Cattell's Hierarchical Structure of Personality

Cattell's Hierarchical Structure of Personality organizes traits from broad to specific levels. At the top are general factors called "primary factors" that influence overall personality, such as stability or openness. These primary factors combine into "second-order" factors, which are broader traits like extraversion or neuroticism. Beneath these are "specific traits" detailing individual behaviors. This hierarchy helps explain how basic personality tendencies shape more specific behaviors and feelings, providing a structured way to understand the complexity of human personality by linking general traits to specific characteristics.