Psycho-lexically based Openness to Experience

Abstract

We investigated whether NEO-PI-R Openness to Experience (Costa & McCrae, 1992) and its six facets could be identified in the natural trait lexicon. To represent the NEO-PI-R Openness, a list of 113 items was selected from a lexically derived trait list developed for the eight-factor trait model of De Raad and Barelds (2008). We used ratings from two samples. The first (N=271) filled out the lexical Openness scales, the NEO-PI-R Openness scales, and scales measuring the eight-factor model. From the second sample (N=1,466), ratings were used to analyze the lexical Openness scales. Correlations between the eight-factor scales and the two sets of Openness scales indicated that Openness scales are fairly covered by the eight factors, except for the Ideas and Values facets of the NEO-PI-R. The lexical Openness scales correlated well with the NEO-PI-R Openness scales. Openness to Experience and its six facets were identified in the natural trait lexicon, but exploratory factor analyses did not support the six-facet structure of the NEO-PI-R Openness, neither did they lead to a similar six-facet structure across samples. Moreover, it did not consistently support a proposed two-facet structure emphasizing internal openness (fantasy, aesthetics) and external openness (ideas, change).