Personality traits measured by the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire:

 

Trait:

Low scorers say true to:

High scorers say true to:

 

Well-Being

I am seldom "really happy."

I am a happy person.

Social Potency

On social occasions, I like to stay in the background.

I like to take charge of things.

Achievement

I usually work hard enough to just get by.

I like to put in long hours to accomplish something.

Social Closeness

I would be happy to live alone.

I prefer living with other people than living alone.

Stress Reaction

I seldom get worried.

I easily get upset.

Alienation

People treat me fairly.

Life has given me a raw deal.

Aggression

I prefer to turn the other cheek.

If someone crosses me, I will let them know about it.

Control vs.Impulsivity

I usually act before thinking.

I like to have detailed plans beforedoing something.

Harm Avoidance vs.Danger Seeking

I like to do something dangerous just for the thrill of it.

I prefer to remain safe and soundin most things.

Traditionalism

Traditional values of obedience andmorality need to be rethought.

People should have more respect for authority than they do.

Absorption

Music never reminds me of colors, smells, or sights.

I can loose contact with reality watching a beautiful sunset.

 

 

Twin Data for the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire1

 
   

Components of Variance:
 

Twin Correlations:

Genetic:

Environmental:

 

Scale

Rmza

N = 44

Rdza

N = 27

Rmzt

N = 217

Rdzt

N = 114

 

h2

common

c2

unique

u2

Well-Being

.48

.18

.58

.23

.48*

.13

.40*

Social Potency

.56

.27

.65

.08

.54*

.10

.36*

Achievement

.36

.07

.51

.13

.39*

.11

.51*

Social Closeness

.29

.30

.57

.24

.40*

.19*

.41*

Stress Reaction

.61

.27

.52

.24

.53*

.00

.47*

Alienation

.48

.18

.55

.38

.45*

.11

.44*

Aggression

.46

.06

.43

.14

.44*

.00

.56*

Control

.50

.03

.41

-.06

.44*

.00

.56*

Harm Avoidance

.49

.24

.55

.17

.55*

.00

.45*

Traditionalism

.53

.39

.50

.47

.45*

.12

.43*

Absorption

.61

.21

.49

.41

.50*

.03

.47*

1 Tellegen,A., Lykken,D.T., Bouchard,T.J.Jr., Wilcox,K.J., Segal,N.L., & Rich,S. (1988). Personality similarity in twins reared apart and together. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1031-1039.

* p < .05, i.e., a value that is significantly different from 0.

 

 

Family correlations for the Social Potency Scale of the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire

Relationship

Sample Size

Observed

Correlation

Predicted

Correlation

Equation
         

Mates

301

-.03

    

Adoptive Parent-Offspring

2002

.09

  

te

Adoptive Siblings

342

.02

  

(t2 + wx2)e2

Biological Parent-Offspring

3202

.19

  

.5h2 + te

Biological Siblings

1502

.16

  

.5h2 + (t2 + wx2)e2

DZ twins - together

114

.08

  

.5h2 + (t2 + wx2)e2

MZ twins - together

217

.65

  

h2 + (t2 + wx2)e2

DZ twins - apart

27

.19

  

.5h2

MZ twins - apart

44

.56

  

h2

2 Approximate number

1 From Carey,G. & Rice,J. (1983). Genetics of personality temperament: Simplicity or complexity? Behavior Genetics, 13, 43-83; Scarr, S., Webber,P.L., Weinberg,R.A., & Wittig,M.A. (1981). Personality resemblance among adolescents and their parents in biologically related and adopted families. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 885-898; and Tellegen, A., Lykken,D.T., Bouchard,T.J.Jr., Wilcox,K.J., Segal,N.L., & Rich, S. (1988). Personality similarity in twins reared apart and together. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1031-1039.