Raymond Cattell

(1905-1998)

Raymond Cattell

Noted for: factor analysis of personality; models of the factorial structure of personality and
intelligence; “fluid” versus “crystallized” intelligence; culture-fair intelligence tests.

Raymond Cattell was an influential psychologist who developed new analytic techniques that allowed
for more nuanced empirical measurements of the components of personality and intelligence.

Cattell did his doctoral work at University College London, under the supervision of the renowned
psychologist and statistician, Charles Spearman. After working with E.L. Thorndike at Columbia
University, Cattell joined the Harvard faculty in 1941. His three years at Harvard were particularly
influential to his developing theory of personality because of the concentration of creative colleagues,
including Henry Murray and Gordon Allport, who shared his interest in personality.

While at Harvard Cattell first developed the idea that the new factor-analytic method that Spearman
had pioneered to study cognitive abilities could also be a powerful tool for identifying the components
of personality. This insight eventually yielded his widely referenced theory of personality, which consists
of 16 components, or “base traits.” Cattell also originated the distinction between “fluid intelligence”
(the ability to analyze novel problems) and “crystallized intelligence” (the ability to apply skill and
knowledge to familiar problems), a distinction that still figures prominently in many theories of the
components of intelligence.

Following his highly productive time at Harvard, Cattell continued to research and publish profusely. He
is listed as number 16 on the American Psychological Association’s list of the 100 Most Influential
Psychologists of the 20th century.

The 16 Personality Factors

Later, Raymond Cattell analyzed this list and whittled it down to 171 characteristics, mostly by
eliminating terms that were redundant or uncommon. He was then able to use a statistical technique
known as factor analysis to identify traits that are related to one another. Factor analysis can be used to
look at enormous amounts of data in order to look for trends and to see which elements are the most
influential or important. By using this method, he was able to whittle his list to 16 key personality
factors.
According to Cattell, there is a continuum of personality traits. In other words, each person contains all
of these 16 traits to a certain degree, but they might be high in some traits and low in others. While all
people have some degree of abstractedness, for example, some people might be very imaginative while
others are very practical.

The following personality trait list describes some of the descriptive terms used for each of the 16
personality dimensions described by Cattell.

Abstractedness: Imaginative versus practical

Apprehension: Worried versus confident

Dominance: Forceful versus submissive

Emotional Stability: Calm versus high-strung

Liveliness: Spontaneous versus restrained

Openness to Change: Flexible versus attached to the familiar

Perfectionism: Controlled versus undisciplined

Privateness: Discreet versus open

Reasoning: Abstract versus concrete

Rule-Consciousness: Conforming versus non-conforming

Self-Reliance: Self-sufficient versus dependent

Sensitivity: Tender-hearted versus tough-minded.

Social Boldness: Uninhibited versus shy

Tension: Impatient versus relaxed

Vigilance: Suspicious versus trusting

Warmth: Outgoing versus reserved

The 16PF Personality Questionnaire

Cattell also developed an assessment based on these 16 personality factors. The test is known as the 16
PF Personality Questionnaire and is still frequently used today, especially in career counseling, marital
counseling, and in business for employee testing and selection.

The test is composed of forced-choice questions in which the respondent must choose one of three
different alternatives. Personality traits are then represented by a range and the individual's score falls
somewhere on the continuum between highest and lowest extremes.
The pencil and paper version of the test takes around 35 to 50 minutes to complete, while the computer
version of the questionnaire takes around 30 minutes.

Once complete, the scores can be interpreted using a number of different systems, depending upon why
the test is being used. Some interpretive reports take a clinical approach looking at personality, while
others are more focused on topics such as career selection, teamwork development, and leadership
potential.