Abstract

There is growing evidence to support the use of dimensional models for the classification of personality disorders (PDs). The Five Factor Model (FFM) is one such model that has been proposed as a unifying system for both normal and abnormal personality description; however, the Openness to Experience (OE) domain remains problematic. Some studies fail to replicate the domain when taking into account PD pathology, while others find inconsistent results regarding schizotypal personality disorder (SZPD). These inconsistencies have led some authors to suggest that the OE domain may not be useful in describing PD pathology. The following studies examine a two-aspect structure of OE as one possible explanation for the previously inconsistent findings. It is suggested that OE can be decomposed into two distinct yet correlated aspects. There is evidence to suggest that OE relates to both a willingness, and capacity to be open to sensory awareness and subtle cues from the environment on the one hand, and the capacity to organize and integrate that information on the other hand. The current series of studies propose that inconsistent findings between OE and SZPD are the result of the facets of OE grouping together into two separate but related aspects. As such, the Openness Aspect (OA) is hypothesized to relate in a positive manner to SZPD, while the Intellect Aspect (IA) is hypothesized to relate in a negative manner to SZPD. This hypothesis was tested in both student and clinical samples using multiple regression analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. As predicted, results revealed consistent and unique associations for each aspect with SZPD, regardless of sample. Taken together, the studies described add to growing evidence that the FFM is a useful dimensional model for the integration of normal and abnormal personality description. Moreover, the findings presented here highlight the importance of considering multiple levels of personality structure, in that both facet and aspect level analysis revealed associations that domains were unable to capture.