Measurement and Statistical Models in the Study of Personality and Intelligence

Abstract

Theorizing about personality and intelligence structure initially was limited to prescientific, literary and philosophical "insights" (cf. Howard, 1993). Among these early "psychological" approaches, Freudian psychoanalytic theory almost certainly has had the major influence on psychological thinking about human personality during the early 20th century--although psychoanalysis itself has now come under critical scrutiny (see Eysenck, 1985; Masson, 1990). Another prominent theorist was Murray who postulated several "Needs" such as: Abasement, Achievement, Aggression, Change, Cognitive Structure, Endurance, Nurturance, Order, Sentience, and Understanding. Likewise, Jung's Introversion- Extraversion theory has been influential. However, the comparatively subjective models of theorists such as Freud, Adler, Jung, Fromm, Erikson, Horney, Maslow, and Sullivan, must now be rejected as scientifically unacceptable. Around 1920, the emphasis changed from clinical premetric speculations to more quantitative and overtly experimental approaches, along with recognition of the ability and personality sphere concepts. The inadequacy of socioenvironmental explanations of personality, however, has been amply demonstrated by Zuckerman (1991) in his important Psychobiology of Personality. Personality is not solely the outcome of family and social conditioning. Eysenck (1991) has pointed out that these theories are essentially untestable. They are based on speculative or falsified deductions, and ignore virtually all the experimental and empirical research conducted this century.