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Two-Factor Model of Personality opening new possibilities for personality structure


description (Strus and Cieciuch 2017).
Jan Cieciuch1,2 and Włodzimierz Strus1
1
Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan
Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Warsaw, Introduction
Poland
2
URPP Social Networks, University of Zurich, The psychology of personality and individual dif-
Zürich, Switzerland ferences strives to identify personality dimensions
that would enable a description of both intraper-
sonal stability and interpersonal variability of
Synonyms human behaviors. Throughout its short history,
psychology has seen the emergence of numerous
Big Two; Higher order factors; Metatraits proposals for such personality dimensions. In the
most general of terms, such models may be gen-
erated in two ways within two distinct research
Definition strategies. One begins with empirical observa-
tions, adopts only a minimum of theoretical
The two-factor model (TFM) of personality is a assumptions, and focuses on the discovery of
model of personality traits structure that was dis- basic factors. The other strategy employs some
covered through factor analysis of traits, with two preliminary theoretical models, which are to be
broad factors (also known as metatraits) emerging verified in subsequent empirical investigations.
at the highest level (Digman 1997; Saucier et al. The first approach is of an inductive nature and
2014). These factors/metatraits have been found involves the gathering of elementary observa-
to possess a theoretical meaning that corresponds tions, which are then generalized and interpreted.
to many psychological constructs developed and The other approach follows the logic of deduc-
used in personality research (Digman 1997) and to tion: certain personality dimensions are identified
have the potential to integrate the various con- and conceptualized based on a preestablished
cepts (Saucier et al. 2014; Strus and Cieciuch model, which is subsequently subjected to
2017). The TFM was developed in the course of empirical verification. A good example and
research on the Big Five traits (Goldberg 1990; probably the fullest implementation of the first
McCrae and Costa 2003) and can be treated either: research paradigm in the psychology of
(1) as its continuation and extension (DeYoung individual differences is the Big Five, discovered
2015) or (2) as a step beyond this tradition, in psycholexical research (Goldberg 1990).
# Springer International Publishing AG 2017
V. Zeigler-Hill, T.K. Shackelford (eds.), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_2129-1
2 Two-Factor Model of Personality

Examples of the other paradigm include the Giant personality traits as organized within two broad
Three personality superfactors (Eysenck and factors revealed through the factor analysis. There
Eysenck 1985) and so-called dual constructs, are different versions of the model varying, inter
which are used to describe different phenomena alia, in (1) the variables included in analysis,
in the psychology of personality (some of them (2) the theoretical meaning ascribed to them, and
are presented in Table 1). The main advantage of (3) the role the two factors play in a comprehen-
the first approach is its inductive potential for sive description of personality. Nevertheless, all
completeness and comprehensiveness, with the the variants share the common idea that many
drawback being its descriptive nature with very personality traits are organized at the highest
limited explanatory power. On the other hand, the level in two factors, which are very general
models developed under the deductive approach dimensions of personality.
offer high precision and often also provide some The TFM stems from an inductive quest for
explanatory mechanisms; however, they may lead completeness and comprehensiveness of person-
to arbitrary selected dimensions. While such ality description, which has been implemented
models may accurately describe certain phenom- through psycholexical research; at the same time
ena, it may be difficult to integrate them with other it incorporates many theoretical intuitions from
frameworks dealing with similar phenomena. The the deductive approach, which gave rise to
examples are numerous dual constructs, or pairs many dual constructs (see Table 1). This
of constructs that are not coordinated with one convergence seems rather surprising as it was
another. not actively pursued by either paradigm.
In the psychology of personality and individual Nevertheless, today it can be considered a mile-
differences attempts have been made to combine stone in the personality psychology as it revealed
both approaches. One of the most important two fundamental dimensions of personality dis-
efforts in this area was the five factor model of covered in research on its trait structure (including
personality (FFM; McCrae and Costa 2003), both psycholexical studies leading to the Big Five
which was constructed as a theoretical interpreta- and questionnaire surveys resulting in the FFM)
tion of the Big Five discovered within and interpreted in terms of many previously
psycholexical studies. Thus, the FFM utilized developed theoretical models which proposed
results from inductive psycholexical research, pairs of variously termed constructs. In the TFM,
while taking into consideration theoretical studies those dimensions are known as alpha and beta
and inputs from other concepts and models of (Digman 1997), stability and plasticity (DeYoung
personality (McCrae and Costa 2003). For some et al. 2002), or social self-regulation and dyna-
time, the FFM was thought to describe universal, mism (Saucier et al. 2014).
orthogonal dimensions of human personality and In what follows, we characterize theoretical
it was expected that it could serve as a unifying proposals which historically preceded the
reference framework for other models of traits and TFM or were developed in other research tradi-
various constructs which could be located within tions stemming from the theoretical-deductive
its five-dimensional space. However, we now approach. Subsequently, we show how the TFM
know that the FFM is not entirely free from short- was discovered in both paradigms of research in
comings, either. At the conceptual level, it has personality traits: the psycholexical (inductive)
been criticized for its atheoretical nature (e.g., one and the questionnaire one (an early synthesis
Block 2001), and at the empirical level for the of the inductive and deductive approaches). We
systematic nonorthogonality of the proposed per- also discuss theoretical interpretations of these
sonality dimensions. two factors and indicate the similarity of their
Currently, efforts are being made to combine content to the previously presented dual theoreti-
the inductive and deductive approaches under the cal constructs. In the last part, we describe two
TFM, which not only exhibits the strengths of alternative models of the personality trait struc-
both approaches but also overcomes the short- ture, with the TFM playing a key role in both.
comings of the FFM. The TFM describes the These are the hierarchical model currently
Two-Factor Model of Personality 3

