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This study compares two self-report instruments-the Dutch version of Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Questionnaire on Personality Traits (VKP)-in a Dutch sample of 148 people in a healthy population. The aims of this study are to create a norm group for the Dutch TCI, to investigate the psychometric properties of the TCI, and to examine the relationship between temperament, character (as measured by the TCI), and personality disorders (as measured by the VKP). The Dutch TCI has a good internal consistency. Some scales do intercorrelate. Seven factors can be identified with principal components analysis. T-tests show differences between the mean score of this Dutch population and Cloninger's community sample. According to the results of correlations and multiple regression of the TCI and the VKP, the self-directedness scale can predict the presence or absence of a personality disorder. Other scales might predict the type of personality disorder. It is concluded that the TCI can be a useful aid in the assessment of personality disorders.
A new model of personality was proposed in a biosocial theory developed by Cloninger. Cloninger first concentrated on temperament and developed a model with three dimensions: novelty seeking, harm avoidance, and reward dependence. The Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) was developed to measure these three dimensions (Cloninger, Przybeck, Svrakic, & Wetzel, 1994). Based on the results of subsequent studies, Cloninger extended his model into a Seven Factor Model of personality and developed a new questionnaire-the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI).
The Seven Factor Model contains four temperament dimensions: the three previous dimensions plus persistence, and three character dimensions-self-directedness. cooperativeness, and self-transcendence (Cloninger, Svrakic, & Przybeck, 1993). The four temperament dimensions are assumed to be genetically independent. Novelty seeking is a hereditary tendency to exploratory activity in response to novelty impulsive decision making, extravagance in approach to cues of reward and quick loss of temper and active avoidance of frustration. Harm avoidance is a hereditary tendency to inhibition or cessation of behavior, such as pessimistic worry in anticipation of future problems, passive avoidant behaviors such as fear of uncertainty and shyness of strangers, and rapid fatigue. Reward dependence is an hereditary tendency manifested in sentimentality, social attachment, and dependence on the approval of others. Persistence is a hereditary tendency to...