Openness versus intellect: A lexical left turn

Abstract

In a recent article, Saucier (1992) disputed McCrae's (1990) view that lexically defined Intellect differs in fundamental ways from questionnaire‐defined Openness to Experience, and that these differences are due to lexical underrepresentation of some openness facets. A re‐analysis of Saucier's (1992) lexical data and questionnaire ‘Factor V’ from three samples are presented, which calls into question Saucier's conclusion that the Openness‐against‐Intellect debate may be ‘much ado about nothing’. Two facets of incommensurability are identified between Intellect and Openness variants of Factor V: competency and liberalism.