A cross-cultural comparison between Spain and the USA: temperament and character distribution by sex and age

Abstract

The Unified Biosocial Theory of Personality developed by Cloninger has been applied in different cultures. Distribution by age and sex of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) dimensions were assessed cross-culturally for samples in Spain and the USA. Three non-clinical samples were included: i) 404 participants from Asturias (Spain); ii) 240 participants from Burgos (Spain); and iii) 300 adults from St. Louis (USA). Each participant was assessed by means of the TCI. A significant negative correlation between NS and both HA (r=-0.329; P<0.01) and P (r=-0.217; P<0.01) was found in the study sample, as well as significant effects of age in NS, HA, RD, and C for women and in NS and HA for men, and also of sex in HA and RD. Personality dimensions for the two Spanish samples appear to be similar (differences in HA4 and RD) compared to those for the US sample (differences in NS, HA, RD and P). Findings support Cloninger's theory about differences between men and women, but not regarding the intercorrelations between temperament dimensions.