Two-Factor Model of Personality, Table 1 Dual constructs in psychology: Inspirations, examples from various fields
of psychology, and two-factor models in the psychology of personality traits
Inspirations for conceptualizations and labels
Inspirations Constructs Reference
Humanistic inspirations Agency and communion as basic modalities of human Bakan 1966
existence
Cybernetic inspirations Plasticity and stability as properties of learning systems Grossberg 1980
Example dual constructs in different fields of contemporary psychology
Content Constructs Example reference
Basic dimensions of social Agency and communion Abele and
cognition Wojciszke 2014
Basic motivation Power and intimacy McAdams 1988
Basic human values Openness (vs. conservation) and self-transcendence Schwartz et al. 2012
(vs. self-enhancement)
Basic dimensions of interpersonal Agency/status and communion/love Wiggins and
interaction Trapnell 1996
Basic properties of ego Ego-resiliency and ego-control Block and Block
1980
Basic development processes Accommodation and assimilation Piaget 1952
Basic dimensions of affect Positive and negative affect Watson and
Tellegen 1985
Basic dimension of temperament Impulsivity (BAS) and anxiety (BIS) Gray 1991
Basic types of psychopathology Internalizing and externalizing problems Krueger and
Markon 2006
Basic types of self-perception Superhero (egoistic bias) and saint (moralistic bias) Paulhus and John
biases 1998
Two-factor models: Basic dimensions of personality
Research paradigm Factors Example reference
Questionnaire tradition Beta and alpha Digman 1997
Plasticity and stability DeYoung et al. 2002
Lexical tradition Dynamism and virtue De Raad and
Barelds 2008
Dynamism and self-regulation Saucier et al. 2014
Outside the Big Five paradigm Mental health and behavior control Becker 1999

advanced by DeYoung (2015) and the circumplex models has become much clearer and more obvi-
model proposed by Strus et al. (2014; Strus and ous since the discovery of the TFM in research on
Cieciuch 2017). The conceptual location of the the structure of personality traits, as it has enabled
TFM within the body of research on the structure the incorporation of many theoretical intuitions
of personality traits is given in Fig. 1, which also included in the dual constructs. In the current
provides a kind of map of the content presented in literature, researchers refer to two sources outside
this paper. psychology that have inspired thinking in catego-
ries of two dimensions, namely philosophy and
computer science. The first one involves Bakan’s
(1966) book under the telling title The Duality of
Theoretical Context: Dual Constructs in
Human Existence, which argues that there are two
Psychology
fundamental modalities not only in humans but in
all forms of life: agency for the existence of an
Various models distinguishing two basic con-
organism as an individual, and communion for
structs have been developed in many fields of
the participation of the individual in some larger
personality psychology. Similarity between those
4 Two-Factor Model of Personality

Two-Factor Model of Personality, Fig. 1 Conceptual location of the two-factor model within research on the structure
of personality traits

organism of which the individual is a part (p. 15). factors discovered by Digman (1997), which
The second source involves the stability-plasticity were in turn named metatraits (DeYoung 2015).
dilemma posed by Grossberg (1980), which Although Bakan’s (1966) terms were also initially
describes the situation of artificial and biological used in personality psychology (e.g., Wiggins and
learning systems tasked with learning new things Trapnell 1996), in the current literature they are
without forgetting the old ones. Plasticity gives mostly found in social (and especially socio-
the ability to acquire new knowledge, but too cognitive) psychology, for instance in the model
much of it may result in catastrophic forgetting, proposed by Abele and Wojciszke (2014), where
causing the loss of previous memories (Grossberg agency and communion refer to the content of
1980). Thus, stability prevents the learning sys- social perceptions (the categories proposed by
tem from catastrophic forgetting. These two pairs Bakan are close to what people see, think, and
of constructs: agency-communion and stability- experience). Again, contrary to the expectation
plasticity seem to denote quite different phenom- that cybernetic terms would be more appropriate
ena, but both of them continue to inspire research for sociocognitive psychology, they appear to be
on the TFM. more useful in research on the structure of person-
The humanistic constructs proposed by Bakan ality, where the metatraits stability and plasticity
(1966) refer to human nature, while Grossberg’s are used to describe how personality operates at
(1980) cybernetic constructs primarily concern the most general level (DeYoung et al. 2002;
cognitive systems, although they can also be DeYoung 2015).
extended to other entities. DeYoung et al. (2002) Along with Bakan’s (1966) and Grossberg’s
popularized the two cybernetic terms in personal- (1980) terms, Table 1 presents examples of dual
ity psychology by applying them to the two constructs from different areas of psychology (for
Two-Factor Model of Personality 5

more on dual constructs see: Digman 1997; traits are reflected in language (Goldberg 1990).
Paulhus and John 1998; Wiggins and Trapnell Thus, one may investigate the linguistic traces of
1996). personality and determine their structure. This can
Most of these dual constructs were proposed as be done by means of factor analysis, reducing a
theoretical models of various phenomena. They large number of variables to a few dimensions. In
were usually developed in the deductive tradition, this case, the multiplicity of linguistic expressions
with theoretical hypotheses being empirically val- for personality traits was reduced to five basic
idated. These constructs have been (or can be) dimensions (Goldberg 1990). Due to the inductive
used to interpret the theoretical content of the atheoretical approach used, the factors were sim-
two factors that were discovered (and confirmed) ply labeled with Roman numerals (I through V),
both in psycholexical and questionnaire studies on which is consistent with inductionism, an
the structure of personality traits by means of approach in the philosophy of science according
factor analysis (cf. Digman 1997; Saucier to which one should avoid any theoretical
et al. 2014). assumptions to come as close as possible to the
facts. The observations gathered in this way are
then generalized and turned into universal state-
Empirical Discovery: The Big Two as ments. In psychology, this methodological para-
Basic Dimensions of Personality digm seems to be best exemplified by
psycholexical research, as studies on the structure
Some of the basic questions in personality of personality began with analysis of facts (words
research are how many traits constitute fundamen- describing personality) followed by efforts to
tal dimensions of personality and what their struc- establish the structure of the traits conveyed by
ture is. Studies addressing these issues have been those words.
conducted within two frameworks, namely, the The meaning of the identified factors was
psycholexical and questionnaire paradigms, and determined on the basis of adjectives with the
for some time they culminated in a consensus that strongest loadings in factor analysis, and their
there exist five most general, fundamental, and order followed from the number of adjectives
orthogonal dimensions, known as the FFM in that each of them comprised. In other words,
the questionnaire paradigm and as the Big Five Factor I had the largest linguistic representation,
in the lexical paradigm. The latter term is also while Factor V was the least frequently
often used as a shorthand for the five dimensions represented. Factor I is usually called surgency
irrespective of their theoretical underpinnings. or extraversion, Factor II – agreeableness, Factor
However, the existence of five orthogonal III – conscientiousness, Factor IV – emotional
dimensions has recently been questioned by the stability, and Factor V – culture, intellect, or imag-
TFM, which postulates two broader factors above ination (Goldberg 1990).
the Big Five. Indeed, after being confirmed in the Efforts to identify the structure of personality
lexical and questionnaire research paradigms, the traits were undertaken not only within the
Big Five was subsequently challenged within psycholexical framework, but also under the
both frameworks in favor of the TFM. In what questionnaire paradigm, which sought to develop
follows, we briefly present the two research the optimum model of personality structure
approaches, which first discovered the Big Five, and dimensions pursuant to some theoretical
and then, as a result of continued studies, gave rise assumptions. This led to, inter alia, the Giant
to the TFM. Three model, which was termed PEN
(psychoticism-extraversion-neuroticism) by
The Big Five Eysenck (Eysenck and Eysenck 1985) and inter-
The Big Five was discovered in psycholexical personal circumplex by Wiggins (see Wiggins and
research founded on the lexical hypothesis, Trapnell 1996). Observing that most of the
according to which all the important personality existing psychometric personality questionnaires
6 Two-Factor Model of Personality

