A closer look at the Test of Personal Intelligence (TOPI)

Personal intelligence involves the capacity to reason about personality and personality-related information. Studying ability-based measures of personal intelligence creates a virtuous cycle of better measurement and better theoretical understanding. In Study 1 (N = 10,318), we conduct an item-level analysis of the Test of Personal Intelligence (TOPI) to explore people's problem-solving abilities in the area. Personal intelligence divided into a Consistency-Congruency factor that concerned understanding traits and their associated behaviors, and a Dynamic-Analytic factor that involved understanding personality processes and goals. The finding cross-validated in Study 2 (N = 8,459). In Study 3 (N = 384), we examined correlates of the two factors. Understanding the abilities involved in personal intelligence may help us to educate people about how to better solve problems about personality.