Trait Psychology and the Revival of Personality and Culture Studies

Abstract

Personality and culture studies have largely disappeared since the 1960s, but progress in trait psychology makes their revival feasible. A review of evidence on the consensual validity, longitudinal stability, heritability, and structure of personality traits suggests new approaches to old issues. At the transcultural level, claims of universality are addressed. At the intercultural level, associations are sought between mean levels of personality traits and corresponding culture-level variables; cultural institutions may be either causes or effects of personality. At the intracultural level, culture-specific manifestations of universal traits are documented. The new discipline of personality traits and culture draws on multiple methodologies to understand human nature in social context.