(including the instrument measuring the traits Discovery of the Big Two in Psycholexical
identified by Eysenck and Eysenck 1985) Research
contained a measure of neuroticism (the opposite The Big Five model was discovered in
of emotional stability) and extraversion, Costa psycholexical studies conducted in the English
and McCrae adopted them as the fundamental language (Goldberg 1990), and the replication of
dimensions of personality (McCrae and Costa the Big Five has encountered substantial problems
2003). During further research, they added the in non-Germanic languages despite continued
dimension of openness to experience (thus efforts since the 1990s (e.g., De Raad et al.
forming the NEO model). Subsequently, inspired 2010). Some of the findings pointed to the exis-
by the results of psycholexical studies, they also tence of a sixth factor, giving rise to the Big Six
included agreeableness and conscientiousness. model, also known as HEXACO in the question-
Finally, they constructed scales for measuring all naire approach (Ashton and Lee 2007; Saucier
the dimensions (the NEO-PI), which were later 2008), while others indicated that replicability
revised as the NEO-PI-R (McCrae and Costa was possible only for a smaller number of basic
2003). factors (cf. De Raad et al. 2010; Saucier 2008;
In this way, the psycholexical model of the Saucier and Goldberg 2001). Large-scale
Big Five was incorporated in questionnaire psycholexical studies based on systematic taxo-
research. The FFM, consisting of neuroticism nomic comparisons of more than a dozen different
(vs. emotional stability), extraversion, openness languages have shown that only the Big Three
to experience (counterpart of Intellect), agreeable- factors were replicable (De Raad et al. 2010).
ness, and conscientiousness, was conceptualized Indeed, there is now a considerable body of
in terms of lower-order traits (facets) and evidence that only two broad factors appear to be
operationalized in questionnaires. Within this fully ubiquitous across languages and cultures
approach, research on personality structure was (Saucier 2008; Saucier et al. 2014). The Big Two
expanded both theoretically and empirically. factors were found in data from the lexicons of
Since then, the five factors have been treated not several languages belonging to different linguistic
only as merely descriptive personality traits families or groups, such as Chinese, Korean, Fil-
(Saucier and Goldberg 2001), but they have also ipino, Turkish, Greek, Polish, Hungarian, Maasai,
been interpreted in terms of dispositions or ten- and Senoufo (Saucier et al. 2014), representing
dencies to certain patterns of thoughts, emotions, diverse cultural characteristics and spoken on
and behaviors, and the relationship of the FFM to different continents, including Europe, North
other models and theoretical concepts has been America, Asia, Africa, and Australia (Saucier
studied (McCrae and Costa 2003). Finally, et al. 2014; cf. Saucier 2008; Saucier and
McCrae and Costa (2003) developed the Five Goldberg 2001). These factors can be replicated
Factor Theory (FFT) of personality on the basis despite differences in the criteria and procedures
of the FFM. of word selection, factor extraction, replicability
The FFT treats the FFM as biologically based assessment, research method, and data collection
basic tendencies, which constitute one of two core (Saucier 2008; Saucier et al. 2014). It should be
components of a personality system and influence stressed that the psycholexical Big Two were not
characteristic adaptations (the second core com- derived as higher-order factors from the Big Five;
ponent, comprising the self-concept). The latter instead, they emerged in exploratory factor
are in turn related to other interfacing elements analysis which extracted two factors at the
(objective biography and external influences). first-order level from hundreds of natural
These one-way or mutual influences or relation- language trait descriptors (cf. Saucier 2008;
ships form causal pathways in which dynamic Saucier et al. 2014). The Big Two may be further
processes operate. subdivided into three, five, or more traits.
One of the cross-culturally universal dimen-
sions of the Big Two has been variously labeled
Two-Factor Model of Personality 7

