Does personality exist in a social vacuum? That is to say, can we describe individual differences in personality in the abstract, without reference to social context, the way we describe individual differences in IQ? Or is individual personality inextricably bound up with social interaction? Are there any individual differences in personality that exist independently of the social context?

Personality does not exist in a social vacuum. While there may be intrinsic elements to an individual's personality, such as temperament, which are somewhat consistent across various contexts, our personalities are significantly shaped by social interactions and environments. We cannot fully describe individual differences in personality without reference to the social context because our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions are often responses to our interactions with others and the situations we find ourselves in.

IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is often measured by standardized tests designed to score an individual's cognitive abilities, which can be viewed more independently of social context, although nurture and education do play roles in developing one’s cognitive abilities. However, with personality, the social context is a fundamental part of its expression. The way people behave, think, and feel tends to change in different social situations, because personality is partly a product of social expectations, roles, and cultural norms.

That said, some personality traits can be relatively stable and context-independent. For example, traits like introversion and extroversion can influence how individuals prefer to recharge (alone or with others) regardless of the social setting. But even then, these traits are often observable in social contexts. Introverts and extroverts may modify their behavior based on the social environment, but their underlying preferences typically remain.

In summary, while there are aspects of personality that are consistent for an individual, the full expression of one's personality is inextricably intertwined with social interaction and cannot be completely understood without considering the social context.