The five-factor model (NEO-FFI) and The Personality Deviance Scales-Revised (PDS-R): going around in interpersonal circles

The two dimensions of the Personality Deviance Scales-Revised [PDS-R; Deary, I.J., Bedford, A., & Fowkes, F.G.R. (1995). The Personality Deviance Scales: their development, associations, factor structure and restructuring. Personality and Individual Differences, 19, 175–291], the five NEO-Five Factor Inventory Adult Form S domains [NEO-FFI; Costa Jr., P.T., & McCrae, R.R. (1992). Revised NEO Personality Inventory and five-factor inventory professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.] and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory [ Spielberger, C.D. (1989). State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (manual): revised research edition. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.] were compared. Intercorrelations of the NEO-FFI and PDS-R were examined in the Edinburgh Artery Study, a community cohort comprising 447 men and 452 women. All the variables were well represented in an orthogonal solution of two principal components, which were dimensions of ‘social anxiety’ (diffidence v. dominance), and ‘hostility–agreeableness’ (nastiness v. niceness). The specificity of ‘hostility’ and ‘submissiveness–dominance’ variables to health research is discussed. These results support the view that the personality traits of the ‘interpersonal circle’ have substantial relevance for both theoretical models and applied research.