virtue (De Raad and Barelds 2008), morality or cf. De Raad and Barelds 2008; De Raad
social propriety (Saucier 2008; Saucier and et al. 2010).
Goldberg 2001), and recently social self- The psycholexical TFM can be treated as a
regulation (or S dimension; Saucier et al. 2014), parsimonious model of the basic bivariate
while the other factor has been invariably termed structure of personality attributes (Saucier et al.
dynamism (or D dimension). According to the 2014). The factors S and D are broad dimensions
study of Saucier et al. (2014), the key adjectival incorporating the overlapping content of
markers of the Big Two factors in the lexicons of various two-dimensional models or dual con-
nine diverse European, Asian, and African lan- structs, e.g., communion and agency, morality
guages (see above), were: good, obedient, kind, and competence, or externalizing and internaliz-
generous, respectful, honest, selfish ( ) [( ) ing tendencies (see Table 1). For this reason,
denotes inverse pole], diligent, gentle, and respon- Saucier et al. (2014) argue that the psycholexical
sible in the case of the social self-regulation factor, Big Two is a common-denominator model includ-
and weak ( ), bold, brave, shy ( ), timid ( ), ing the two most crucial axes of personality vari-
active, and lively in the case of dynamism. These ation serving as a framework for linking diverse
17 adjectives were the most consensual, i.e., they theoretical models and associated empirical
were found to be salient, recurrent markers in five findings.
of the nine languages. With slightly more relaxed
criteria (presence in four of the nine languages),
Discovery of Two Higher-Order Factors in
the additional markers were: careful, calm,
Questionnaire Research
patient, polite, and disciplined (for S dimension),
Within the questionnaire tradition, the FFM was
and strong, fearful ( ), sad ( ), silent ( ), ener-
built on the psycholexical discovery of the Big
getic, cowardly ( ), daring, sociable, cheerful,
Five; however, further questionnaire research on
pessimistic ( ), and dynamic (D dimension).
personality traits was conducted quite indepen-
However, while this set of markers captures the
dently from psycholexical studies. From the very
core lexical content of the Big Two, it does not
beginning, proponents of the FFM have had to
cover the full breadth of their meaning (Saucier
defend the thesis that there exist exactly five basic
et al. 2014).
dimensions of personality. Some researchers have
In general, social self-regulation includes attri-
proposed to change the number of dimensions,
butes associated with socialization, solidarity,
with Eysenck’s Giant Three (Eysenck and
communion, cohesion, and adhering to socio-
Eysenck 1985) and Ashton and Lee’s (2007) six
moral rules, and so it concerns morality, social
factor HEXACO being the most serious alterna-
propriety, and respect for others and for authority.
tives in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively.
It is also linked to using social norms as standards
Another challenge was to prove the orthogonality
for regulating one’s own behavior. Dynamism
of the five factors, which ultimately led to the
includes attributes valuing active qualities and
emergence of the TFM.
individual ascendancy, pertaining to liveliness,
The orthogonality assumption was not con-
self-expression, self-confidence, and skills
firmed, as the five factors were found to be corre-
useful in dealing with social situations. It is
lated with one another (at levels often exceeding
associated with the activation-inhibition ratio
.40, or even .50), regardless of the measurement
and reward-punishment sensitivity. Therefore,
instrument used (e.g., McCrae and Costa 2003;
while D dimension shows affinity to biological
Digman 1997). Digman (1997) was the first to
and process variables, revealing its temperamental
notice there a pattern suggesting the existence of
core (e.g., approach-avoidance system), S dimension
two higher-order factors. Interestingly, Digman
exhibits socialization and moral-ethical meaning,
(1997) discovered the TFM within the FFM par-
and so it involves the internalization of social
adigm using both exploratory factor analysis
and cultural norms, being predominantly a
(typical of psycholexical research) and
character-related dimension (Saucier et al. 2014;
8 Two-Factor Model of Personality

confirmatory factor analysis (usually applied in questionnaire traditions of the Big Five research.
validating predefined models). However, two broad personality factors were also
One higher-order factor was found to be related found or confirmed in other studies and analyses
to the shared variance of emotional stability carried out independently and outside the research
(vs. neuroticism), conscientiousness, and agree- lines discussed above. Of special importance is
ableness, with the other one being responsible the series of studies by Becker (1999), who iden-
for the covariance of extraversion and openness tified two higher-order factors of personality as
to experience (intellect). This finding was based mental health and behavior control, both being
on reanalysis of more than a dozen studies multifaceted constructs. Mental health, defined
conducted using different measures and informant as the ability to cope with external and internal
types (teachers ratings, peer ratings, and self- demands, encompasses: freedom from distress,
reports) on samples originating from several meaningfulness, self-obliviousness, self-esteem,
countries and consisting of children and adoles- autonomy, capacity to love, flexibility and tenac-
cents as well as young and mature adults. Digman ity versus low physical and mental well-being,
(1997) named these factors alpha and beta, respec- low coping ability, negative emotions, pessimism,
tively, interpreting the former as a socialization self-centeredness, distrust, dependency, neuroti-
factor and the latter as a personal growth factor in cism. Behavior control is characterized by self-
correspondence with the dual construct developed control (norm-, future-, and work-orientation,
within the traditional and contemporary theories rationality, prudence, dutifulness, dependability,
of personality (see Table 1). orderliness, frugality, conservatism and dogma-
Several years later the two higher-order factors tism) versus spontaneity (hedonism, excitement
of the Big Five were replicated and seeking, risk-taking, feeling orientation, change-
reconceptualized by DeYoung et al. (2002), who ability, radicalism, exhibitionism, dominance,
defined them as “metatraits” and relabeled them egoism, and openness to experience). These two
using the terms proposed by Grossberg (1980). broad factors, also termed by Becker (1999) the
Thus, alpha became the metatrait of stability, Big Two, were found by extracting the first two
being linked to stability in the emotional domain orthogonal first-order factors from many analyses
(low neuroticism), motivational domain (high and reanalyses of large and representative pools of
conscientiousness), and social domain (high personality variables, as well as by extracting five
agreeableness). In turn, beta was labeled the meta- or six oblique first-order factors and running a
trait of plasticity, being meant to reflect behavioral second-order factor analysis.
(high extraversion) and cognitive (high openness) Mental health and behavior control do not
plasticity, reflected in the tendency to explore and seem to correspond well to the two broad person-
voluntarily engage (behaviorally and cognitively) ality factors described in the preceding sections.
in new experiences (DeYoung et al. 2002). In However, the results obtained by Becker (1999)
other words, while the first metatrait is responsible led him to the conclusion that personality traits are
for maintaining stability of psychosocial function- organized in a circumplex structure, as many per-
ing, the second one involves exploration and sonality variables exhibit cross-loading on the Big
adaptation to novelty and change. As such, the Two higher-order factors. On this basis Becker
two higher-order factors (metatraits) of the Big (1999) has developed the circumplex model of
Five have been supported in many studies (e.g., higher-order personality factors. Treating Mental
Chang et al. 2012; DeYoung 2006; cf. Strus Health and Behavior Control as orthogonal axes
et al. 2014). of the circumplex, Becker (1999) proposed two
other orthogonal, multifaceted dimensions: social
Two Basic Personality Factors Identified adaptation versus unrestraint and self-
Outside the Big Five Paradigm actualization versus inhibition, located at 45
The discovery of and research on the TFM took rotation to the former. The meaning and facets of
place mainly within the psycholexical and these two additional higher-order factors
Two-Factor Model of Personality 9

