Abstract
By means of a linguistic corpus analysis, statements were derived that reflect trait-like characteristics of playful adults.
These were given to a sample of 240 adults who also completed two measures of adult playfulness. Using Goldberg’s (J Res Pers
40:347–358, 2006) top-down approach, the hierarchical factor structure of playfulness in this data set was examined. A solution with seven
factors fits the data well and could be clearly interpreted. The retrieved factors were (1) cheerful-engaged; (2) whimsical;
(3) impulsive; (4) intellectual-charming; (5) imaginative; (6) lighthearted; and (7) kind-loving. The two playfulness measures
did not cover all of these dimensions. The intellectual-charming and the kind-loving variants of playfulness were less well
represented in these instruments. The study contributes to the basic question of what factors underlie playfulness and suggests
that there are aspects of adult playfulness that were hitherto less well described.
These were given to a sample of 240 adults who also completed two measures of adult playfulness. Using Goldberg’s (J Res Pers
40:347–358, 2006) top-down approach, the hierarchical factor structure of playfulness in this data set was examined. A solution with seven
factors fits the data well and could be clearly interpreted. The retrieved factors were (1) cheerful-engaged; (2) whimsical;
(3) impulsive; (4) intellectual-charming; (5) imaginative; (6) lighthearted; and (7) kind-loving. The two playfulness measures
did not cover all of these dimensions. The intellectual-charming and the kind-loving variants of playfulness were less well
represented in these instruments. The study contributes to the basic question of what factors underlie playfulness and suggests
that there are aspects of adult playfulness that were hitherto less well described.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10804-012-9141-7
- Authors
- René T. Proyer, Section on Personality and Assessment, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/Box 7, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
- Journal Journal of Adult Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3440
- Print ISSN 1068-0667