Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The K-factor, Covitality, and personality

A Psychometric Test of Life History Theory

  • Published:
Human Nature Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We present a psychometric test of life history theory as applied to human individual differences using MIDUS survey data (Brim et al. 2000). Twenty scales measuring cognitive and behavioral dimensions theoretically related to life history strategy were constructed using items from the MIDUS survey. These scales were used to construct a single common factor, the K-factor, which accounted for 70% of the reliable variance. The scales used included measures of personal, familial, and social function. A second common factor, Covitality, was constructed from scales for physical and mental health. Finally, a single general factor, Personality, was constructed from scales for the “Big Five” factors of personality. The K-factor, covitality factor, and general personality factor correlated significantly with each other, supporting the prediction that high K predicts high somatic effort and also manifests in behavioral display. Thus, a single higher-order common factor, the Super-K factor, was constructed that consisted of the K-factor, covitality factor, and personality factor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arrow, K., S. Bowles, and S. Durlauf 2000Meritocracy and Economic Inequality. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J. 2000 Conditional and Alternative Reproductive Strategies: Individual Differences in Susceptibility to Rearing Experiences. InGenetic Influences on Human Fertility and Sexuality, J. L. Rodgers, D. C. Rowe, and W. B. Miller, eds. Pp. 127–146 Boston: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., L. Steinberg, and P. Draper 1991 Childhood Experience, Interpersonal Development, and Reproductive Strategy: An Evolutionary Theory of Socialization.Child Development 62:647–670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, R., S. J. D. Renwick, J. P. Donnelly, and C. Logan 2004 Big Five or Big Two? Superordinate Factors in the NEO Five Factor Inventory and the Antisocial Personality Questionnaire.Personality and Individual Differences 37:957–970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brim, O. G., P. B. Baltes, L. L. Bumpass, P. D. Cleary, D. L. Featherman, W. R. Hazzard, R. C. Kessler, M. E. Lachman, H. R. Markus, M. G. Marmot, A. S. Rossi, C. D. Ryff, and R. A. Shweder 2000National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), 1995–1996 [Computer file]. ICPSR version. DataStat and Harvard Medical School, Dept. of Health Care Policy [producers], 1996. Ann Arbor: Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor].

