Evaluating Five Factor Theory and social investment perspectives on personality trait development

Abstract

In this paper, we evaluate the Five Factor Theory (FFT; McCrae & Costa, 1999) and Social Investment (Helson et al., 2002, Roberts and Wood, in press) explanations of normative personality trait development in adulthood. FFT theory proposes that personality trait development is largely a genetic phenomenon, whereas the Social Investment theory proposes that it is largely the result of experiences in universal social roles in young adulthood. A review of cross-cultural, longitudinal, and behavior genetics studies reveals little support for the FFT position and provisional support for the Social Investment theory.