correspond strongly to the two factors of person- extraversion, openness to experience, agreeable-
ality discussed above, and especially to their ver- ness, and conscientiousness, although some find-
sions developed by Digman (1997) and by the ings have indicated that the GFP occupies the
psycholexical approach (Saucier et al. 2014). highest position in the hierarchical structure of
Finally, Becker’s (1999) circumplex is an eight- personality regardless of the model adopted
octant model, with the octants being poles of four (Rushton and Irwing 2011).
higher-order dimensions, according to which The GFP exhibits an interesting theoretical
eight personality types can be defined (e.g., the meaning as it appears to be a general factor of
high behavior control type, the low mental health mental health (Musek 2007; Rushton and Irwing
type, the socially adapted type, and the inhibited 2011; cf. Becker 1999), revealing a strong rela-
type). Importantly, these types are clinically rele- tionship with social desirability, satisfaction with
vant, and the circumplex model itself is useful for life, well-being, and self-evaluation (Musek
the description of personality disorders, with valu- 2007). Indeed, the GFP is claimed to be biologi-
able etiological hypotheses and therapeutic impli- cally based, whether in temperamental, neuropsy-
cations. In general, this line of research is chological, genetic, or evolutionary terms (Musek
continued in the circumplex model proposed by 2007; Rushton and Irwing 2011). According to
Strus and colleagues (Strus et al. 2014; Strus and the latter interpretation, the GFP is the effect of
Cieciuch 2017), although their model, in contrast natural selection of socially desirable qualities,
to Becker’s, is directly based on the Big Five. which facilitate functioning in a wide range of
life situations, and which result from the K-strat-
The Big One Above the Big Two? egy of reproduction in the context of Darwin’s
Systematic intercorrelations between the five theory of evolution and Wilson’s sociobiology
basic personality traits provided a point of depar- (Rushton and Irwing 2011). Moreover, the GFP
ture for structural analysis which finally led to the has a counterpart in the psycholexical approach
discovery of the TFM. Analogously, the question termed the Big One, which is usually yielded with
arose as to whether the two basic dimensions are high intercultural replicability as the first factor in
orthogonal or again systematically interrelated. If an unrotated structure (Saucier 2008). The
the latter were the case, this could suggest the psycholexical Big One includes a broad range of
existence of one general factor above the two socially desirable traits (De Raad and Barelds
previously identified ones. Indeed, Musek 2008; Saucier 2008), and therefore has been
(2007) proposed the general factor of personality labeled evaluation (Saucier and Goldberg 2001),
(GFP), analogous to factor g in the structure of socially desirable qualities (Saucier 2008), or vir-
cognitive abilities (intelligence). The GFP tue (De Raad and Barelds 2008).
(Musek 2007; Rushton and Irwing 2011) was However, in contrast to the TFM, which enjoys
found to occupy the apex of a hierarchically orga- a rather widespread consensus in the literature
nized structure of personality traits, and under- (cf. Chang et al. 2012; DeYoung 2015; Musek
stood as a fundamental disposition integrating 2007; Strus et al. 2014), the GFP hypothesis has
the most general, noncognitive dimensions of per- been met with considerable criticism backed by
sonality. The positive pole of the GFP was related studies questioning its existence (cf. Chang et al.
to the optimal configuration of all functional 2012; Revelle and Wilt 2013), according to which
aspects of personality, while its negative pole it is an artifact or a method factor resulting from a
included a general tendency towards personality social desirability bias.
disorders and other psychopathologies (Rushton In this context, of crucial importance are those
and Irwing 2011). Accordingly, the GFP could be studies on personality structure which apply
characterized by high (vs. low) alpha/stability and multi-trait, multi-informant, and multi-instrument
beta/plasticity (Musek 2007; Rushton and Irwing procedures. The use of more than one informant
2011), and on the level of the Big Five by a (self-reports combined with peer ratings) and
configuration of high emotional stability, more than one measure of the Big Five traits has
10 Two-Factor Model of Personality

not only corroborated the existence of alpha/sta- 2002) – alpha/stability and beta/plasticity are
bility and beta/plasticity, but has also proved any considered to describe, e.g., the broadest psy-
correlations between them to be artifacts, as the chological properties (parameters) of the
two factors are not correlated in the latent space of human cybernetic system (DeYoung 2015).
multi-informant models (DeYoung 2006; see also 3. Possibility of integration with many other con-
Chang et al. 2012). Empirical evidence for the structs developed within various models and
orthogonality of these two basic factors under- theories of personality, emotion, and motiva-
mines the existence of one general factor located tion (Digman 1997; Saucier et al. 2014; Strus
at the top of a hierarchically organized structure of and Cieciuch 2017) – see relationships of both
personality. alpha/stability and beta/plasticity, as well as
social self-regulation and dynamism, with the
constructs listed in Table 1.
Toward Further Elaboration of
Theoretical Meaning In fact, the third point concerns the crucial
mission of personality psychology, which is com-
Theoretical Meaning and Usefulness of the prehensive integration or synthesis of knowledge
Two Factors generated within the some sub-disciplines of
The Two-Factor model has been found to be a psychology. The constructs depicted in Table 1
significant contribution to the description, under- relate to many different domains of human
standing, and explanation of personality, as the psychological functioning, e.g., basic properties
two basic factors exhibit some unique psycholog- of the ego, dimensions of motivations, values and
ical meaning, irreducible to the meaning of com- affect, dimensions of social cognition and inter-
binations of the Big Five traits (Strus and Cieciuch personal interaction, as well as basic developmen-
2017). These two factors, or metatraits, refer to tal processes and classes of psychopathology.
some very general patterns of behavior and expe- Importantly, most of these broad theoretical con-
rience (DeYoung 2006), and empirical research cepts and constructs are of dynamic and explor-
has shown that this level of description may be atory nature and have been developed in a
appropriate for the analysis, understanding, and deductive process.
prediction of other broad constructs (see DeYoung Popper (1976) argues that real progress in sci-
2015; Saucier et al. 2014; Strus and Cieciuch ence and the discovery of new things are carried
2017). out through deduction. While induction can lead
Moreover, the two factors have considerable to a detailed and precise description and classifi-
theoretical potential and some researchers deem cation of the phenomena under study, in principle
them a vehicle for overcoming the essentially it cannot lead to any explanation. In turn, using
atheoretical, descriptive nature of the Big Five deduction, one can propose mechanisms
model (cf. Block 2001; Digman 1997; Strus and explaining not only how things look, but also
Cieciuch 2017). This potential is related to three why they look the way they do. In this approach,
important characteristics of metatraits pointed out the researcher proposes a theoretical model,
in the literature: which may initially come across as surprising,
especially if it connects things not ostensibly
1. Biological foundations – alpha/stability and related or similar to each other. However, if the
beta/plasticity have been found to be geneti- model is correctly developed and empirically test-
cally determined and are thought to have neu- able, it can considerably enhance our understand-
robiological substrates in the serotonergic and ing of human behavior, by going beyond the
dopaminergic systems, respectively (DeYoung observable facts and offering new insights. Some
2006; DeYoung et al. 2002). of the dual constructs in Table 1 are examples of
2. Theoretical explanatory mechanisms such deductive models explaining some phenom-
(DeYoung 2006, 2015; DeYoung et al. ena. However, due to their disparate nature, not all
Two-Factor Model of Personality 11

