An Examination of Millon's Dimensional and Stylistic Descriptions of Normal Personality

Abstract

Millon's new dimensional conceptualization of personality, as measured by the Millon index of Personality Styles (MIPS; Millon, 1994), was linked to his traditional taxonomy of normal personality styles as assessed by the Personality Adjective Check List (PACL: Strack, 1987, 1991b). Participants were. 61 male and 87 female. college students (N=148). At the bivariate level, PACL scales were most strongly associated with MIPS interpersonal behavior scales and least associated with MIPS cognitive-style scales. Similar PACL and MIPS interpersonal style measures were correlated highest with each other in 6 of 8 comparisons, whereas PACL personalities were reliably associated with MIPS measures of Millon's 3 basic axes. A factor analysis of combined scales yielded 4 principal components that accounted for 70% of the variance. The first 3 of these linked PACL scales in a predictable manner with all 3 MIPS measurement domains. A 4th factor, which loaded only MIPS scales, appeared to measure an artistic personality style. Results indicated that the MIPS retains Millon's original stylistic descriptions of normal personality while providing unique measures of his 3 bipolar axes and 8 Jungian cognitive styles (Jung, 1936/1971).