Mapping a Hierarchical Dimensional Structure of High Experiential Permeability: A Bass-Ackward Approach to Linking Positive Schizotypy and Openness to Experience

Research on dimensional models of personality pathology has achieved a good deal of consensus on the 5 broad constructs that span adaptive and maladaptive personality traits. Nonetheless, connections between the 5th domain, typically called openness to experience within general personality measures and psychoticism or schizotypy on maladaptive measures, have proven more challenging to integrate. Using experiential permeability as a guiding framework, the current study seeks to develop a hierarchical, empirically derived lower order structure with these concepts. Using a top-down "Bass-Ackward" approach, we examined the item-level structure of adaptive and maladaptive components of high experiential permeability. Results showed support for a hierarchical model with a 6-component solution including mystical beliefs/experiences, oddity, intellect, openness to aesthetics, openness to ideas, and introspection. These components from items drawn from general and maladaptive measures related to one another within and across levels, specifically oddity and openness to aesthetics. Findings also highlight the importance of using lower level analyses when examining larger, heterogeneous constructs such as schizotypal thinking and perception and openness.