Interactions between intelligence and personality: results from two large samples

Police applicants (N = 15,332) and felons (N = 15,460) completed the Cattel l 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire, the paychopathology scales of the Cl inical Analysis Questionnaire, and the Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CFIT ). The correlation between the two ability tests (Cattell Scale B and CFIT) was found to increase with level of neuroticism. Examination of the second order factor structure of the psychopathology scales showed the existence of Depression and Impulsivity components. The variance of the Depression co mponent falls with ability level. Alternative interpretations of this resul t in terms of personality differentiation with ability, changes in degree o f item comprehension with ability and possible contributions of faking are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.