Divergent/Discriminant
Negative correlations were found between Novelty Seeking and Agreeableness ( 2.24), and with
Conscientiousness ( 2.39) ( Aluja & Blanch, 2011 ).
Construct/Factor Analytic
TCI-R principal components analyses were conducted with promax oblique rotation in a two step procedure:
(a) using the 16 facets of Temperament; and (b) using the three Character dimensions. Four Temperament factors
were extracted in accordance with the ‘eigenvalue greater than one’ criteria, explaining 61.61% of the total vari-
ance (F-I: 23.47%; F-II: 16.05%; F-III: 14.54%; F-IV: 7.55%). The same procedure was replicated for the age groups
with similar results. Total congruence coefficients ranged between 0.76 and 1 for facets, and 0.92 and 0.95 for fac-
torial matrices. Besides, PCA analyses with the Character facets were performed for the full sample and age
groups with Promax rotations and ‘ eigenvalue one ’ criteria. We extracted three factors that accounted to 59.88% of
the total variance (F-I: 32.07%; F-II: 16.84%; F-III: 10.97%) (Aluja et al., 2010).
A principal components analysis with varimax rotation was performed on the intercorrelations of the TCI-R,
NEO-FFI-R (O: Openness, C: Conscientiousness, E: Extraversion, A: Agreeableness and N: Neuroticism) and
ZKPQ-50-CC scales. A 5-component solution with total variance of 72% was derived ( Aluja et al, 2011 ). The first
component (Aggression/Agreeableness) largely consisted of A, CO and Agg-Host, with secondary loadings
on C, NS, ImpSS, SD, and RD from the other factors. The second component (Neuroticism) was constituted by
N, N-Anx, and HA, with a secondary loading on SD. The third component (Extraversion) was primarily defined
by Sy, E, and RD with secondary loadings on ImpSS and NS. The fourth component (Persistence/Activity/
Conscientiousness) was defined by PS, Act, and C. whereas the fifth component (Openness/Self-Transcendence)
consisted of O and ST ( Aluja et al., 2011 ). Using Spanish samples, Aluja and Blanch (2011) carried out a principal
components analysis with varimax rotation of the TCI-R, ZKPQ-50-CC and NEO-FFI-R in a Spanish sample of
928 voluntary university students. The first component included Sy, Extraversion E, RD, ImpSS and NS showing
good convergent validity for Novelty Seeking scales and ImpSS scales but a lack of discriminant validity between
them and extraversion scales.
Criterion/Predictive
Novelty Seeking was significantly predictive of frequency of drinking and problem drinking ( Galen, Henderson, &
Whitman, 1997 ).
Location
Aluja, A. & Blanch, A (2011). The five and seven factor personality models: Differences and similitudes
between the TCI-R, NEO-FFI-R and ZKPQ-50-CC. Spanish Journal of Psychology, 14 , 659/C0666.
Cloninger C.R., Svrakic D.M., Bayo ´n, C., & Przybeck T.R. (1999). Measurement of psychopathology as variants
of personality. In C.R. Cloninger, D.M. Svrakic, C. Bayo ´n, & T.R. Przybeck (Eds.), Personality and psychopathology .
Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
Hansenne, M., Delhez, M., & Cloninger, C.R. (2005) . Psychometric properties of the Temperament and
Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in a Belgian sample. Journal of Personality Assessment, 85 ,4 0/C049.
Results and Comments
Novelty Seeking test scores in a group of 124 unrelated Israeli subjects are significantly associated with a par-
ticular exon polymorphism, the 7-repeat allele in the locus for the D4 dopamine receptor gene (D4DR) although
replications are not consistently successful. The association of high Novelty Seeking and the 7-repeat allele was
independent of ethnicity, sex or age of the subjects ( Ebstein et al., 1996 ).
NSS SAMPLE ITEMS
Directions: In this questionnaire you will find state-
ments that people might use to describe their attitudes,
opinions, interests and other personal feelings. For each
of the following questions, please circle the numberthat best describes the way you usually or generally act
or feel.
15Definitely false. 2 5Most or probably false.
35Neither true nor false, or about equally true373 OTHER SENSATION SEEKING SCALES
III. EMOTION REGULATION