California Psychological Inventory

What is the California Psychological Inventory?

The California Psychological Inventory (CPI), developed by Harrison Gough, is a personality assessment of interpersonal behavior and other everyday characteristics. The number of items differs between versions, so it matters which form of the CPI is being discussed.

The publisher's description of CPI 260 specifies 260 items selected from the longer 434-item form. The CPI 260 Configural Report presents 20 “folk” scales—intended to describe familiar everyday personality characteristics—and six additional work-related scales. These 26 scales are distinct from the three vectors.

CPI Scales and the Three-Vector Model

The publisher's CPI 260 sample report distinguishes individual scales from a three-vector model. The vectors describe involvement with other people, acceptance or questioning of social norms, and self-realization or integration.

The report groups its everyday scales under dealing with others, self-management, motivations and thinking style, and personal characteristics. Examples of the intended scale meanings include:

• Dominance: taking an assertive role with others and persisting toward shared goals.
• Sociability: being outgoing and enjoying participation with other people.
• Achievement via Conformance: achievement in structured situations with clear expectations.
• Achievement via Independence: achievement in less structured situations requiring initiative.
• Flexibility: openness to change and novelty rather than a preference for predictability.

These describe what the scales are intended to assess. For example, the two achievement scales distinguish kinds of situations, rather than supplying one general score for how successful someone will be.

Individual scales include Good Impression, Communality, and Well-being. The report also considers response patterns, including unusually favorable, self-critical, or potentially random answers. A single score is not a complete account of a person.

How is the CPI Used?

The CPI provides a framework for discussing personality and interpersonal behavior. The publisher's materials include leadership coaching reports and work-related scales. Using an assessment for professional development does not show that it can select the best employee. The sample report describes its interpretation system; it is not evidence that the CPI guarantees leadership success.

Interpretation and Limitations

The Configural Report is intended for people qualified to interpret personality assessments. A useful interpretation considers the person's full profile, response patterns, and the reference group used to interpret scores.

Before using CPI results in counseling, education, or employment, ask what evidence supports that particular use. A personality profile does not by itself diagnose a disorder, identify a student's ideal teaching method, or establish that an applicant is right for a job.

For a general account of personality, this site's recommendation remains the Big Five and HEXACO models. The CPI is explained here, but it does not receive the same recommendation.