Modularity of the Personality Network

The Five Factor Model (FFM) is the most widely used personality model; it proposes a hierarchical structure of personality with personality characteristics, facets, and factors. An increasing number of studies have challenged the FFM and a plethora of factor models with varying numbers of facets and factors have been proposed, leading to uncertainties about the structure of personality. The networked system of interactions between personality characteristics has stimulated promising progresses, however, the methodological developments needed to map the topological structure and functional organization remain scarce. This study aims to explore the hierarchical modular structure of the personality network and the functional role of personality characteristics. A sample of 345,780 individuals (M-age = 24.99, SDage = 10.00; 59.18% female) that completed the International Personality Item Pool - NEO-120 in a previous study was reanalyzed. A non-regularized method was used to estimate the personality network and ModuLand was used to characterize its modular structure. Results revealed a modular structure comprising three levels: one level with the 120 personality characteristics, a second level with 35 modules, and a third with 9 modules. Such results suggest that specific personality characteristics and modules have specialized roles in the topological structure of the personality network.