Self-Concept Dimensions Through the Lens of the Alternative Five Personality Factors

Abstract: Studies on the relationship between personality and self-concept often neglect self-concept’s multidimensional nature, leaving the relations between self-concepts’ specific dimensions and personality traits unexplained. To provide a more comprehensive insight into the personality basis of self-concept, this study investigates the relationship between self-concept dimensions from Garcia and Musitu’s model and personality dimensions from Zuckerman’s Alternative Five-Factor Model. The study included 270 high school students, employing correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results showed multiple correlations of self-concept dimensions, mostly positive with extraversion and negative with neuroticism and aggressiveness. Multiple regression analysis showed that neuroticism primarily explained variance in emotional and physical dimensions, extraversion was a notable predictor of social self-concept, aggressiveness emerged as a predictor for family self-concept, and both sensation-seeking and aggressiveness were notable predictors of the work–academic dimension. The findings demonstrate that different dimensions of self-concept exhibit varying degrees of association with specific personality traits, highlighting the need for a multidimensional approach to self-concept in research on its relationship with personality traits.