of those constructs are readily amenable to testing, are mainly serial, one needs to delineate the
and some have yet to be operationalized. More- necessary elements of a cybernetic system in rela-
over, their number is very large and they concern tion to cycles built around actions. Personality
very specific domains of human psychology. traits and characteristic adaptation are the two
Therefore, of great value is the opportunity basic categories of such elements. While charac-
offered by the TFM to integrate these dynamic teristic adaptations represent learned, updateable,
and explanatory theoretical constructs with empir- specific memory contents of the cybernetic sys-
ically established knowledge of the personality tem, and are defined in relation to particular cul-
trait structure. Indeed, the two broad personality tural and individual contexts, personality traits are
factors could play the role of a common- the products of basic, general, and universal func-
denominator or umbrella model, to use the term tional mechanisms of that system. These mecha-
coined by Saucier et al. (2014), by linking dispo- nisms are needed to perform the cybernetic cycle
sitional personality traits with theoretical con- irrespective of the goal pursued (goal), action
structs and models, and the latter with each other selected (strategy), and specific situation per-
(Digman 1997; Saucier et al. 2014; Strus and ceived (interpretation). Characteristic adaptations
Cieciuch 2017). Some efforts have been already are deployed by cybernetic mechanisms, and the
made to achieve such integration. Below, we pre- CB5T describes the causal dynamics between
sent two current models striving to integrate traits and characteristic adaptations, and identifies
knowledge about personality in which the TFM mechanisms the variation of which is responsible
plays a crucial role. for traits on the top three levels of the hierarchical
taxonomy (see Fig. 2).
The Big Two in the Hierarchical Structure of Due to the above considerations, the CB5T
Personality: The Cybernetic Big Five Theory adopted a three-level hierarchical structure of
Recently, DeYoung (2015) has proposed a com- traits. As the name of the theory indicates, this
prehensive, integrative, and mechanistic explana- taxonomy is based on the Big Five factors treated
tory theory of personality drawing on cybernetics as the basic cybernetic parameters and regarded as
as a study of adaptive, goal-directed, and self- the main dimensions of personality trait covaria-
regulating systems. Similarly to the FFT, his tion. The CB5T recognizes the cybernetic func-
Cybernetic Big Five Theory (CB5T) assumes tion of each of the Big Five factors and their
that all constructs describing individual psycho- 10 aspects, because CB5T additionally includes
logical differences can be divided into personality a set of 10 intermediate factors or traits placed in
traits and characteristic adaptations. However, in the personality structure between the basic
the CB5T personality is understood as an evolved domains (the Big Five) and their facets. Impor-
cybernetic system, and so traits are taken to reflect tantly, this 10-aspect substructure of the Big Five
variation in the parameters of evolved cybernetic was established empirically (see DeYoung 2015),
mechanisms, while characteristic adaptations are in contrast to the facets, which mostly were spec-
thought to represent relatively stable goals ulatively derived, and there is no widespread con-
(desired future states), interpretations (factual sensus as to their number or content. For this
and evaluative representations of the current – past reason, the CB5T is based on the Big Five
and present – state of the world and the self), and domains and their aspects, whereas the number
strategies (plans, actions, skills, and routines used in and identity of the facets is deemed unknown.
attempting to transform the current state into the Both the Big Five traits and their aspects fulfill
desired future state) specified in relation to the indi- specific cybernetic functions as parameters of the
vidual’s particular life circumstances. cybernetic personality system, although they are
Basically, the functioning of cybernetic sys- linked to different processes and stages of the
tems is characterized by a five-stage cycle: cybernetic cycle. These functions may character-
(1) goal activation, (2) action (or strategy) selec- ize people’s ongoing cybernetic adjustments to
tion, (3) action, (4) outcome interpretation, and their environments in terms of selection among
(5) goal comparison. However, given that actions the existing goals and strategies. However, a
12 Two-Factor Model of Personality

Stability Plasticity

Neuroticism Agreeableness Conscientiousness Extraversion Openness/Intellect

Industrious-
Withdrawal Volatility Compassion Politeness Orderliness Enthusiasm Assertiveness Intellect Openness
ness

Facets (number unknown)…

Two-Factor Model of Personality, Fig. 2 Two factors located in the hierarchical structure of traits as proposed by
DeYoung (2015) in his Cybernetic Big Five Theory

cybernetic theory of human behavior needs to plans on hold and formulating some new interpre-
explain the process by which new goals and strat- tation, strategy, or goal (DeYoung 2015).
egies are created, thus transforming the individ- In light of the above, the two metatraits of
ual’s collection of characteristic adaptations. stability and plasticity represent the broadest
Thus, the CB5T accounts for that process via the psychological properties of the cybernetic
two metatraits of stability and plasticity, which system. The cybernetic function of stability
occupy the top level of personality trait structure. (vs. instability) is the protection of goals, interpre-
While cybernetic systems must maintain stable tations, and strategies from disruption by
operation, they must also allow sufficient plastic- impulses, while that of plasticity (vs. rigidity) is
ity to adapt to unpredictable environments and exploration in terms of the creation of new goals,
change. interpretations, and strategies. They both refer to
Stability reflects the capacity of the cybernetic whether an individual’s goals, interpretations, and
system to resist disruption and replacement of its strategies are stable or unstable, plastic or rigid in
operative goal with immediate goals (e.g., relation to entropy (chaos, the unknown, uncer-
expressing anger or pursuing a distraction) tainty, or unpredictability) as a fundamental prob-
which interfere with longer-term goals when lem for any cybernetic system.
faced with an anomaly. Then, stability is related Summing up, at the core of the CB5T theory is
to the resistance of characteristic adaptations to a hierarchical structure of personality traits built
interruption by emotions, impulses or doubts, and around the Big Five dimensions with a crucial role
to descending into chaos under the influence of played by the metatraits derived from the TFM.
anomalies or threats. In turn, plasticity reflects the The prominent function of the later can be traced
readiness of the cybernetic system to generate to the nature of the theory itself, i.e., an interpre-
new characteristic adaptations voluntarily, in tation of personality within the framework of
response to incentives (the reward value of the cybernetics as a study of goal-directed, self-
unknown), and not only as a result of stressors regulating systems.
causing instability and disintegration. In the face The CB5T has implications for well-being and
of an anomaly, plasticity may provide a motiva- psychopathology linking them to function and
tion to explore by putting the current operative dysfunction in traits and characteristic adapta-
tions. Moreover, DeYoung (2015), comparing
Two-Factor Model of Personality 13

