查看文章

Trait concepts are used extensively in psychopathology research, but much of this research has failed to consider recent advances in the dimensional structure of personality. Many investigators have discounted the importance of this structural research, arguing that (1) little progress has been made in this area,(2) structural models have little direct relevance for psychopathology research, and (3) the principal methodological tool of structural research, factor analysis, is too subjective to yield psychologically meaningful results. The authors dispute each of these objections. Specifically, an integrative hierarchical model is offered, composed of 4 higher order traits, which is congruent with each of the major structural subtraditions within personality. The implications of this integrative scheme for basic trait research, for the conceptualization and assessment of psychopathology, and for the etiology of disorder are …