    Google Scholar 

  • Brim, O. G., C. D. Ryff, and R. C. Kessler 2004 The MIDUS National Survey: An Overview. InHow Healthy Are We? A National Study of Well-being at Midlife, O. G. Brim, C. D. Ryff, and R. C. Kessler, eds. Pp. 64–89. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buss, D. M. 1989 Sex Differences in Human Mate Preferences: Evolutionary Hypotheses Tested in 37 Cultures.Behavioral and Brain Science 12:1–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buss, D. M. 1999 Adaptive Individual Differences.Journal of Personality 67:209–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charlesworth, B. 1980Evolution and Age-Structured Populations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chisholm, J. S. 1996 The Evolutionary Ecology of Attachment Organization.Human Nature 7:1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J., and P. Cohen 1983Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, P. T., and R. R. McCrae 1992Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEOFFI): Professional Manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Digman, J. 1997 Higher-Order Factors of the Big Five.Journal ofPersonality and Social Psychology 73:1246–1256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, B. J. 2004 Timing of Pubertal Maturation in Girls: An Integrated Life History Approach.Psychological Bulletin 130:920–958.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H. J., and S. B. G. Eysenck 1975Manual of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. London: Hodder and Stoughton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueredo, A. J., J. Sefcek, and D. N. Jones 2005 The Ideal Romantic Partner Personality.Personality and Individual Differences 41:431–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Figueredo, A. J., J. Corral-Verdugo, M. Frias-Armenta, K. J. Bachar, J. White, P. L. McNeill, B. R. Kirsner, and I. P. Castell-Ruiz 2001 Blood, Solidarity, Status, and Honor: The Sexual Balance of Power and Spousal Abuse in Sonora, Mexico.Evolution and Human Behavior 22:295–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Figueredo, A. J., J. Sefcek, G. Vásquez, B. H. Brumbach, J. E. King, and W. J. Jacobs 2005 Evolutionary Personality Psychology. InHandbook of Evolutionary Psychology, D. M. Buss, ed. Pp. 851–877. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueredo, A. J., G. Vásquez, B. H. Brumbach, J. A. Sefcek, B. R. Kirsner, and W. J. Jacobs 2005 The K-Factor: Individual Differences in Life History Strategy.Personality and Individual Differences 39:1349–1360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleeson, W. 2001 Judgments of One’s Own Contributions to the Welfare of Others: Life-Course Trajectories and Predictors. InCaring and Doing for Others: Social Responsibility in the Domains of Family, Work, and Community, A. S. Rossi, ed. Pp. 75–96 Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fouts, H. N., B. S. Hewlett, and M. E. Lamb 2005 Parent-Offspring Weaning Conflicts among the Bofi Farmers and Foragers of Central Africa.Current Anthropology 46:29–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gadgil, M., and O. T. Solbrig 1972 The Concept of r and K Selection: Evidence from Wild Flowers and Some Theoretical Considerations.American Naturalist 106:14–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geary, D. C. 2005The Origin of Mind: Evolution of Brain, Cognition, and General Intelligence. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, L. S. 2006 Social Consequences of Group Differences in Cognitive Ability (Consequencias sociais das diferencas de grupo em habilidade cognitiva). InIntroducau a psicologia das diferencas individuals, C. E. Flores-Mendoza and R. Colom, eds. Pp. 433–456. Porto Allegre, Brazil: ArtMed Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grzywacz, J. G., and C. L. M. Keyes 2004 Toward Health Promotion: Physical and Social Behaviors in Complete Health.American Journal of Health Behavior 28(2):99–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grzywacz, J. G., and N. F. Marks 1999 Family Solidarity and Health Behaviors: Evidence from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States.Journal of Family Issues 20:243–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grzywacz, J. G., D. M. Almeida, and D. A. McDonald 2002 Work-Family Spillover and Daily Reports of Work and Family Stress in the Adult Labor Force.Family Relations 51:28–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewlett, B. S., and M. E. Lamb 2002 Integrating Evolution, Culture, and Developmental Psychology: Explaining Caregiver-Infant Proximity and Responsiveness in Central Africa and the USA. InBetween Culture and Biology: Perspectives on Ontogenetic Development, H. Keller, ed. Pp. 241–269. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawachi, I., B. P. Kennedy, and R. G. Wilkinson 1999Income Inequality and Health. The Society and Population Health Reader, Vol. I. New York: New Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerckhoff, A. C. 2000Generating Social Stratification: Toward a New Research Agenda. Boulder: Greenwood Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, V. 2003 The Influence of Religion on Fathers’ Relationships with Their Children.Journal of Marriage and Family 65:382–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs, C. J., M. S. Gaines, B. L. Keller, J. H. Myers, and R. H. Tamarin 1973 Population Cycles in Small Rodents.Science 179:35–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leggett, W. C., and J. E. Carscadden 1978 Latitudinal Variation in Reproductive Characteristics of American Shad (Alosa sapidissima): Evidence for Population Specific Life History Stages in Fish.Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 35:1469–1478.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur, R. H., and E. O. Wilson 1967The Theory of Island Biogeography. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marks, N. F., L. L. Bumpass, and H. Jun 2004 Family Roles and Well-being during Middle Life Course. InHow Healthy Are We? A National Study of Well-being at Midlife, O. G. Brim, C. D. Ryff, and R. C. Kessler, eds. Pp. 514–549. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marmot, M. G., and R. Fuhrer 2004 Socioeconomic Position and Health across Midlife. InHow Healthy Are We? A National Study of Well-being at Midlife, O. G. Brim, C. D. Ryff, and R. C. Kessler, eds. Pp. 64–89. