From the big five to the general factor of personality: a dynamic approach

An integrating and dynamic model of personality that allows predicting the response of the basic factors of personality, such as the Big Five Factors (B5F) or the general factor of personality (GFP) to acute doses of drug is presented in this paper. Personality has a dynamic nature, i.e., as a consequence of a stimulus, the GFP dynamics as well as each one of the B5F of personality dynamics can be explained by the same model (a system of three coupled differential equations). From this invariance hypothesis, a partial differential equation, whose solution relates the GFP with each one of the B5F, is deduced. From this dynamic approach, a co-evolution of the GFP and each one of the B5F occurs, rather than an unconnected evolution, as a consequence of the same stimulus. The hypotheses and deductions are validated through an experimental design centered on the individual, where caffeine is the considered stimulus. Thus, as much from a theoretical point of view as from an applied one, the models here proposed open a new perspective in the understanding and study of personality like a global system that interacts intimately with the environment, being a clear bet for the high level inter-disciplinary research (AU)

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From the big five to the general factor of personality: a dynamic approach.

An integrating and dynamic model of personality that allows predicting the response of the basic factors of personality, such as the Big Five Factors (B5F) or the general factor of personality (GFP) to acute doses of drug is presented in this paper. Personality has a dynamic nature, i.e., as a consequence of a stimulus, the GFP dynamics as well as each one of the B5F of personality dynamics can be explained by the same model (a system of three coupled differential equations). From this invariance hypothesis, a partial differential equation, whose solution relates the GFP with each one of the B5F, is deduced. From this dynamic approach, a co-evolution of the GFP and each one of the B5F occurs, rather than an unconnected evolution, as a consequence of the same stimulus. The hypotheses and deductions are validated through an experimental design centered on the individual, where caffeine is the considered stimulus. Thus, as much from a theoretical point of view as from an applied one, the models here proposed open a new perspective in the understanding and study of personality like a global system that interacts intimately with the environment, being a clear bet for the high level inter-disciplinary research.

Self-regulation therapy to reproduce drug effects: a suggestion technique to change personality and the DRD3 gene expression.

This study proposes a strategy, based on self-regulation therapy, to change personality and its biological substrate, the DRD3 gene expression. It has been demonstrated that acute doses of stimulating drugs, like methylphenidate, are able to change personality and the expression of certain genes in the short term. On the other hand, self-regulation therapy has been proven to reproduce the effects of drugs. Thus, it is feasible to hope that self-regulation therapy is equally effective as methylphenidate in changing personality and the gene expression. This is a preliminary study with a single-case experimental design with replication in which 2 subjects participated. The results and potential implications for research and psychotherapy are discussed.

Changing the general factor of personality and the c-fos gene expression with methylphenidate and self-regulation therapy.

A deepening in the biological nature of the general factor of personality (GFP) is suggested: the activation level of the stress system is here represented by the gene expression of c-fos. The results of a single case experimental design are reported. A model of four coupled differential equations that explains the human personality dynamics as a consequence of a single stimulant drug intake has been fitted to psychological and biological experimental data. The stimulant-drug conditioning and its adaptation to the considered mathematical model is also studied for both kinds of measures. The dynamics of the c-fos expression presents a similar pattern to the dynamics of the psychological measures of personality assessed by the GFP-FAS (Five-Adjective Scale of the General Factor of Personality) as a consequence of a single dose of stimulant drug (methylphenidate). The model predicts similar dynamic patterns for both psychological and biological measures. This study proves that describing mathematically the dynamics of the effects of a stimulant drug as well as the effects of a conditioning method on psychological or subjective variables and on gene expression is possible. It verifies the existence of biological mechanisms underlying the dynamics of the General Factor of Personality (GFP).

