MODERATORS OF SELF-OTHER AGREEMENT - RECONSIDERING TEMPORAL STABILITYIN PERSONALITY

Accurate prediction requires information not only about central tenden cies but also about variability. In personality prediction, however, m ost research has focused on trait-level central tendencies. Previously proposed moderators of personality prediction are all conceptually si milar in comparing an individual's central tendency in response patter ns with that of the normative person. This article proposes an alterna tive: Trait-level prediction is enhanced by measuring the temporal sta bility of response patterns within persons. Across 2 studies, individu als with temporally stable response patterns had higher self-other agr eement on conscientiousness and extraversion than did individuals with less temporally stable patterns. By comparison, normatively based var iables (interitem variability, scalability, or construct similarity) d id not moderate self-other agreement. The implications for personality structure, assessment, and prediction are discussed.