16PF SCALE DESCRIPTIONS

Facto Scale Low Scorer High Scorer

r
A Warmth Reserved, Impersonal, Distant (tend to be Warm, Outgoing, Attentive to Others (they
more cautious in involvement and tend to have more interest in people and to
attachments; they tend to like working alone prefer occupations dealing with people; tend
to be comfortable in situations that call for
closeness with other people)
B Reasoning * Concrete (tend to choose a higher number of Abstract (high scorers tend to solve more of
incorrect answers) the reasoning problems correctly
C Emotional Reactive, Emotionally Changeable (feel a Emotionally Stable, Adaptive, Mature (tends
Stability certain lack of control over life; they to take life in stride and to manage events
tend to react to life in a negative way) and emotions in a balanced, adaptive way.
E Dominance Deferential, Cooperative, Avoids Conflict (tend Dominant, Forceful, Assertive (have the
to avoid conflict by submitting to the wishes of tendency to exert ones will over others; they
others; they are self-effacing and willing to set tend to be forceful, vocal in expressing their
aside their wishes and feelings) wishes and opinions even when not invited to
do so; also pushy about obtaining what they
want)
F Liveliness Serious, Restrained, Careful (tends to take life Lively, Animated, Spontaneous (they are
more seriously, they are quieter, more enthusiastic, spontaneous and attention
cautious and less playful. While they may be seeking; they are lively and drawn to
regarded as mature, they may not be stimulating social situations; Extreme scores
perceived as fun or entertaining) may reflect a flighty quality that is seen as
unreliable or immature)
G Rule- Expedient or Practical, Nonconforming (tend Rule-Conscious, Dutiful (tend to perceive
Consciousnes to avoid rules and regulations, doing so either themselves as strict followers of rules,
s because they have a poorly developed sense principles and manners; usually emphasize
of right and wrong; might have difficulty in the importance of conformance to
conforming to strict rules and regulations regulations, depicting themselves as rule-
bound, conscientious and persevering)
H Social Shy, Threat-Sensitive, Timid (tend to be Socially Bold, Venturesome, Thick-Skinned
Boldness socially timid, cautious and shy; they find (they tend to initiate social contacts and
speaking in front of a group to be a difficult arent shy in the face of new social settings;
experience; it may also indicate to some as very high score may show an element of
lack of self-esteem) need for self-exhibition)
I Sensitivity Utilitarian, Objective, Unsentimental (tends to Sensitive, Aesthetic, Sentimental (tend to
base judgments in a practical manner; they base judgments on personal tastes and visual
usually attend more to how things operate values; they likely to rely on empathy and
and work) sensitivity in their considerations)
L Vigilance Trusting, Unsuspecting, Accepting (tends to Vigilant, suspicious, Skeptical, Wary (they
 expect fair treatment, loyalty and good expect to be misunderstood or taken
intentions from others; they usually relate well
advantage of, and they experience
with others and generally have satisfactory
themselves as separate from other people; at
relationships) the extreme, their mistrust may have an
aspect of animosity or hostility)
M Abstractedne Grounded, Practical, Solution-Oriented (they Abstracted, Imaginative, Idea-Oriented (they
ss are grounded people and focus more on the are occupied with thinking, imagination and
environment and its demands. Although low fantasy and they often get lost in thought;
scorers may think in a practical and down to often leads to a idea-generation and
earth manner, they may not be able to somehow related to creativity)
generate possible solutions to problems.
N Privateness Forthright, Genuine, Artless (tend to talk about Private, Discreet, Non-Disclosing (tend to be
themselves readily; they are genuine, self- personally guarded
revealing and forthright)
O Apprehension Self-Assured, Unworried, Complacent (tend to Apprehensive, Self-Doubting, Worried (tend to
be more self-assured, neither prone to worry about things and to feel apprehensive
apprehensiveness nor troubled about their and insecure)
sense of adequacy; they present themselves
as confident and self-satisfied)
Q1 Openness to Traditional, Attached to Familiar (tend to prefer Open to change, Experimenting(tend to think
Change traditional ways of looking at things; they of ways to improve things and to enjoy
dont question the way things are done; they experimenting)
prefer life to be predictable and familiar even
if life is not ideal)
Q2 Self-Reliance Group-Oriented, Affiliative (they prefer to be Self - Reliant, Solitary, Individualistic (they
around people and like to do things with enjoy time alone and prefer to make
others) decisions for themselves)

Q3 Perfectionism Tolerate Disorder, Unexacting, Flexible (they Perfectionist, Organized, Self-Disciplined

tend to leave more things to chance and tend (want to do things right; they tend to be
to be more comfortable in a disorganized organized, to keep things in their proper
setting) places and to plan ahead)

Q4 Tension Relaxed, Placid, Patient (they are patient and Tense, High Energy, Impatient, Driven (tend
slow to become frustrated; however, they may to have a restless energy and to be fidgety
be disinclined to change or push themselves when made to wait; can be perceived as
for the better) easily irritated)

*This factor is described as a brief measure of reasoning and intelligence, though it is not a personality trait, it is included in the test because cognitive style
moderates the expression of many personality traits.