A comparison of Agreeableness scores from the Big Five Inventory and the NEO PI-R: consequences for the study of narcissism and psychopathy

Assessment. 2011 Sep;18(3):335-9. doi: 10.1177/1073191111411671. Epub 2011 Jun 10.

Abstract

Despite being significantly correlated, there is evidence to suggest that the scales measuring Agreeableness from the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) do not capture identical constructs. More specifically, NEO PI-R Agreeableness contains content related to "honesty and humility" that is not contained by the BFI. In a sample of undergraduates (N = 290), the authors compared the correlations between these two measures of Agreeableness with traits from the HEXACO-PI-R as well as measures of narcissism, narcissistic personality disorder, and psychopathy. As expected, the two scores were significantly correlated but NEO PI-R Agreeableness manifested stronger correlations with the domains/facets of Honesty-Humility, narcissism/NPD, and aspects of psychopathy; these differences appear to be due primarily to the inclusion of the NEO PI-R facets of Straightforwardness and Modesty. These differences have important implications for the assessment and conceptualization of personality and personality disorder.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Narcissism*
  • Personality Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Personality Disorders / pathology
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Personality Tests*
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychopathology / instrumentation*
  • Psychopathology / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult