The 16PF® – The 16 Personality Factors: Factor E – Dominant vs. Deferential

The next 16PF scale for discussion is the Factor "E" scale, which is Dominance.  What exactly does this scale measure?

This scale shows how much you want to exert your will over others or how much you are willing to accommodate their desires.  This factor is really about dominance and not just assertiveness.  The difference is assertive people try to protect their wishes and rights, or set boundaries of acceptable behavior, dominance means trying to make other people do what you want. 

If you score on this scale, you simply be assertive, although most high scorers tend to forceful, pushy about getting what they want, and easily give their opinion or state their wishes, even when no one asks.  High scorers tend to be critical of others and can easily give directions to people.

Low scorers, in contrast, tend to be people who give in to the demands of others.  Many times the motivation is a desire to avoid conflict.  These people tend be rather cooperative.  They often report if people do things they disagree with, they simply ignore it.

Factor E is the most important factor in the Independence global factor.  The reason is independent people tend to be forcefully self-determined and attempt to influence others.

As with all the 16PF scales, major insights come from the interactions among the 16 scales, and not from each scale in isolation.