Changing the general factor of personality and the c-fos gene expression with methylphenidate and self-regulation therapy

A deepening in the biological nature of the general factor of personality (GFP) is suggested: the activation level of the stress system is here represented by the gene expression of c-fos. The results of a single case experimental design are reported. A model of four coupled differential equations that explains the human personality dynamics as a consequence of a single stimulant drug intake has been fitted to psychological and biological experimental data. The stimulant-drug conditioning and its adaptation to the considered mathematical model is also studied for both kinds of measures. The dynamics of the c-fos expression presents a similar pattern to the dynamics of the psychological measures of personality assessed by the GFP-FAS (Five-Adjective Scale of the General Factor of Personality) as a consequence of a single dose of stimulant drug (methylphenidate). The model predicts similar dynamic patterns for both psychological and biological measures. This study proves that describing mathematically the dynamics of the effects of a stimulant drug as well as the effects of a conditioning method on psychological or subjective variables and on gene expression is possible. It verifies the existence of biological mechanisms underlying the dynamics of the General Factor of Personality (GFP) (AU)

Este artículo estudia la naturaleza dinámica del Factor General de Personalidad (FGP) en respuesta a una dosis única de metilfenidato a partir de un diseño experimental de caso único con replicación. Para medir el FGP, se emplean tanto medidas psicológicas (Escala de Cinco Adjetivos del Factor General de Personalidad; ECA-FGP), como un marcador biológico (propuesto como substrato biológico del FGP) que es la concentración del gen c-fos en los linfocitos de la sangre. También se estudia el condicionamiento de los efectos subjetivo y biológico del metilfenidato con una técnica de sugestión y condicionamiento, denominada terapia de auto-regulación. Por último, se propone un modelo matemático de cuatro ecuaciones diferenciales acopladas que explican la dinámica del FGP como consecuencia de una ingestión de droga estimulante y del condicionamiento de la droga, ajustadas a los datos experimentales psicológicos y biológicos. Los resultados muestran un patrón dinámico similar para ambas medidas psicológicas y biológicas del FGP en respuesta tanto a una dosis de metilfenidato como al condicionamiento con terapia de auto-regulación. Así, se evidencia que es posible la formulación matemática de la dinámica del FGP y sus correlatos biológicos, como el gen regulador c-fos, y su condicionamiento mediante la terapia de auto-regulación (AU)

Dynamics of the general factor of personality in response to a single dose of caffeine.

General Factor of Personality (GFP) research is an emergent field in personality research. This paper uses a theoretical mathematical model to predict the short-term effects of a dose of a stimulant drug on GFP and reports the results of an experiment showing how caffeine achieves this. This study considers the General Factor of Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ) a good psychometric approach to assess GFP. The GFP dynamic mechanism of change is based on the Unique Trait Personality Theory (UTPT). This theory proposes the existence of GFP which occupies the apex of the hierarchy of personality, and extends from an impulsiveness-and-aggressiveness pole (approach tendency) to an anxiety-and-introversion pole (avoidance tendency). An experiment with 25 volunteers was performed. All the participants completed the GFPQ and the Sensation-Seeking Scale list of adjectives from the trait version of MAACL-R (Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist Revised) on an empty stomach. The participants in the experimental group (20) received 330 mg of caffeine. All the participants filled in a state version form with the sensation-seeking adjectives every 4.5 minutes. This study considers that the Sensation-Seeking Scale list of adjectives from the MAACL-R, available in both trait and state versions, is a good psychometric approach to assess GFP. The results show that GFP is modified by a single dose of caffeine in the direction predicted by the UTPT.

Dynamics of the general factor of personality in response to a single dose of caffeine

General Factor of Personality (GFP) research is an emergent field in personality research. This paper uses a theoretical mathematical model to predict the short-term effects of a dose of a stimulant drug on GFP and reports the results of an experiment showing how caffeine achieves this. This study considers the General Factor of Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ) a good psychometric approach to assess GFP. The GFP dynamic mechanism of change is based on the Unique Trait Personality Theory (UTPT). This theory proposes the existence of GFP which occupies the apex of the hierarchy of personality, and extends from an impulsiveness-and-aggressiveness pole (approach tendency) to an anxiety-andintroversion pole (avoidance tendency). An experiment with 25 volunteers was performed. All the participants completed the GFPQ and the Sensation-Seeking Scale list of adjectives from the trait version of MAACL-R (Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist Revised) on an empty stomach. The participants in the experimental group (20) received 330 mg of caffeine. All the participants filled in a state version form with the sensation-seeking adjectives every 4.5 minutes. This study considers that the Sensation-Seeking Scale list of adjectives from the MAACL-R, available in both trait and state versions, is a good psychometric approach to assess GFP. The results show that GFP is modified by a single dose of caffeine in the direction predicted by the UTPT (AU)

