By Jason Hreha

Glossary

Eysenck Personality Questionnaire

Reviewed by Jason Hreha

Published 1 min read

What is the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire?

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) is a self-report personality measure developed by Hans and Sybil Eysenck. It assesses Extraversion, Neuroticism and Psychoticism, and includes a Lie or social-desirability scale.

What does the EPQ measure?

These are dimensions, not mutually exclusive personality types.

  • Extraversion concerns social activity and engagement.
  • Neuroticism concerns emotional instability.
  • Psychoticism is the Eysencks' historical term for a broad dimension involving tendencies such as tough-mindedness and low empathy. Despite the name, a Psychoticism score is not a diagnosis of psychosis.

The University of Coimbra's instrument description explains the trait dimensions and the social-desirability response scale. That response scale is relevant to interpretation; it does not make the other answers automatically unbiased.

EPQ and EPQ-R

The EPQ appeared in 1975. In the 1985 revision study, the authors addressed measurement weaknesses in the original Psychoticism scale and supplied short scales. The revised instrument is known as the EPQ-R.

EPQ vs. Eysenck Personality Inventory

The Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) is a different instrument. It measures Extraversion and Neuroticism and includes a Lie scale; the EPQ also measures Psychoticism. The Personality Project’s EPI data description identifies the inventory’s scales. Check the instrument name before comparing results or looking for its questions.

How should results be interpreted?

Start with the version used and what its scales measure. A questionnaire profile summarizes responses within a model of personality. Using it for research, clinical assessment or a work decision requires evidence suited to that purpose; the scale names alone cannot supply it.