Dynamics of the general factor of personality: A predictor mathematical tool of alcohol misuse

Abstract

[EN] There are few studies developed about the general factor of personality (GFP) dynamics. This paper uses a dynamical mathematical model, the response model, to predict the short-term effects of a dose of alcohol on GFP and reports the results of an alcohol intake experiment. The GFP dynamical mechanism of change is based on the unique trait personality theory (UTPT). This theory proposes the existence of GFP, which occupies the apex of the hierarchy of personality. An experiment with 37 volunteers was performed. All the participants completed The five-adjective scale of the general factor of personality (GFP-FAS) in trait-format (GFP-T) and state-format (GFP-S) before alcohol consumption. The participants in the experimental group (28) received 26.51 g of alcohol and a slight food, while the participants in the control group (9) just received the food. Every participant filled the GFP-S each 7 minutes. The results show that GFP is modified by a single dose of alcohol: both the high scores of GFP-T and the high scores of GFP-S explain the most part of the alcohol impact. Moreover, they prove that the response model calibration to the GFP-S scores reproduces the biphasic GFP dynamics as a consequence of an alcohol dose intake described by the literature. In fact, the results also demonstrate that the response model provides the UTPT prediction: the high scores of GFP-T predict a stronger stimulant-like effect and a stronger inhibitor effect. Thus, the response model is a useful mathematical tool to predict those individuals inclined to the alcohol misuse.