A factor analytic study of the oral character

Abstract

The rationale and construction of two tests of the oral personality, OOQ, oral optimism, and OPQ, oral pessimism, was described in the context of previous research. Item analyses on 457 subjects, followed by a cross-validating study on 100 subjects produced two face valid personality inventories. These were then factored together with the Dynamic Personality Inventory, the 16 PF test and some other oral scales. The promax rotated factor analysis gave sound support for the validity of the two tests, and hence the existence of two personality syndromes, similar to those described as oral in the psychoanalytic literature.