Description

The California Psychological Inventory (CPI) is a psychological toolkit that assesses various aspects of interpersonal behavior and adult personality. Originally designed by Harrison G. Gough in 1956, the CPI aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive picture of adult personality, examining traits that predict and explain their behavior.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the CPI is to evaluate personality and human behavior in a way that is useful in clinical psychology, counseling, education, and professional development. It is used to help understand and interpret individual differences in personality and to offer guidance for personal and professional growth.

Analysis

The CPI consists of 434 questions that cover 20 dimensions of personality, which are grouped into four broader domains: interpersonal behavior, value systems, intellectual attitudes, and behavioral style. These scales represent psychological characteristics that are critical for interpersonal and social functioning.

Scoring

Scoring of the CPI involves evaluating responses to the questions in each scale, with the final score of each scale indicating the level at which the individual exhibits the corresponding psychological characteristics.

References

Gough, H. G. (1957). Manual for the California Psychological Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Gough, H. G. & Bradley, P. (1996). CPI manual (3rd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Gough, H. G. & Heilbrun, A. B. (1983). The Adjective Check List Manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.