creators_name: Budaev, Sergey
type: preprint
datestamp: 2007-04-04
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:56:49
metadata_visibility: show
title: The dimensions of personality in humans and other animals: A comparative and evolutionary perspective
subjects: comp-psy
subjects: evol-psy
subjects: behav-neuro-sci
subjects: bio-ani-behav
full_text_status: public
keywords: animal personality, animal temperament, evolution, function
abstract: This paper considers the structure and proximate mechanisms of personality in humans and other animals. Significant similarities were found between personality structures and mechanisms across species in at least two broad traits: Extraversion and Neuroticism. The factor space tapped by these personality dimensions is viewed as a general integrative framework for comparative and evolutionary studies of personality in humans and other animals. Most probably, the cross-species similarities between the most broad personality dimensions like Extraversion and Neuroticism as well as other Big Five factors reflect conservative evolution: constrains on evolution imposed by physiological, genetic and cognitive mechanisms. Lower-order factors, which are more species- and situation-specific, would be adaptive, reflecting correlated selection on and trade-offs between many traits.
date: 2000-08
date_type: published
refereed: TRUE
citation:   Budaev, Dr. Sergey  (2000) The dimensions of personality in humans and other animals: A comparative and evolutionary perspective.  [Preprint]     
document_url: http://cogprints.org/5475/1/budaev-2000-personality-manuscript-3.0b.pdf