La investigación sobre el Factor General de Personalidad (FGP) es un campo emergente en la investigación sobre personalidad. Este artículo presenta un modelo matemático y teórico para predecir los efectos a corto plazo de una dosis de droga estimulante sobre el FGP y presenta los resultados de un experimento con café. El Cuestionario del Factor General de Personalidad (CFGP) es aquí considerado como una buena aproximación psicométrica para medir el FGP. Los mecanismos dinámicos de cambio del FGP están basados en la Teoría del Rasgo Único de Personalidad (TRUP). Esta teoría propone la existencia de un FGP que se sitúa en la cúspide de la estructura jerárquica de personalidad, y se extiende desde un polo de agresividad-impulsividad (tendencia de aproximación) hasta un polo de introversiónansiedad (tendencia de evitación). Se llevó a cabo un experimento con 25 voluntarios. Todos los participantes cumplimentaron en ayunas el Cuestionario del Factor General de Personalidad (CFGP) y la lista de adjetivos de búsqueda de sensaciones del MAACL-R en su versión de rasgo. Los participantes del grupo experimental (20) recibieron 330 mg de cafeína. Todos los participantes cumplimentaron un cuestionario con los adjetivos de búsqueda de sensaciones, en su versión de estado, cada 4.5 minutos. En este estudio se considera que la escala de adjetivos de búsqueda de sensaciones del MAACL-R, tanto en versión rasgo como estado, es una buena aproximación psicométrica del FGP. Los resultados muestran que una dosis de cafeína modifica el FGP en la dirección predicha por la Teoría del Rasgo Único de Personalidad (AU)

General Factor of Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ): only one factor to understand personality?

This study proposes a psychometric approach to assess the General Factor of Personality (GFP) to explain the whole personality. This approach defends the existence of one basic factor that represents the overall personality. The General Factor of Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ) is presented to measure the basic, combined trait of the complete personality. The questionnaire includes 20 items and is constituted by two scales with 10 items each one: the Extraversion Scale (ES) and the Introversion Scale (IS). The GFPQ shows adequate internal consistency and construct validity, while the relationships with the personality factors of other models and with psychopathology are as expected. It correlates positively and significantly with Extraversion (E) and Psychoticism (P), and negatively with Neuroticism (N) of Eysenck's EPQ (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire); it correlates positively and significantly with the Sensation Seeking Scaled (SSS) of Zuckerman, and is inside the expected direction with Sensitivity to Reward (SR) and Sensitivity to Punishment (SP) of the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), which represent the approach and avoidance trends of behavior, respectively. It not only relates negatively with the personality disorders of the anxiety spectrum, but also with the emotional disorders in relation to anxiety and depression, and it relates positively with the antisocial personality disorder.

General Factor of Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ): only one factor to understand personality?

This study proposes a psychometric approach to assess the General Factor of Personality (GFP) to explain the whole personality. This approach defends the existence of one basic factor that represents the overall personality. The General Factor of Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ) is presented to measure the basic, combined trait of the complete personality. The questionnaire includes 20 items and is constituted by two scales with 10 items each one: the Extraversion Scale (ES) and the Introversion Scale (IS). The GFPQ shows adequate internal consistency and construct validity, while the relationships with the personality factors of other models and with psychopathology are as expected. It correlates positively and significantly with Extraversion (E) and Psychoticism (P), and negatively with Neuroticism (N) of Eysenck’s EPQ (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire); it correlates positively and significantly with the Sensation Seeking Scaled (SSS) of Zuckerman, and is inside the expected direction with Sensitivity to Reward (SR) and Sensitivity to Punishment (SP) of the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), which represent the approach and avoidance trends of behavior, respectively. It not only relates negatively with the personality disorders of the anxiety spectrum, but also with the emotional disorders in relation to anxiety and depression, and it relates positively with the antisocial personality disorder (AU)

