The 16 Personality Factors: Factor N – Privateness

The next 16PF scale for discussion is the Factor "N" scale, which is Privateness (Private vs. Forthright).  What exactly does this scale measure?

This factor shows how much personal information people are likely to disclose.  As you might imagine, this factor is related to Extraversion, with low scorers on Factor N more likely to be open about personal matters. 

High scorers are those who hold back information and tend to be guarded, mistrustful, or wary.  In some cases, high scorers might place their own privacy above the need to form close personal relationships.  They might be disinterested in or fear such close relationships.  They often report they keep problems to themselves instead of discussing them with friends.  Others might find high scorers difficult to get to know well.

In contrast, low scorers say they readily talk about themselves and their feelings, and can give long answers to personal questions (instead of just the minimum).  They tend to be genuine, forthright, and self-revealing.  Taken too far, they might reveal too much personal information, which can be a disadvantage sometimes.

Factor N is negatively correlated with the Myers-Briggs Feeling scale.  That is, high scorers on Factor N are unlikely to show a preference for Feeling on the Myers-Briggs.

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