Niche diversity can explain cross-cultural differences in personality structure

Paul E. Smaldino (), Aaron Lukaszewski, Christopher Rueden and Michael Gurven ()
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Paul E. Smaldino: University of California
Aaron Lukaszewski: California State University
Christopher Rueden: University of Richmond
Michael Gurven: University of California

Nature Human Behaviour, 2019, vol. 3, issue 12, 1276-1283

Abstract: Abstract The covariance structure of personality traits derived from statistical models (for example, Big Five) is often assumed to be a human universal. Cross-cultural studies have challenged this view, finding that less-complex societies exhibit stronger covariation among behavioural characteristics, resulting in fewer derived personality factors. To explain these results, we propose the niche diversity hypothesis, in which a greater diversity of social and ecological niches elicits a broader range of multivariate behavioural profiles and, hence, lower trait covariance in a population. We formalize this as a computational model, which reproduces empirical results from recent cross-cultural studies and also yields an additional prediction for which we find empirical support. This work provides a general explanation for population differences in personality structure in both humans and other animals and suggests a substantial reimagining of personality research: instead of reifying statistical descriptions of manifest personality structures, research should focus more on modelling their underlying causes.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0730-3

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