Personality characteristics of South African Navy submarine personnel

This study aimed to determine the extent to which the Institute of Personality and Ability Testing Anxiety Scale and the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire can be used to describe successful submariners in the South African Navy. The Anxiety Scale scores were within normal limits when the profiles of 85 submariners were analyzed to describe the personality characteristics of submarine personnel. Although no significant factors were found, the results indicate that four personality factors appeared to be most descriptive of the sample. They were adventurousness, confidence, group orientation, and self-sentiment. These factors appeared appropriate when discussed from an environmental demand perspective.