Abstract

The general factor of personality (GFP) has been construed as a life history trait and as representing social effectiveness. In either case, differential-K theory would predict that levels of the GFP are highest in Asians, intermediate in Caucasians, and lowest in Blacks. In studies 1–5, I present evidence for the opposite ranking such that Blacks are highest, Caucasians intermediate, and Asians lowest. In study 5, I also show that this finding is not fully explained by differences in self-esteem. In study 6 I show that the disconnect between the GFP and life history strategies when analyzed at the level of ethnic groups cannot be unambiguously resolved by observing patterns of covariation among lower-order personality traits. I argue that—similar to the relationship between the general factor of intelligence and life history strategies—within-group individual differences in the GFP do not necessarily result from the same processes as between-group differences.