Self-pathology, the five-factor model, and bloated specific factors: A cautionary tale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychopathology
• Personality Structure

Background:

• The five-factor model (FFM) is a widely accepted framework for personality traits.
• Recent research suggests self-concept deficits may lie outside the FFM.
• Factor analytic studies are crucial for understanding personality and psychopathology structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether deficits in the sense of self are distinct from the FFM.
• To determine if including a comprehensive set of self-pathology scales influences factor analysis results.
• To replicate and extend previous findings on the structure of psychopathology.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a factor analysis study with 1,553 participants across three studies.
• Administered measures of self-pathology (15 scales), FFM, anxiousness, and social withdrawal/sociability.
• Analyzed data across two independent samples and two FFM measures.

Main Results:

• Deficits in the sense of self separated from FFM neuroticism when all 15 self-pathology scales were included.
• Self-pathology loaded with FFM neuroticism when only a subset of self-pathology scales was used.
• Findings were replicated for social withdrawal/sociability and partially for anxiousness.

Conclusions:

• The sense of self appears to be a distinct factor, separate from the FFM, particularly when a full range of self-pathology measures is considered.
• Methodological choices, such as the number of included scales, significantly impact factor analytic findings in psychopathology.
• These results have implications for refining personality structure models and understanding the organization of psychological disorders.