Free-response self-discrepancies across, among, and within FFM personalitydimensions

An approach for personality-based self-discrepancy (PBSD) measurement is pr oposed, whereby self-beliefs and incongruities among their contents are ass essed with respect to five-factor model (FFM) semantic dimensions. Selves Q uestionnaire attributes from 191 college students were coded against L. R. Goldberg's (1990) FFM factor analysis to construct personality scores for a ctual, ideal, and ought self domains, as well as several PBSD indices. Mult ivariate analyses were conducted to test self-discrepancy and personality s tructure hypotheses, and to demonstrate this strategy's operational flexibi lity. Profile analyses indicated that empirical self-discrepancies depend u pon whether and how personality structure is incorporated. Methodological a lterations influenced self-discrepancy findings negligibly. Initial evidenc e for PBSD construct validity and predictive specificity is presented, and the approach's implications, advantages, and extensions are discussed.