of the two motives unique to each participant. Taken together, our results suggest that (dis)honest decisions incorporate at least two separate cognitive and neural processes—valuation of potential profits to self and valuation of potential harm to others.

scholarly journals The effect of Mass Drug Administration for trachoma on antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis pgp3 in children

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila K. West ◽  
Beatriz Munoz ◽  
Harran Mkocha ◽  
Charlotte A. Gaydos ◽  
Thomas C. Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Drug Administration ◽  
Fluorescence Intensity ◽  
Mass Drug Administration ◽  
Filter Paper ◽  
Chlamydial Infection ◽  
Individual Change ◽  
Serologic Test ◽  
Longitudinal Stability ◽  
The Individual

Abstract A serologic test for antibodies to chlamydia may be a useful tool for trachoma surveillance. However, little is known about the longitudinal stability of antibody status, especially following Mass Drug Administration (MDA), which is critical to understanding serostatus in trachoma-endemic areas. A longitudinal cohort of 1908 children ages 1–9 years in Tanzania from 50 communities were followed at baseline and for 6 months after MDA. They were evaluated for clinical trachoma, conjunctival swabs were tested for chlamydial infection using GeneXpert platform, and blood spots were collected on filter paper and dried to test for antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis pgp3 using the Luminex platform. 6.3% of children in the study had infection, and coverage with MDA was 97%. 670 (35%) were sero-positive for pgp3 antibodies at baseline, and 4.0% of these seroreverted to negative following MDA. Of those seronegative at baseline, 3.6% seroconverted. The individual change in log median fluorescence intensity(MFI-BG) values was -0.15 overall (p < .001). Seroconversion rates were lower following MDA and seroreversion rates were slightly higher compared to rates in this same cohort in the absence of MDA. MDA has a small effect on reduction of MFI-BG.

scholarly journals The Affiliative Role of Empathy in Everyday Interpersonal Interactions

2020 ◽  
pp. per.2286
Author(s):  
Whitney R. Ringwald ◽  
Aidan G.C. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Multilevel Structural Equation

Empathy theoretically serves an affiliative interpersonal function by satisfying motives for intimacy and union with others. Accordingly, empathy is expected to vary depending on the situation. Inconsistent empirical support for empathy's affiliative role may be because of methodology focused on individual differences in empathy or differences between controlled experimental conditions, which fail to capture its dynamic and interpersonal nature. To address these shortcomings, we used ecological momentary assessment to establish typical patterns of empathy across everyday interactions. Associations among empathy, affect, and interpersonal behaviour of self and interaction partner were examined in a student sample ( N = 330), then replicated in a preregistered community sample ( N = 279). Multilevel structural equation modelling was used to distinguish individual differences in empathy from interaction–level effects. Results show that people are more empathetic during positively valenced interactions with others perceived as warm and when expressing warmth. By confirming the typically affiliative role of empathy, existing research to the contrary can be best understood as exceptions to the norm. © 2020 European Association of Personality Psychology

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