Individual differences in anxiety responses to stressful situations:A three-mode component analysis model

The three-mode component analysis model is discussed as a tool for a contextualized study of personality. When applied to person x situation x response data, the model includes sets of latent dimensions for persons, situations, and responses as well as a so-called core array, which may be considered a summary description of the individual differences in response profiles across situations. Underlying psychological processes may be further revealed by relating the model to external data on cognitive-affective personality system (CAPS) variables. The model as well as its validation in CAPS terms is illustrated with self-report data on anxiety responses displayed by several persons in a sample of situations. Furthermore, the model is tested against recently formulated criticisms regarding the use of (two-mode) factor analysis in personality research, and its relation to the triple typology model recently proposed by Vansteelandt and Van Mechelen (1998) is briefly discussed. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.