Personality as an emerging dynamic structure: development of a new measure of personality determinants

The present dissertation aimed to advance personality assessment by developing and validating a new measure conceptualising traits as a function of socio-cognitive determinants. Moving beyond static trait models, this framework integrates dispositional and socio-cognitive perspectives, conceiving personality as dynamically structured through proximal motivational, normative, and self-regulatory processes. To this end, the Personality Determinants Battery (PDB) was developed and validated across five complementary aims. First, a set of socio-cognitive determinants potentially shaping personality traits was identified and theoretically grounded (Study 1). Second, these determinants were operationalised into a comprehensive self-report inventory—the PDB—through item development, expert review, and pilot testing (Study 2). Third, the PDB was validated by examining its psychometric properties, including dimensionality, reliability, and convergent validity (Study 3). Fourth, analyses assessed the specific contribution of each determinant in relation to HEXACO personality traits and explored cross-trait effects, thereby broadening the understanding of associations across personality dimensions (Study 4). Fifth, the temporal stability of the PDB was examined, and its predictive power with respect to trait-specific behavioural criteria was investigated (Study 5). Concerning the results, Study 1 led to the identification of seven socio-cognitive determinants—experiential and instrumental attitudes, descriptive and injunctive norms, perceived self-efficacy, perceived trait autonomy, and habit—that align with functionalist perspectives and the Reasoned Action Approach. Study 2 confirmed the feasibility and clarity of the newly developed PDB through expert review and pilot testing. Study 3 demonstrated that most trait × determinant subscales exhibited predominantly unidimensional structures and adequate reliability, with targeted refinements (particularly for Emotionality and Openness) enhancing internal coherence; convergent and discriminant validity were supported through associations with established personality measures. Study 4 showed that self-efficacy and habit consistently emerged as strong contributors across traits, while experiential attitudes provided more selective but theoretically consistent influences, particularly for Honesty–Humility and Openness; norms and autonomy played a more limited role but offered valuable insights into contextual and self-regulatory processes. Study 5 confirmed the temporal stability of the PDB over time and provided evidence of its predictive validity with respect to trait-specific behavioural outcomes. Determinants showed meaningful longitudinal associations with corresponding behaviours, supporting the incremental contribution of socio-cognitive processes beyond static trait scores. Taken together, these findings establish the PDB as a theoretically grounded and empirically validated instrument that advances personality assessment by systematically incorporating socio-cognitive determinants into trait measurement.