How do we study and measure intelligence and personality?
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Consensus Meter
Studying and Measuring Intelligence and Personality
Meta-Analysis of Personality and Intelligence Correlations
A comprehensive meta-analysis has been conducted to assess the associations between personality and intelligence, focusing on the Big Five and HEXACO personality frameworks. The study analyzed data from 162,636 participants across 272 studies, revealing that openness and neuroticism are the strongest correlates of intelligence. Openness showed a stronger correlation with crystallized intelligence, while traits related to intellectual engagement and unconventionality were more strongly related to intelligence than other facets of openness. Sociability and orderliness were negatively correlated with intelligence, with facets like gregariousness and excitement seeking showing stronger negative correlations.
Measurement Invariance and Personality Differentiation by Intelligence
The personality differentiation by intelligence hypothesis suggests that intelligence may affect the measurement of personality. A study using multigroup confirmatory factor analytic techniques found that personality measurement is not equivalent across different intelligence levels. This finding implies that intelligence can influence how personality traits are assessed, highlighting the need for more sophisticated measurement techniques. Another study supported this hypothesis by showing that personality traits are more differentiated in individuals with higher intelligence, as evidenced by greater internal consistency and scale variances in personality measures among higher intelligence groups.
Hierarchical Constructs and the Brunswik Symmetry Principle
Research has shown that personality and intelligence are hierarchical constructs, ranging from broad g-factors to specific domains. The Brunswik symmetry principle suggests that correlations between personality and intelligence vary across these hierarchical levels. Studies have found that openness has the largest relation with intelligence, and recommend investigating these relations at more fine-grained levels using detailed measurements of both constructs.
Predictive Validity of Personality and Intelligence
Personality and intelligence are significant predictors of academic and examination performance. For instance, a study on university students found that psychometric intelligence and personality traits like conscientiousness and extraversion significantly predicted statistics examination grades. Personality traits accounted for a unique variance in examination performance, even when controlling for intelligence and seminar performance. Similarly, another study found that intelligence was the best predictor of academic achievement across different school grades, with personality traits like openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness also playing significant roles.
EEG and Intelligence Test Performance
Variation in EEG evoked potential parameters has been linked to both personality and intelligence differences. Research indicates that introverts tend to perform better on verbal subtests, while extraverts excel in performance measures. These findings suggest that personality differences can be assessed through intelligence test performance, providing a neurophysiological basis for understanding the relationship between personality and intelligence.
Investment Perspective on Personality-Intelligence Relationship
The investment perspective posits that personality traits are associated with investment in intellectual activities, which in turn develop cognitive abilities. A study examining the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) found positive associations between investment-related scales and intelligence. Traits like intellectual efficiency, flexibility, and originality were positively correlated with cognitive abilities, supporting the investment theory.
Self-Estimates of Intelligence and Personality
Personality traits can influence the accuracy of self-estimates of intelligence. Research has shown that while test-based measures of intelligence predict self-estimates, personality traits like neuroticism, openness, and agreeableness account for additional variance in self-estimated intelligence. Moreover, personality moderates the relationship between test-based and self-estimated intelligence, with low extraversion resulting in more accurate self-estimates.
Conceptual Framework for Personality-Intelligence Interface
A proposed conceptual framework for understanding the personality-intelligence interface includes three levels of intelligence: intellectual ability, IQ test performance, and subjectively assessed intelligence. This model suggests that personality traits mediate the relationship between intellectual ability and IQ test performance, providing a basis for exploring causation and developing theoretical approaches to the personality-intelligence relationship.
Conclusion
The study and measurement of intelligence and personality involve complex interactions between various traits and cognitive abilities. Research highlights the importance of using sophisticated measurement techniques and considering hierarchical constructs to understand these relationships. Personality traits not only predict academic and examination performance but also influence the accuracy of self-estimates of intelligence. The investment perspective and neurophysiological findings provide further insights into how personality and intelligence interact, offering a comprehensive understanding of these constructs.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic