Personality Predictors of Behavioral Self-Regulation: Linking behavioral self-regulation to five-factor model factors, facets, and a compound trait

This study examined relationships between a composite of several facet-level traits within the five-factor model (FFM) of personality and outcomes across 3 phases of behavioral self-regulation. The goal of this research was to investigate the potential of the compound trait approach as an alternative to predicting self-regulatory outcomes based on the full FFM, conscientiousness or other FFM factor-level traits, or any individual facet-level trait within the FFM. These relationships were investigated using a sample of 312 participants completing both goal-related questionnaires and a decision task designed to simulate aspects of self-regulated performance within organizations. Consistent with hypotheses, the collection of traits within the composite - assertiveness, activity, achievement striving, deliberation, dutifulness, self-discipline, and ideas - performed as well or better than any single factor or facet of the FFM. The future research and practice implications for goal propensity, a compound trait related to all phases of behavioral self-regulation, are discussed.