Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
07:43
A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies
Published on: August 4, 2023
Revised NEO Personality Inventory normative data for police officer selection
Paul Detrick1, John T Chibnall
1Florissant Psychological Services.
Psychological Services
|February 13, 2013
Summary
This study provides normative personality data for police officer applicants using the NEO PI-R. Findings reveal distinct personality profiles relevant for personnel selection in law enforcement.
Area of Science:
- Psychological Assessment
- Law Enforcement Psychology
Background:
- The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) is valuable for personnel selection.
- Limited use in police officer selection due to lack of specific normative data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present normative data for the NEO PI-R for police officer applicants.
- To establish a comparison group for using the NEO PI-R in law enforcement selection.
Main Methods:
- Collected NEO PI-R domain and facet scores from 288 police officer applicants.
- Administered the NEO PI-R as part of preemployment psychological evaluations.
Main Results:
- Police applicants reported low Neuroticism and high Extraversion and Conscientiousness.
- Neuroticism and Conscientiousness scores strongly correlated with the Positive Presentation Management (PPM) scale.
- Extraversion and Agreeableness showed moderate correlations with PPM.
Conclusions:
- The presented data offer a normative benchmark for police officer selection using the NEO PI-R.
- Facilitates the use of the NEO PI-R in law enforcement personnel selection and research.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
01:29Dark Triad and Person Perception
Person perception is influenced by both external behaviors and the observer’s internal characteristics, including personality traits. Individuals with dark personality traits, comprising psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism — collectively known as the dark triad – exhibit manipulative and exploitative tendencies in social contexts. These traits affect how they perceive others and how they are perceived.The Role of Dark Personality Traits in Person PerceptionBlack et al. (2014) explored...
01:29Personality Theory by Eysenck and Eysenck
Hans and Sybil Eysenck developed a widely recognized theory of personality, which emphasizes the role of temperament and genetically based differences in shaping individual traits. Their theory posits that biological factors primarily determine personality and can be understood through two main dimensions: extroversion/introversion and neuroticism/stability.
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
01:29Five-Factor Theory of Personality
The five-factor model, often called the Big Five personality traits, is widely accepted in psychology as a comprehensive framework for understanding personality. These five traits — Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism — are often remembered using the acronym OCEAN.
Openness reflects creativity, curiosity, and openness to new experiences. Individuals scoring high in openness are imaginative, have a wide range of interests, and are independent thinkers. Low...
Openness reflects creativity, curiosity, and openness to new experiences. Individuals scoring high in openness are imaginative, have a wide range of interests, and are independent thinkers. Low...
01:24Cattell's 16 Personality Factors
Raymond Cattell's trait theory offers a structured framework for understanding personality by distinguishing between two critical traits: surface and source traits. Surface traits are observable patterns of behavior, such as indecisiveness, anxiety, and irrational fears. These traits are less stable, varying across situations and over time. This means that they are less helpful in understanding the deeper aspects of an individual's personality.
In contrast, source traits are the fundamental,...
In contrast, source traits are the fundamental,...
01:23Implicit Personality Theories
Implicit personality theory explains how individuals make assumptions about the relationships between personality traits, behaviors, and character types. When people learn that someone possesses a particular trait, they tend to infer the presence of other related characteristics, forming a cohesive impression. This cognitive shortcut plays a crucial role in social interactions and interpersonal judgments.Central Traits and Their InfluenceSolomon Asch's seminal 1946 study highlighted the power...