Economics and psychology of
personality traits
Angela Lee Duckworth
University of Pennsylvania
June 2009
Outline
• What is the conceptual distinction between
cognitive and non-cognitive traits (including
personality)?
• Can these two classes of traits be distinguished
empirically?
• How do psychologists organize and measure
personality traits?
• What is the evidence for predictive validity of
personality traits?
• How stable are personality traits over the life
course?
Conceptual distinctions
Empirical distinctions
• IQ = “Intelligence Quotient”
• Mental age / chronological age
Intelligence
IQ
Test motivation
Meta-analysis
• 46 samples from 25 random-assignment,
between-subjects studies using material
rewards vs. no rewards
• Total N = 2008
• Overall effect was g = .64
• IQ of sample moderated the effect
– Above-100 IQ effect was g = .24
– Below-100 IQ effect was g = .94
Personality and motivation
Variable
1
2
3
-
.13*
.15*
.02
-.05
.15*
.28***
2. Agreeableness
.14*
-
.41***
-.04
-.12
.16**
.01
3. Conscientiousness
.10
.42***
-
.08
-.35***
.22***
.19**
4. Extraversion
.01
-.04
.08
-
-.37***
.05
.02
5. Neuroticism
-.01
-.12
-.34***
-.37***
-
-.24***
-.12
6. Openness to
Experience
.05
.17**
.17**
.04
-.21***
-
.34***
-
-
-
1. Test Motivation
7. IQ
-
-
-
4
-
5
6
7
Factor
Facets
Definition of Factor
ACLa Marker Items for
Factor
I. Openness to Experience (Intellect)
Fantasy,
Aesthetics,
Feelings,
Actions,
Ideas,
Values
The degree to which a
person needs intellectual
stimulation, change, and
variety.
Commonplace, Narrowinterest, Simple- vs.
Wide-interest,
Imaginative, Intelligent
II. Conscientiousness
Competence,
Order,
Dutifulness,
Achievement striving,
Self-discipline,
Deliberation
The degree to which a
person is willing to comply
with conventional rules,
norms, and standards.
Careless, Disorderly,
Frivolous vs. Organized,
Thorough, Precise
III. Extraversion
Warmth,
Gregariousness,
Assertiveness,
Activity,
Excitement seeking,
Positive emotions
The degree to which a
person needs attention and
social interaction.
Quiet, Reserved, Shy vs.
Talkative, Assertive,
Active
IV. Agreeableness
Trust,
Straight-forwardness,
Altruism,
Compliance,
Modesty,
Tender-mindedness
The degree to which a
person needs pleasant and
harmonious relations with
others.
Fault-finding, Cold,
Unfriendly vs.
Sympathetic, Kind,
Friendly
V. Neuroticism (Emotional Stability)
Anxiety,
Angry hostility,
Depression,
Self-consciousness,
Impulsiveness,
Vulnerability
The degree to which a
person experiences the
world as threatening and
beyond his/her control.
Tense, Anxious,
Nervous vs. Stable,
Calm, Contented
Multi-method assessment
• The precision and
accuracy of
personality measures
can be increased
using multi-method
assessment
• Predictive validities
with superior
measurement can
rival (or even
surpass) those of IQ
Rank-order stability of personality
0.9
0.8
Rank-Order Trait Consistency
0.7
r =0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0-2.9
3-5.9
6-11.9
12-17.9
18-21.9
22-29
Age Periods
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-73
Mean-level changes in personality
Social Vitality
Social Dominance
1.2
1.2
1
Cumulative d Value
Cumulative d Value
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.2
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
10
20
30
40
Age
Agreeableness
70
80
60
70
80
70
80
1.2
1
Cumulative d Value
1
Cumulative d Value
60
Conscientiousness
1.2
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.2
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
10
20
30
40
Age
50
Age
Emotional Stability
Openness to Experience
1.2
1.2
1
Cumulative d Value
1
Cumulative d Value
50
Age
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.2
10
20
30
40
50
Age
60
70
80
10
20
30
40
50
Age
60
Concluding comments
• Personality can be distinguished
conceptually and empirically from
cognitive ability (intelligence)
• Personality may be more malleable
• Personality and cognitive ability predict the
same economic, social, and health
outcomes
• Economists and psychologists should
collaborate