Eysenck Personality Questionnaire

What is the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire?

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) is a tool used to assess an individual's personality traits. It was developed by psychologists Hans Jürgen Eysenck and Sybil B. G. Eysenck. Eysenck's theory primarily focuses on physiology and genetics.

While Eysenck acknowledged the significance of learned behaviors, he believed that genetic inheritance plays a crucial role in determining personality differences (1982), making temperament his primary area of interest. Although Eysenck's theory is rooted in temperament, he did not entirely dismiss the idea that certain aspects of personality could be learned.

Eysenck's model of personality consists of three key dimensions: E for extraversion/introversion, N for neuroticism/stability, and P for psychoticism/socialization.

Extraversion involves being outgoing and needing external stimulation, while introverts require peace to perform optimally. Neuroticism relates to high levels of negative emotions like anxiety, with neurotic individuals having low activation thresholds, whereas emotionally stable people maintain calm under stress. Psychoticism is linked to traits like aggression and non-conformity, with testosterone levels influencing this dimension. A fourth scale, L, measures social desirability but lacks the same theoretical grounding as the others (Barrett et al., 1998).

The EPQ has several versions, including the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-revised (EPQ-R). This form contains 100 questions answered by yes or no with 48 items called EPQR-A or Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-revised abbreviated. The EPQR-A is an abbreviated version consisting of 24 items designed for quicker assessments.

How to use our Eysenck Personality Questionnaire template

Carepatron's Eysenck Personality Questionnaire includes the EPQ-R version of the original assessment. It also includes fields for your patient's information, scores, and details on how to interpret the results. Follow these steps to use the template:

Step 1: Download the EPQ-R template

Click "Use Template" to get a copy via the Carepatron app. You can also click "Download" to get a PDF version of the questionnaire.

Step 2: Add patient information

Fill in your patient's name, age, and other relevant details in the designated fields. This ensures that the results are specific to this individual and can be easily compared for future assessments.

Step 3: Have your patient complete the questionnaire

Provide your patient with a copy of the EPQ-R assessment and have them answer each question truthfully. Remind them that there are no right or wrong answers and that their responses will help provide valuable insights into their personality.

Step 4: Score the questionnaire

Once your patient has completed the assessment, use the scoring guide provided in the template to calculate their scores. You can also use the details about interpreting scores to better understand your patient's results.

Scoring and interpretation

The EPQ-R measures four key personality dimensions: extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, and lie scale:

P items

Psychoticism (P) items include responses categorized as "Yes" with numbers 25, 29, 30, 34, 37, 42, 48, 50, 56, 73, 75, 91, and 95, and those marked as "No" with numbers 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 18, 21, 41, 54, 59, 64, 68, 79, 81, 85, 88, 96, and 99.

High scores in psychoticism are associated with traits such as aggressiveness, insensitivity, and limited empathy, whereas low scores indicate a more compassionate and understanding personality.

E items

Extraversion (E) Items include responses marked as "Yes" to questions 1, 6, 11, 16, 20, 28, 36, 40, 45, 51, 55, 58, 61, 63, 67, 69, 72, 78, 90, and 94, while responses marked as "No" correspond to questions 24, 33, and 47.

High scores suggest a sociable, impulsive nature with a preference for social interactions, whereas low scores indicate introversion, characterized by a preference for solitude and a more reserved demeanor.

N items

Neuroticism (N) items include responses from participants, with "Yes" responses recorded for items 3, 8, 13, 17, 22, 26, 31, 35, 38, 43, 46, 52, 60, 65, 70, 74, 76, 80, 83, 84, 87, 92, 97, and 100, while there are no "No" responses.

High neuroticism scores reflect emotional instability, anxiety, and a tendency to experience negative emotions, whereas low scores indicate greater emotional stability and resilience.

L items

The lie scale items include responses categorized as "Yes" (15, 23, 39, 62, 86, 98) and "No" (4, 10, 19, 27, 32, 44, 49, 53, 57, 66, 71, 77, 82, 89, 93).

A high score on the lie scale indicates a tendency to present oneself in a favorable light, which can impact the reliability of the other scores.

Next steps after using the EPQ-R

After administering the EPQ-R, medical professionals should follow several crucial steps to interpret and utilize the results effectively.

First, analyze the scores obtained from the EPQ-R to understand the personality dimensions of the individual. The EPQ assesses traits based on Eysenck's theory, which highlights key dimensions such as neuroticism, extraversion, and psychoticism.

Begin by reviewing the personality traits measured by the EPQ-R, which include extraversion versus introversion and neuroticism. Understanding these traits will help in interpreting the individual's responses in the context of Eysenck's personality inventory. It’s essential to consider these scores in light of factor analysis studies, which have shown how these personality dimensions correlate with various psychological outcomes.

Discuss the results with the patient, ensuring they feel comfortable and are encouraged to be totally honest in their responses. This honest dialogue will help accurately reflect their personality characteristics. For individuals identified as nervous or showing high levels of neuroticism, explore underlying causes and consider appropriate interventions or therapies.

Use the insights gained from the EPQ to inform treatment planning. Incorporate these findings into a broader understanding of the patient's personality domain and how it might impact their behavior and emotional well-being. This can guide personalized treatment strategies and improve therapeutic outcomes.

References

Barrett, P. T., Petrides, K. V., Eysenck, S. B. G., & Eysenck, H. J. (1998). The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire: An examination of the factorial similarity of P, E, N, and L across 34 countries. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(5), 805–819. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0191-8869(98)00026-9

Eysenck, S. B., & Chan, J. (1982). A comparative study of personality in adults and children: Hong Kong vs England. Personality and Individual Differences, 3(2), 153–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(82)90029-0