The General Factor of Personality: A meta-analysis of Big Five intercorrelations and a criterion-related validity study

Abstract

Recently, it has been proposed that a General Factor of Personality (GFP) occupies the top of the hierarchical personality structure. We present a meta-analysis (K = 212, total N = 144,117) on the intercorrelations among the Big Five personality factors (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticisrn) to test for the existence of a GFP. In addition, we report a multi-method validity study testing the relationship between the GFP and supervisor-rated job performance. The meta-analysis provided supporting evidence for the two meta-factors Stability and Plasticity (or alpha and beta, respectively) and a GFP at the highest hierarchal level. The validity study indicated that the GFP has a substantive component as it is related to supervisor-rated job performance.