the advantages and limitations of the CB5T with 2011) while avoiding the weaknesses and misin-
other salient theories (e.g., social-cognitive theo- terpretations pointed out by its opponents (see
ries), called the CB5T an integrative, or synthetic Revelle and Wilt 2013). In the CPM model, the
theory. However, it seems that the integrative GFP (i.e., gamma/integration) retains its theoreti-
potential of the CB5T does not lie in providing a cal meaning, but is located at the same level of the
platform for reconciling various models and con- circumplex structure as alpha/stability and beta/
structs in their original form, but rather in plasticity (cf. Revelle and Wilt 2013), rather than
reinterpreting them within the framework of an hierarchically above them. In other words, from
empirically established and theoretically the CPM perspective, most controversies linked to
interpreted (in mechanistic exploratory terms) the GFP result from it being assigned the wrong
model of personality traits and within a precisely status within the structure of personality. Gamma/
conceptualized domain of characteristic adapta- integration is one of two possible combinations of
tions (in contrast to the FFT), with a focus on the alpha/stability and beta/plasticity (both high
causal dynamics between traits and characteristic vs. both low), with the second combination
adaptations. Moreover, as noted by DeYoung being delta/self-restraint (high alpha/stability and
(2015), the hierarchical model of personality traits low beta/plasticity vs. low alpha/stability and high
is an oversimplification at levels below the beta/plasticity). The presence of delta/self-
Big Five, as the structure of personality is not restraint results both from the logic of the
simply organized. According to DeYoung circumplex structure already incorporating alpha,
(2015), the CB5T is compatible with the existence beta, and gamma (Revelle and Wilt 2013), as well
of these additional relationships, but it does not as from empirical findings indicating different-
change the fact that some traits, aspects, and facets sign correlations of alpha/stability and beta/plas-
have cross-loadings, being composites of two or ticity with other variables (e.g., DeYoung et al.
more higher-order traits. 2002; cf. Becker 1999).
Moreover, the CPM assumes that the opposite
The Big Two in a Circular Structure of poles of each metatrait exhibit some psychologi-
Personality: The Circumplex of Personality cal meaning beyond simple opposition, defining
Metatraits the positive and negative poles of alpha, beta,
The Circumplex of Personality Metatraits (CPM) gamma, and delta separately (Strus et al. 2014),
proposed by Strus and colleagues (Strus et al. with the negative ones being labeled disinhibition,
2014; Strus and Cieciuch 2017) continues the passiveness, disharmony, and sensation seeking,
line of thinking in terms of broad personality respectively. Therefore, the CPM proposes an
dimensions, or higher-order factors of personality, octant structure of personality metatraits, includ-
resolving some of the problems that have arisen in ing four bipolar metatraits (dimensions) or eight
this research field. The CPM is based on the idea unipolar ones (octants). Each of the eight octants
of circular organization of metatraits, arranging represents a certain configuration of the Big Five
alpha/stability and beta/plasticity as orthogonal traits (see Fig. 3).
axes within a circumplex structure. In addition, According to Strus et al. (2014), the addition of
the CPM incorporates two other metatraits, i.e., another two metatraits to alpha/stability and beta/
gamma/integration and delta/self-restraint, which plasticity in conjunction with the assumption of a
derive from a combination of alpha and beta, and circumplex structure of metatraits enhances the
are located orthogonally to each other and in 45 integrative potential of the TFM, providing foun-
rotation to the former. The model is presented in dations for a truly comprehensive, wide-ranging
Fig. 3. theoretical synthesis. The CPM model can be
Gamma/integration is a CPM reinterpretation treated as a kind of matrix accommodating vari-
of the GFP, which enables the inclusion of accu- ous constructs and models of personality, temper-
rate findings and correct interpretations from GFP ament, emotion, motivation, well-being, and
proponents (Musek 2007; Rushton and Irwing psychopathology, of which many are in fact
14 Two-Factor Model of Personality

Two-Factor Model of
Personality, Fig. 3 Two
basic factors located within
a circular structure of
metatraits as proposed by
Strus and colleagues (Strus
et al. 2014; Strus and
Cieciuch 2017) in their
Circumplex of Personality
Metatraits. N =
Neuroticism; E=
Extraversion; O = Openness
to Experience; A =
Agreeableness; C =
Conscientiousness; +
means positive pole of the
trait; – means negative pole
of the trait

