Recent overview of lexical studies of personality terms in Japan

要旨

The Big Five, originating from English lexical studies, is widely used as a framework for personality in Japan. In contrast, the results of Japanese lexical studies are not widely applied as a framework for Japanese personality, despite the fact that such research has been conducted since the 1950s. This study briefly reviews the history of Japanese lexical studies and focuses on two studies conducted in the early 2000s. These studies were contrasting in that one study focused on replicating the Big Five, while the other also examined Japanese unique personality structure. Reflecting on the five-factor and eleven-factor solutions reported in both studies, the factor content is interpreted in light of lexical studies’ findings in other countries. Finally, future issues for lexical research in Japan are discussed.

主題