Were Cattell's ‘Personality Sphere’ Factors Correctly Identified in the First Instance?

Cattail's system of personality factors has not changed in essentials since his foundation ‘personality sphere’ studies of 30 years ago, although the original 12 factor (A through L) system has been extended and has found worldwide application in the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF). The article begins with a summary of recent criticisms of the latter, as reflecting upon Cattell's system, and then proceeds to a specific re‐examination of the foundations of that system in order to put the question: Were Cattell's ‘personality sphere’ factors correctly identified in the first instance? Instead of 12 factors, it is herein suggested that possibly six clear‐cut factors might have been extracted originally, factors which accord well with more recent work carried out independently from Cattell's laboratory. The implications of this are examined, accompanied with recommendations for more accurate delineation of personality factors in the future.