circular models (Strus and Cieciuch 2017). potential to provide a platform for a wide-ranging
Moreover, the CPM makes it possible to reconcile theoretical synthesis. The CPM can be deemed a
the tradition of personality description in terms of bridge between the trait-dispositional and
traits with its description in terms of types (Strus dynamic-exploratory components of personality
et al. 2014), as the gamma and delta poles directly (e.g., characteristic adaptations), as well as an
correspond to basic personality prototypes under- “intermediator” or “broker” linking constructs
stood as the most common configurations of the from other models, showing connections, and
Big Five personality profiles (Gramzow et al. enabling exploration of deeper interrelationships
2004). At the least, the CPM model facilitates, between the phenomena that they describe. The
more readily than TFM, consistent theoretical CPM may also provide inspiration for further
integration of the trait (dispositional) approach to development or refinement of some models (see
personality with those personality theories that Strus and Cieciuch 2017). Obviously, the CPM is
make use of dynamic and explanatory theoretical quite similar to Becker’s model (1999) as both
constructs. This is so because many of the con- consist of eight unipolar octants whose psycho-
structs presented in Table 1 exhibit closer theoret- logical content is much alike. However, the mean-
ical correspondence with gamma/integration and ings of the metatraits comprising the CPM and
delta/self-restraint than with alpha/stability Becker’s model differ in some important aspects,
and beta/plasticity. Examples include Block’s due to the some essential differences between the
constructs of ego-control and ego-resiliency, two models particularly pronounced in terms of
showing affinity to delta-plus and gamma-plus in the theoretical origins, context, and implications.
terms of psychological meaning, respectively
(cf. Gramzow et al. 2004). In turn, the activity of
the neurobiological BIS and BAS systems (Gray
Conclusions
1991) as mechanisms explaining the basic
dimensions of temperament (anxiety and impul-
A major problem in the psychology of personality
sivity) appear to be related to gamma-minus and
and individual differences is the concurrence of
delta-minus, respectively (see Strus and Cieciuch
numerous models of broader or narrower scope
2017).
with unclear or unknown interrelationships.
However, it is worth noting that to date the
Indeed, this state of affairs brings to mind ancient
CPM has not offered (in contrast to the CB5T)
Greece, where philosophers pondering the nature
any explanatory mechanisms underlying the
of the world sought arche, which was supposed to
metatraits. Instead, it has demonstrated its
be the substance and origin of all existing things.
Two-Factor Model of Personality 15

Different schools of thought advanced different 2008; Saucier et al. 2014). However, the broadest
positions in this respect: arche was claimed to be dimensions of personality appear to be truly cross-
water by Thales of Miletus, air by Anaximenes, culturally universal, biologically based, and capa-
fire by Heraclitus, and earth by Xenophanes. In ble of wide-ranging theoretical integration, and as
turn, Empedocles believed that each of his pre- such form a parsimonious model with a unique
decessors was in part right and that the world theoretical potential (DeYoung 2015; Saucier
consisted of four elements: water, air, earth, and et al. 2014; Strus et al. 2014; Strus and Cieciuch
fire. These elements could combine with each 2017).
other creating an infinite number of arrangements Nevertheless, further research is needed to con-
as a result of the action of two forces: love and firm the identity of the two broad factors
strife, also termed attraction and repulsion. established independently in questionnaire and
Actually, Empedocles’s reasoning contains psycholexical studies. They clearly correspond
several important characteristics, which have to each other and their identity is highly likely,
enabled the emergence of the TFM in the field of but the results of existing investigations are not
psychology: (1) differences between theoretical conclusive (De Raad et al. 2010; Saucier 2008;
models should entail synthesis incorporating Saucier et al. 2014). For instance, the pattern of
legitimate insights from various models, rather relationships of the Big Two factors with the Big
than the choice of one over others; (2) of particular Five ones differs to some extent (particularly in
value are simple solutions and models, especially the case of neuroticism/emotional stability; cf. De
those which provide a point of departure for more Raad et al. 2010; Digman 1997; DeYoung 2006;
informative and sophisticated models; (3) a good Saucier et al. 2014), and both Big Two factors
model contains a description of both a static struc- reveal some differences in theoretical meaning.
ture and dynamic forces which constitute an The relationship between the Big Two factors
explanatory mechanism. The TFM, stemming is likely to be clarified within the CPM model
from both psycholexical and questionnaire studies (Strus et al. 2014), which represents one of the
of five factors of personality, as well as from some two main avenues for further theoretical extension
other research paradigms, may integrate many of the TFM. The CPM continues the line of
theoretical insights and models (such as the dual research adopting a circumplex structure of per-
constructs presented in Table 1) in a straightfor- sonality traits (Becker 1999; Eysenck and
ward way, offering a good starting point for fur- Eysenck 1985; Wiggins and Trapnell 1996), and
ther, more sophisticated models describing both supplements the TFM with two additional meta-
the static structure and dynamic forces of traits. In this way, the CPM enhances the theoret-
personality. ical synthesis potential of the TFM, forming a
There is a considerable body of research indi- matrix or platform for accommodating different
cating the existence of two broad and orthogonal constructs and models in their original form, and
factors located at the top of the personality struc- revealing their internal and external interrelation-
ture (e.g., Chang et al. 2012; DeYoung 2006; ships (Strus and Cieciuch 2017). However, to date
DeYoung et al. 2002; Digman 1997). Moreover, the CPM has not offered any explanatory mecha-
many authors report evidence supporting their nisms underlying the metatraits.
substantive nature (e.g., Chang et al. 2012; The second avenue for theoretical extension of
DeYoung 2006), i.e., that they are not (or not the TFM, the CB5T, does not include the GFP or a
entirely) method factors or response biases, fourth metatrait (delta). However, it does fully
resulting from, e.g., egoistic and moralistic biases retain the hierarchical model of personality struc-
in self-perception (Paulhus and John 1998; see ture and accommodate the empirically derived
Table 1). Obviously, the TFM is not in itself Big Five aspects, which are absent in direct form
sufficient for describing that structure and does from the CPM. Most importantly, the CB5T offers
not invalidate more informative models, such as mechanistic explanations of the Big Two factors
the FFM or HEXACO (DeYoung 2015; Saucier of personality, as well as descriptions of causal
16 Two-Factor Model of Personality

dynamics between traits and characteristic adap- De Raad, B., Barelds, D. P. H., Levert, E., Ostendorf, F.,
tations, although its integrative potential involves Mlacic, B., Di Blas, L., Hrebickova, M., Szirmak, Z.,
Szarota, P., Perugini, M., Church, A. T., &
reinterpretation of other personality constructs Katigbak, M. S. (2010). Only three factors of person-
and models within its conceptual frame, rather ality description are fully replicable across languages:
than enabling integration in their original form. A comparison of 14 trait taxonomies. Journal of Per-
sonality and Social Psychology, 98, 160–173. doi:10.
1037/a0017184.
Acknowledgments The work was prepared within DeYoung, C. G. (2006). Higher-order factors of the Big
Grants 2014/14/M/HS6/00919 from the National Science Five in a multi-informant sample. Journal of Personal-
Centre, Poland. ity and Social Psychology, 91, 1138–1151. doi:10.
1037/0022-3514.91.6.1138.
DeYoung, C. G. (2015). Cybernetic Big Five theory. Jour-
nal of Research in Personality, 56, 33–58. doi:10.1016/
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