Discriminant and convergent validity of TEMPS-A[P]. Correlation with Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ32)...

The Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Questionnaire (TEMPS) has, in its self and rater-wise evaluation form, been designed to evaluate temperamental characteristics in clinical and non-clinical populations.

In this study we aim to extend the field of correlations of TEMPS to include the Occupational Personality Questionnaire, ipsative version (OPQ32i). These correlations, if present, could provide a partial contribute to the validation process of TEMPS, currently in progress in various countries. OPQ32 is a self-report personality questionnaire designed to give information on an individual's preferred behavior, as assessed in terms of a number of work-related characteristics. In 921 applicants, who were competing to become cadets in the Italian Navy, we assessed, during the entrance examination, the correlations between TEMPS-A[P] and OPQ32i.

Depressive temperament implies a low level of ability to relate to others; hyperthymic temperament implies high levels of feelings and emotions, and the capability to relate to people; cyclothymic temperament appears to be distinguished by creativity and a low level of relationships with others; irritable temperament partly overlaps with cyclothymic temperament, the main difference being the higher level of energy and the lower level of empathy of irritable subjects.

The four affective temperaments, in our sample, proved to significantly differ in the work capacity features measured by OPQ32 factors. These observed correlations between the two tests partially contributes to the ongoing validation process of TEMPS-A[P]. From a personality standpoint this study further supports the hypothesis that temperaments belong to the realm of normality rather than that of pathology, in line with their putative adaptive role.