Feist−Feist: Theories of
Personality, Seventh
EditionIV. Dispositional Theories 14. Eysenck, McCrae, and
Costa’s Trait and Factor
Theories© The McGraw−Hill^417
Companies, 2009at one pole and stabilityat the other, and Factor P has psychoticism at one pole and
the superego functionat the other.
The bipolarity of Eysenck’s factors does not imply that most people are at one
end or the other of the three main poles. Each factor is unimodally, rather than bi-
modally, distributed. Extraversion, for example, is fairly normally distributed in
much the same fashion as intelligence or height. That is, most people are near the
center of a bell-shaped distribution of extraversion. Eysenck contended that each of
these factors meets his four criteria for identifying personality dimensions.
First, strong psychometric evidence exists for each, especially Factors E and
N. The P factor (psychoticism) emerged later in Eysenck’s work but was not taken
seriously by other researchers until the mid-1990s (Eysenck, 1997b). Extraversion
and neuroticism (or anxiety) are basic factors in nearly all factor analytic studies of
human personality, including various versions of the Five-Factor Theory (McCrae &
Costa, 1999, 2002; John & Srivastava, 1999).
Second, Eysenck (1994a, 1994b) argued that a strong biological base exists for
each of his three superfactors. At the same time, he claimed that traits such as agree-
ableness and conscientiousness, which are part of the five-factor taxonomy (John,
1990; W. T. Norman, 1963; Tupes & Christal, 1961), do not have an underlying bio-
logical foundation.
Third, Eysenck’s three personality dimensions make sense theoretically. Carl
Jung (see Chapter 4) and others have recognized the powerful effect on behavior of
extraversion and introversion (Factor E), and Sigmund Freud (see Chapter 2) em-
phasized the importance of anxiety (Factor N) on shaping behavior. In addition, psy-
choticism (Factor P) agrees with theorists, such as Abraham Maslow (see Chapter
10), who propose that psychological health ranges from self-actualization (a low P
score) to schizophrenia and psychosis (a high P score).
Fourth, Eysenck repeatedly demonstrated that his three factors relate to such
social issues as drug use (Eysenck, 1983), sexual behaviors (Eysenck, 1976), crimi-
nality (Eysenck, 1964, 1998b; Eysenck & Gudjonsson, 1989), preventing cancer and
heart disease (Eysenck, 1991c, 1991d; Grossarth-Maticek, Eysenck, & Vetter, 1988),
and creativity (Eysenck, 1993).
Extraversion
In Chapter 4, we explained that Jung conceptualized two broad personality types,
called “extraversion” and “introversion.” We also noted some differences between
his definitions and the prevailing notion of these two terms. Jung saw extraverted
people as having an objective or nonpersonalized view of the world, whereas intro-
verts have essentially a subjective or individualized way of looking at things.
Eysenck’s concepts of extraversion and introversion are closer to the popular usage.
Extraverts are characterized primarily by sociability and impulsiveness but also
by jocularity, liveliness, quick-wittedness, optimism, and other traits indicative of
people who are rewarded for their association with others (Eysenck & Eysenck,
1969).
Introverts are characterized by traits opposite those of extraverts. They can be
described as quiet, passive, unsociable, careful, reserved, thoughtful, pessimistic,
peaceful, sober, and controlled. According to Eysenck (1982), however, the principal
Chapter 14 Eysenck, McCrae, and Costa’s Trait and Factor Theories 411