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marmot, M. G., R. Fuhrer, S. L. Ettner, N. F. Marks, L. L. Bumpass, and C. D. Ryff 1998 Contributions of Psychosocial Factors to Socioeconomic Differences in Health.Milbank Quarterly 76:403–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, M., and G. J. Westerhof 2003 Do You Need Them or Should You Believe You Have Them? Resources, Their Appraisal, and Well-being in Adulthood.Journal of Adult Development 10(2):99–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, G. 2000 Mental Traits as Fitness Indicators. InEvolutionary Perspectives on Human Reproductive Behavior, D. LeCrosy and P. Moller, eds. Pp. 62–74. New York: New York Academy of Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pianka, E. R. 1970 On r- and K-selection.American Naturalist 104:592–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinlan, R. J. 2003 Father Absence, Parental Care and Female Reproductive Development.Evolution and Human Behavior 24:376–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reznick, B., M. J. Bryant, and F. Bashey 2002 r- and K-selection Revisited: The Role of Population Regulation in Life-History Evolution.Ecology 83:1509–1520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, A. S. 2001a Contemporary Dialogue on Civil Society and Social Responsibility. InCaring and Doing for Others: Social Responsibility in the Domains of Family, Work, and Community, A. S. Rossi, ed. Pp. 3–75. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, A. S. 2001b Domains and Dimensions of Social Responsibility: A Sociodemographic Profile. InCaring and Doing for Others: Social Responsibility in the Domains of Family, Work, and Community, A. S. Rossi, ed. Pp. 97–134. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, A. S. 2001c Impact of Family Problems on Social Responsibility. InCaring and Doing for Others: Social Responsibility in the Domains of Family, Work, and Community, A. S. Rossi, ed. Pp. 312–347. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, A. S. 2004 Social Responsibility to Family and Community. InHow Healthy Are We? A National Study of Well-being at Midlife, O. G. Brim, C. D. Ryff, and R. C. Kessler, eds. Pp. 550–585. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, D. C. 2000 Environmental and Genetic Influences on Pubertal Development: Evolutionary Life History Traits? InGenetic Influences on Human Fertility and Sexuality: Recent Empirical and Theoretical Findings, J. L. Rodgers, D. C. Rowe, and W. B. Miller, eds. Pp. 147–168. Boston: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rushton, J. P. 1985 Differential K Theory: The Sociobiology of Individual and Group Differences.Personality and Individual Differences 6:441–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rushton, J. P. 2000Race, Evolution, and Behavior: A Life-History Perspective, third ed. Port Huron, MI: Charles Darwin Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rushton, J. P. 2004 Placing Intelligence into an Evolutionary Framework, or How g Fits into the r-K Matrix of Life History Traits, Including Longevity.Intelligence 32:321–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D., B. H. Singer, and K. A. Palmersheim 2001 Social Inequalities in Health and Well-being: The Role of Relational and Religious Protective Factors. InHow Healthy Are We? A National Study of Well-being at Midlife, O. G. Brim, C. D. Ryff, and R. C. Kessler, eds. Pp. 90–123. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute, Inc. 1999SAS/STAT User’s Guide, Version 8, 3 vols. Cary, NC: SAS Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlichting, C. D., and M. Pigliucci 1998Phenotypic Evolution: A Reaction Norm Perspective. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stearns, S. C. 1992The Evolution of Life Histories. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tal, I., D. Hill, A. J. Figueredo, M Frias-Armenta, and V Corral-Verdugo 2006 An Evolutionary Approach to Explaining and Water Conservation.Medio Ambiente y Comportamiento Humano 7(1):7–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, C. E., and C. Condra 1980 r- and K-selection inDrosophila pseudoobscura.Evolution 34:1183–1193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornhill, R., and C. T. Palmer 2004 Evolutionary Life History Perspective on Rape. InEvolutionary Psychology, Public Policy and Personal Decisions, C. Crawford and C. Salmon, eds. Pp. 249–274. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vásquez, G. 2004Female Personality, Risk, and Mate Selection. Unpublished Masters Thesis, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, A., J. E. King, and R. M. Enns 2002 Subjective Well-being Is Heritable and Genetically Correlated with Dominance in Chimpanzees.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 83:1141–1149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West-Eberhard, M. J. 2003Developmental Plasticity and Evolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilbur, H. M., D. W. Tinkle, and J. P. Collins 1974 Environmental Certainty, Trophic Level, and Resource Availability in Life History Evolution.American Naturalist 108:805–817.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, R. 1996Unhealthy Societies: The Afflictions of Inequality. Routledge: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M., D. M. Kuhlman, J. Joireman, P. Teta, and M. Kraft 1993 A Comparison of Three Structural Models for Personality: The Big Three, the Big Five, and the Alternative Five.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 65:757–768.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, 85721-0068, Tucson, AZ

    Aurelio José Figueredo, Geneva Vásquez, Barbara Hagenah Brumbach & Stephanie M. R. Schneider

Authors
  1. Aurelio José Figueredo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Geneva Vásquez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Barbara Hagenah Brumbach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephanie M. R. Schneider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aurelio José Figueredo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Figueredo, A.J., Vásquez, G., Brumbach, B.H. et al. The K-factor, Covitality, and personality. Hum Nat 18, 47–73 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02820846

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02820846

Key Words

Search

Navigation