786838440-Alternative-Five-Factor-Model.pptx

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1. Alternative Five Factor Model  

2. Introduction: The  alternative five model of personality  is based on the claim that the structure of human  personality traits  is best explained by five broad factors called impulsive  sensation seeking  ( ImpSS ),   neuroticism – anxiety  (N- Anx ), aggression–hostility ( Agg -Host), sociability ( Sy ), and activity (Act). The model was developed by Marvin Zuckerman and colleagues as a rival to the well-known  Five factor model  of personality traits and is based on the assumption that "basic" personality traits are those with a strong biological-evolutionary basis. 

3. The Alternative Five Factor Model The aim of Zuckerman and colleagues in developing the alternative five model was to identify the "basic" factors of personality. Zuckerman argued that basic factors have a biological-evolutionary basis as evidenced by comparable traits in non-human species, biological markers, and moderate  heritability . The model was developed by administering research participants a large number of pre-existing personality questionnaires and subjecting the results to  factor analysis .  Markers of 'culture', 'intellect', and 'openness' were deliberately excluded on the basis that these traits are not present in non-human species . The researchers compared models with three to seven different factors. They found that both three and five factor solutions were acceptable, but argued that the five-factor solution was preferable due to greater specificity.

4. Nature of the five factors Neuroticism–anxiety: measures anxiety, fear, general emotionality,  psychasthenia , and inhibition of aggression. The factor is also associated with obsessive indecisiveness, lack of self-confidence, and sensitivity to criticism . Aggression–hostility vs. social desirability: measures  aggression , hostility, anger, lack of inhibitory control, and low social desirability. The factor is associated with rudeness, thoughtless and antisocial behaviour, vengefulness, quick temper and impatience.

5. Impulsive sensation-seeking: measures low socialisation, and high  psychoticism ,  impulsivity , and sensation-seeking. The impulsivity items assess lack of planfulness and a tendency to act without thinking. The sensation seeking items describe a liking for thrills and excitement, novelty and variety, and unpredictable situations and friends. Sociability : measures affiliation, social participation,  extraversion . Assesses liking for big parties and interactions with many people, as well as a dislike of isolation in sociable people versus a liking for the same in unsociable people Activity: measures energetic behavior and persistence. This factor is associated with need to keep active and feelings of restlessness when there is nothing to do.

6. Omission of openness to experience Zuckerman has argued that openness to experience does not meet the criteria for a truly "basic" factor of personality. [1]  Zuckerman stated that the personality factors in the alternative five model have an evolutionary basis and can be identified in non-human species but this is not the case for openness. Additionally, of the six facet scales used to define openness, only one of them (Actions) pertains to behaviour. The sensation-seeking scales on the other hand are more behavioral in content, and sensation-seeking does not have a clearly defined relationship to the five factor model, suggesting it is related to an independent basic factor.

7. Critical Analysis: The decision by Zuckerman and colleagues to deliberately omit markers of openness to experience from their analysis was strongly criticised by  Costa  and McCrae, proponents of the five factor model (FFM). Costa and McCrae reanalysed the data used by Zuckerman and colleagues and found that equivalents of all five factors in the FFM, including openness emerged in their factor analysis. Even though Zuckerman and colleagues had deliberately attempted to omit all markers of openness, Costa and McCrae argued that "cognitive structure" (dislike of ambiguity or uncertainty in information) is a valid marker of (low) openness.