El presente estudio propone una aproximación psicométrica a la evaluación del Factor General de Personalidad (FGP) para explicar la personalidad completa. Esta aproximación defiende la existencia de un factor básico que representa la personalidad general. El Cuestionario del Factor General de Personalidad (CFGP) se presenta como herramienta para medir este rasgo básico combinado de la personalidad global. El cuestionario incluye 20 ítems y está constituido por dos escalas con 10 ítems cada una: la Escala de Extraversión (EE) y la Escala de Introversión (EI). El CFGP muestra una consistencia interna adecuada y validez de constructo, mientras que sus relaciones con los factores de personalidad de otros modelos y con la psicopatología son las que se esperan. Correlaciona positiva y significativamente con Extraversión (E) y con Psicoticismo (P) y negativamente con Neuroticismo (N) del Cuestionario de Personalidad de Eysenck (CPE); correlaciona positiva y significativamente con la Escala de Búsqueda de Sensaciones (EBS) de Zuckerman y se encuentra en la dirección esperada en su relación con Sensibilización al Refuerzo (SR) y Sensibilización al Castigo (SC) del Cuestionario de Sensibilización al Castigo y Sensibilización al Refuerzo (CSCSR), los cuales representan respectivamente las tendencias conductuales de aproximación y evitación. No solo se relaciona negativamente con los trastornos de personalidad del espectro de ansiedad sino también con los trastornos emocionales que tienen relación con la ansiedad y la depresión y, se relaciona positivamente con el trastorno antisocial de la personalidad (AU)

Cocaine addiction and personality: a mathematical model.

The existence of a close relation between personality and drug consumption is recognized, but the corresponding causal connection is not well known. Neither is it well known whether personality exercises an influence predominantly at the beginning and development of addiction, nor whether drug consumption produces changes in personality. This paper presents a dynamic mathematical model of personality and addiction based on the unique personality trait theory (UPTT) and the general modelling methodology. This model attempts to integrate personality, the acute effect of drugs, and addiction. The UPTT states the existence of a unique trait of personality called extraversion, understood as a dimension that ranges from impulsive behaviour and sensation-seeking (extravert pole) to fearful and anxious behaviour (introvert pole). As a consequence of drug consumption, the model provides the main patterns of extraversion dynamics through a system of five coupled differential equations. It combines genetic extraversion, as a steady state, and dynamic extraversion in a unique variable measured on the hedonic scale. The dynamics of this variable describes the effects of stimulant drugs on a short-term time scale (typical of the acute effect); while its mean time value describes the effects of stimulant drugs on a long-term time scale (typical of the addiction effect). This understanding may help to develop programmes of prevention and intervention in drug misuse.

A dynamic extraversion model. The brain's response to a single dose of a stimulant drug.

The aim of this paper is to present a mathematical dynamic modelling of the effect a stimulant drug has on different people which, at the same time, can be a useful tool for future brain studies. To this end, a dynamic model of the evolution of extraversion (considering its tonic and phasic aspects) has been constructed taking into account the unique personality trait theory and the general modelling methodology. This model consists of a delayed differential equation which, on one hand, considers that the active stimulus, a consequence of a single intake, is not constant; on the other hand, it contemplates that the state variable representing the phasic extraversion also represents the brain activation. The derivative of this state variable is calculated as the sum of the homeostatic control flow, the excitatory effect flow and the inhibitor effect flow. The solutions of this equation relate the tonic activation of an individual (that characterizes his or her personality) with his or her phasic activation level, whose evolution over time describes the organism's response to a single drug intake. These solutions quantitatively reproduce the predictions of current personality theories and anticipate vulnerability to drug misuse and addiction development.