About the Cattell Second-Order Factors

In addition to interpreting the basic 16 primary traits, several other scores are obtainable from various combinations of primary scales. In general, these are known as composite scores, and they provide interpretive information about important criteria, such as potential for success in a particular occupation, leadership ability, or likelihood for successful treatment outcome (to name a few).

Five of these composite scales have special interpretive meaning. They are called second-order factors and provide information at a broader level of understanding. That is, they explain personality in terms of fewer, more general, traits.

The following chart summarizes the characteristics of the five factors of extraversion, anxiety, tough poise, independence, and superego / control.

Low score direction High score direction

Introversion

The person who scores low (sten of 1 to 3) tends to be shy, self-sufficient, and inhibited in interpersonal contacts. this can be either a favorable or unfavorable finding, depending upon the particular situation in which the person is expected to function; e.g., introversion is a favorable predictor of precision workmanship.
EXTRAVERSION

vs.
Extraversion

The person who scores high (sten of 8 to 10) is a socially outgoing, uninhibited person, good at making and maintaining interpersonal contacts. This can be very favorable in situations that call for that type of temperament, e.g., salesmanship, but should not be considered necessarily favorable as a general predictor, e.g., of scholastic achievement.

Low Anxiety

People who score low on this tend to be those whose lives are generally satisfying, and those who are able to achieve those things that seem to be important. However, an extremely low score can mean lack of motivation for difficult tasks, as generally shown in studies relating anxiety to achievement.
ANXIETY

vs.
High Anxiety

The people who score high on this factor are high in anxiety as it is commonly understood. They need not be neurotic, since anxiety could be situational, but it is probable that there are some maladjustments, i.e., they are dissatisfied with the degree to which they are able to meet the demands of life and to achieve what they desire. Very high anxiety is generally disruptive of performance and productive of physical disturbances.

Emotional Sensitivity

People who score low tend to be strongly influenced by their emotions. They are likely to be gentle people (as in gentlemen), with artistic or cultured interests. Low scorers are sensitive to their own feelings, as well as to the feelings of others. They may, however, be slow to take decisive action, preferring to give a problem much consideration.
TOUGH POISE

vs.
Tough Poise

People who score high are more influenced by the facts than by feelings. They tend to be bold, hard people, decisive and enterprising, but often insensitive to other people. High scorers orient their behavior toward the obvious, rather than to the subtleties of life. Hence, even though they are able to make decisions quickly, they may take action without sufficient thought or consideration.

Subduedness

People who score low are group dependent, chastened, passive personalities. They are likely to desire and need support from other persons, and likely to orient their behavior toward persons who give such support.
INDEPENDENCE

vs.
Independence

People who score high tend to be aggressive, independent, daring, incisive people. They will seek those situations where such behavior is at least tolerated and possibly rewarded, and are likely to exhibit considerable initiative.

Low Control

People who score low typically do not act according to others' values or out of a sense of duty. They tend to be nonconformists who do not hesitate to bend the rules, or who develop their own set of rules whenever it is expedient to do so. These are flexible people, yet because they tend to follow their own impulses, they may not be as self-disciplined as some situations may require. Further, they may be perceived as unreliable at times, because the rules by which they operate may not be clear to others.
SUPEREGO/ CONTROL

vs.
High Control

People who score high typically have strong superego controls; that is they have internalized the rules of the milieu in which they function. Hence, they tend to conform to expectations that others have for them or to expectations they have for themselves. They are quite reliable because they do not "bend the rules"; however, they may be so controlled as to be perceived by others as rigid or moralistic.

About the Cattell

Example Questions

About the First-Order Factors

Cattell Table of Contents

Low score direction		High score direction
Introversion The person who scores low (sten of 1 to 3) tends to be shy, self-sufficient, and inhibited in interpersonal contacts. this can be either a favorable or unfavorable finding, depending upon the particular situation in which the person is expected to function; e.g., introversion is a favorable predictor of precision workmanship.	EXTRAVERSION vs.	Extraversion The person who scores high (sten of 8 to 10) is a socially outgoing, uninhibited person, good at making and maintaining interpersonal contacts. This can be very favorable in situations that call for that type of temperament, e.g., salesmanship, but should not be considered necessarily favorable as a general predictor, e.g., of scholastic achievement.
Low Anxiety People who score low on this tend to be those whose lives are generally satisfying, and those who are able to achieve those things that seem to be important. However, an extremely low score can mean lack of motivation for difficult tasks, as generally shown in studies relating anxiety to achievement.	ANXIETY vs.	High Anxiety The people who score high on this factor are high in anxiety as it is commonly understood. They need not be neurotic, since anxiety could be situational, but it is probable that there are some maladjustments, i.e., they are dissatisfied with the degree to which they are able to meet the demands of life and to achieve what they desire. Very high anxiety is generally disruptive of performance and productive of physical disturbances.
Emotional Sensitivity People who score low tend to be strongly influenced by their emotions. They are likely to be gentle people (as in gentlemen), with artistic or cultured interests. Low scorers are sensitive to their own feelings, as well as to the feelings of others. They may, however, be slow to take decisive action, preferring to give a problem much consideration.	TOUGH POISE vs.	Tough Poise People who score high are more influenced by the facts than by feelings. They tend to be bold, hard people, decisive and enterprising, but often insensitive to other people. High scorers orient their behavior toward the obvious, rather than to the subtleties of life. Hence, even though they are able to make decisions quickly, they may take action without sufficient thought or consideration.
Subduedness People who score low are group dependent, chastened, passive personalities. They are likely to desire and need support from other persons, and likely to orient their behavior toward persons who give such support.	INDEPENDENCE vs.	Independence People who score high tend to be aggressive, independent, daring, incisive people. They will seek those situations where such behavior is at least tolerated and possibly rewarded, and are likely to exhibit considerable initiative.
Low Control People who score low typically do not act according to others' values or out of a sense of duty. They tend to be nonconformists who do not hesitate to bend the rules, or who develop their own set of rules whenever it is expedient to do so. These are flexible people, yet because they tend to follow their own impulses, they may not be as self-disciplined as some situations may require. Further, they may be perceived as unreliable at times, because the rules by which they operate may not be clear to others.	SUPEREGO/ CONTROL vs.	High Control People who score high typically have strong superego controls; that is they have internalized the rules of the milieu in which they function. Hence, they tend to conform to expectations that others have for them or to expectations they have for themselves. They are quite reliable because they do not "bend the rules"; however, they may be so controlled as to be perceived by others as rigid or moralistic.