Authors

• Pulkkinen, Lea (University of Jyväskylä. Department of Psychology)
• Kinnunen, Marja-Liisa (University of Jyväskylä. Department of Psychology)
• Kokko, Katja (University of Jyväskylä. Department of Psychology)

Keywords

personal identity, personality development, personality traits, psychological tests, temperament, values

Abstract

This Finnish study has continued to follow the same individuals for over 40 years. At this research wave the subjects were 50 years old. Data were collected using an interview, self-ratings based on various tests and methods, a Life Situation Questionnaire, a life history calendar, a medical examination, and laboratory tests. This dataset contains three personality tests which were given to the participants in connection with the interview to be completed at home.

The first personality test, the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), contains 135 questions, and measures impulsiveness, anxiety, aggressiveness and social adaptation. The respondents' habits, opinions and feelings connected to different situations were tested.

The second test, the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI), contains 60 of the original 181 questions and measures extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience.

The third test, Schwartz's Value Survey, measures the importance respondents place on values. The respondents were requested to rate values (such as freedom, authority and self-discipline) and behaviour/courses of action (e.g. honest, loyal, helpful, respecting elders) on a 9-point scale. They were asked to mark what values and behaviour/courses of action were the most important to them, what they opposed, what were the least important etc.

Background variable used: the respondent's gender.