Epidemiological personology: the unifying role of personality in population-based research on problem behaviors

J Pers. 2000 Dec;68(6):967-98. doi: 10.1111/1467-6494.00123.

Abstract

Epidemiological personology refers to a paradigm in which a developmental perspective on individual differences is paired with a population-based sampling frame to yield insights about the role of personality in consequential social outcomes. We review our work in epidemiological personology, linking personality to diverse, problematic social outcomes: Mental disorders, health-risk behaviors, and violence. We conclude that broad-band personality measurement is both feasible and fruitful in large-scale research on problem behaviors, and we call for increased collaboration between personality psychologists and researchers in fields such as public health, epidemiology, and sociology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Personality Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Risk-Taking
  • Violence / psychology
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data