Five Factor Model Introduction Central Term Paper

214). The author notes many empirical reasons for his critique of the five-factor model. Among the many objections that are put forward is the assertion that there is in the breadth of the five factors an indefiniteness and inconsistency. Block also refers to the descriptive coarseness of the "Big Five."

Block's article has created much debate on this subject. A useful study that counters many of arguments put forward by Block is Solid Ground in the Wetlands of Personality: A Reply to Block by Costa and McCrae (1995). In contrast to Block's critique, this article suggest that, "...the most impressive achievement of the FFM is its reduction of conceptual jangle, showing how constructs ostensibly as different as absorption, intuition, and need for change all reflect aspects of the single, broader construct of Openness. " (Costa and McCrae, 1995).

The validity and acceptance of the FFM model and the various aspects that are open to discussion and debate are discussed in an article by DeYoung et al. (2007) entitled, Between facets and domains: 10 aspects of the Big Five. The article refers to the levels of the hierarchy above the Big Five domains, as well as the 'facets' at a second level. The authors state that insufficient attention has been given to a level of trait organization located between facets and domains.

One of the most significant critiques, or rather amendments, of the five-factor model is the three-factor model of personality suggested by H.J. Eysenck. Eysenck criticizes the five-factor model on the grounds that there are overlaps in the five factors as well as in their correlates and suggests that a three factor model would be a more appropriate and correct assessment of personality. (Eysenck, 1991, p. 775) as already noted, this critique led Eysenck to suggest the PEN model, which posits the factors of psychoticism, extroversion and neuroticism. Eysenck states that, "Factor analysis has improved the situation...but the problem of naming factors is of course still with us" (Eysenck, 1991, p. 775).

A further criticism of the five-factor model is that although it is both categorical and taxonomic in structure, it does not penetrate deeply enough into the causative aspect of certain correlates. In a study by Davis and Millon, (1993) the view is suggested that the lexical approach of the Big Five assumes that the majority of the "...socially relevant and interpersonally salient personality characteristics have become encoded in the natural language" (Davis & Millon, 1993, p. 105). However, the study by Davis and Millon suggests that, "...convergence is not truth, and convergent validity is not construct validity" (Davis & Millon, 1993, p. 105). In other words, judgment and assessment related to personality factors can converge without necessarily being correct. In this light, the five-factor model is described as being "trivial" (Davis & Millon, 1993, p. 105).

An article by Clark (1993) also explores the limitations of the five-factor model. Clark argues against the categorical model of personality. The author also points out that there is the danger of stereotyping in the five-factor model and in other categorical diagnoses. (Clark, 1993, p. 100)

Another critique of the five-factor model is suggested by McAdams (1992). Central to this critique is that the five-factor model does not qualify as a "great' or fully comprehensive theory. McAdams states that while the five-factor model provides a functional basis for the personality traits in psychology, it however falls short of a truly unified psychological theory. (McAdams, 1992)

The above review of some of the more cogent areas of the literature on this subject leads to the conclusion that while the theory has attained a certain degree of acceptance and viability in psychological praxis, there are also many areas and aspects of the model that have been subjected to criticism and scientific interrogation. This does not imply that the model has less value. On the contrary, the degree and the extent of the debate on this model of personality is a sign of the healthy discourse that it has engendered, which is also an indication of its ongoing relevance in the understanding of personality structure and categories towards the therapeutic understanding of personality disorders. While claims of a 'perfect' model or theory are questioned by some there is little doubt that, as Digman states, the five variables that compose the five-factor model "...provide a good answer to the question of personality structure" (Digman, 1990, p. 436).

References

Block, J. (1995). A contrarian view of the five-factor approach to personality description. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 187-215.

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Clark, L.A. (1993). Personality Disorder Diagnosis: Limitations of the Five-Factor Model. Psychological Inquiry, 4(2), 100-104. Retrieved January 21, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77524910

Costa P, McCrae, Robert R. (1995) Solid ground in the wetlands of personality: A reply to Block. Psychological Bulletin. 117(2), 216-220 www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77524936

Davis, R.D., & Millon, T. (1993). The Five-Factor Model for Personality Disorders: Apt or Misguided?. Psychological Inquiry, 4(2), 104-109. Retrieved January 21, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77524936

DeYoung C, Quilty, Lena C., Peterson, Jordan B. (2007) Between facets and domains: 10 aspects of the Big Five. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(5).

Digman, J.M. (1990). Personality structure: Emergence of the five-factor model. Annual Review of Psychology, 41, 417-440.

Digman, John M. (1996) the curious history of the Five-Factor Model. in: Jerry S. Wiggins (ed.), the Five-Factor Model of Personality: Theoretical Perspectives chapter 1, pp. 1-20. New York: Guilford

Eysenck, H.J. (1991). Dimensions of personality: 16, 5, or 3? -- Criteria for a taxonomic paradigm. Personality and Individual Differences, 12, 773-790.

Ewen, R.B. (1998). Personality: A topical approach. Mahweh, NJ: Erlbaum.

Fazio R. And Olson M. (2003) IMPLICIT MEASURES in SOCIAL COGNITION RESEARCH: Their Meaning and Use. Annurev.psych. 54, 297-327.

Grumm, M. & v. Collani, G. (2007). Measuring Big-Five personality dimensions with the implicit association test - Implicit personality traits or self-esteem? Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 2205-2217.

McAdams, D.P. (1992). The five factor model in personality: A critical appraisal. Journal of Personality, 60, 329-361.

Pervin, L.A. (1989) Personality: Theory and research (5th ed.). New York: Wiley.

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Piedmont, R.L. (1995). Another Look at Fear of Success, Fear of Failure, and Test Anxiety: A Motivational Analysis Using the Five-Factor Model. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 32(3-4), 139+. Retrieved January 21, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000320692 www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5008012482

Rogosch, F.A., & Cicchetti, D. (2004). Child Maltreatment and Emergent Personality Organization: Perspectives from the Five-Factor Model. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 32(2), 123+. Retrieved January 21, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5008012482

Segal N. And MacDonald K. (1998) Behavioral genetics and evolutionary psychology: Unified perspective on personality research.

Human Biology. Retrieved January 20, 2008, at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3659/is_199804/ai_n8795273

The Big Five Trait Taxonomy: History, Measurement and Theoretical perspectives by John and Srivastava, in Handbook of personality: Theory and research 1999, New York: Guilford Press.

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Widiger, T.A., & Trull, T.J. (1997). Assessment of the Five-Factor Model of Personality. Journal of Personality Assessment, 68(2), 228-250. Retrieved January 21, 2008, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77044786

Literature review of the Five Factor Model