Abstract
In two German samples we investigated whether three major personality prototypes (resilient, overcontrolled, and undercontrolled) can be replicated across different Big Five instruments (NEO‐FFI and NEO‐PI‐R), and whether they can be differentiated into replicable subtypes. For prototypes and subtypes, replicability within and consistency across samples was quantitatively measured. Three replicable prototypes were confirmed, but only two replicable resilient subtypes (well adjusted and assertive) were found. It is concluded that the search for a hierarchical taxonomy of people will require more investigation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.