Table 2 The five lower order sub-scales that compose the cooperativeness (CO) scale of the Temperament and Character Inventory
High Scorers | Low Scorers | |
|---|---|---|
They are described as tolerant and friendly. These individuals tend to accept other people as they are, even people with very different behaviors, ethics, opinions, values, or appearances | (CO1) social acceptance vs. social intolerance | They are typically impatient with and critical of other people, especially people who have different goals and values |
They typically try to imagine themselves “in other people’s shoes”. In other words, these individuals are highly attenuated to and considerate of other people’s feelings. They tend to treat others with dignity and respect, and often put aside their own judgement initially so they can better understand what other people are experiencing. Empathy also involves a conscious understanding of, and respect for, the goals and values of other people | (CO2) empathy vs. social disinterest | These individuals do not seem to be very concerned about other’s feeling. Rather they seem to be unable to share in another’s emotions, suffering, or hardship, or at least are unwilling to respect (i.e., assign value to) the goals and values of other people |
Tend to be helpful, supportive, encouraging, or reassuring. These individuals enjoy being in service of others. Often they share their skills and knowledge so that everyone comes out ahead. They like to work as part of a team, usually preferring this to working alone | (CO3) helpfulness vs. unhelpfulness | They are described as self-centerd, egoistic, or selfish. They tend to be inconsiderate of other people and typically look out only for themselves, even when working in a team of highly cooperative collaborators. They prefer to work alone or to be in charge of what is done |
These individuals are described as compassionate, forgiving, charitable, and benevolent. They do not enjoy revenge and usually do not try to get even if they were treated badly. Rather, these individuals actively try to get over insults or unfair treatment in order to be constructive in a relationship | (CO4) compassion vs. revengefulness | Tend to enjoy getting revenge on people who hurt them. Their revengeful triumph can be either overt or disguised. The former is observed as active-aggressive behavior, such as hurting other physically, emotionally, and financially. The latter is observed as passive-aggressive behaviors, such as holding grudges, deliberate forgetfulness, stubbornness, and procrastination |
They are described as honest, genuinely scrupulous, and sincere persons who treat others in a consistently fair manner. In other words, these persons have incorporated stable ethical principles and scruples in both their professional and their social and interpersonal relationships. Such ethical standards are a component of social cooperativeness, rather than related to self-Transcendence or spirituality | (CO5) integrated conscience vs. self-serving advantage | These individuals are described as opportunistic, i.e., they would do whatever they can to get away with to reach their goals without getting in immediate trouble. These individuals tend to treat other people unfairly, in a biased, self-serving manner that usually reflects their own profit. They are thus frequently described as manipulative or deceitful. In other words, they have not incorporated stable ethical principles and scruples into their social and interpersonal relationships |