Enduring dispositions in adult males

Retest coefficients for temperamental traits measured by the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey were assessed at 6- and 12-yr intervals to determine the degree of stability in personality and to evaluate the hypotheses that (a) younger men will show lower stability than older men and (b) traits related to neuroticism will be less stable than traits related to extraversion. Ss were 460 male volunteers in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, ranging in age from 17 to 85 yrs at the time of 1st testing. Results show uncorrected stability coefficients ranging from .59 to .87. No consistent evidence of lower stability in younger Ss was found, and neurotic and extraverted traits appeared comparably stable when corrected for unreliability. The replicated pattern of consistent stability across age groups and across traits is discussed. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1980 American Psychological Association.

Duke Scholars

Author Paul T. Costa Jr. Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care