Big Five Personality Traits: The 5-Factor Model of Personality

The Big Five personality traits are extraversion (also often spelled extroversion), agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Togglenavigation TheoriesResearchMethodsMentalHealthA-levelStatistics PersonalityTheoriesBigFiveWhatAretheBig5PersonalityTraits?Openness,Conscientiousness,Extraversion,Agreeableness,andNeuroticismByAnnabelleG.Y.Lim,publishedJune15,2020Factchecked bySaulMcleod,PhD Take-homeMessagesTheBigFivepersonalitytraitsareextraversion(alsooftenspelledextroversion),agreeableness,openness,conscientiousness,andneuroticism.Eachtraitrepresentsacontinuum.Individualscanfallanywhereonthecontinuumforeachtrait.TheBigFiveremainrelativelystablethroughoutmostofone’slifetime.Theyareinfluencedsignificantlybybothgenesandtheenvironment,withanestimatedheritabilityof50%.Theyarealsoknowntopredictcertainimportantlifeoutcomessuchaseducationandhealth.TheBigFivePersonalityTraitsPleaseenableJavaScriptTheBigFivePersonalityTraitsTheBigFiveModel,alsoknownastheFive-FactorModel,isthemostwidelyacceptedpersonalitytheoryheldbypsychologiststoday.Thetheorystatesthatpersonalitycanbeboileddowntofivecorefactors,knownbytheacronymCANOEorOCEAN:Conscientiousnessimpulsive,disorganizedvs.disciplined,carefulAgreeablenesssuspicious,uncooperativevs.trusting,helpfulNeuroticismcalm,confidentvs.anxious,pessimisticOpennesstoExperienceprefersroutine,practicalvs.imaginative,spontaneousExtraversionreserved,thoughtfulvs.sociable,fun-lovingUnlikeothertraittheoriesthatsortindividualsintobinarycategories(i.e.introvertorextrovert),theBigFiveModelassertsthateachpersonalitytraitisaspectrum.Therefore,individualsarerankedonascalebetweenthetwoextremeendsof fivebroaddimensions: Forinstance,whenmeasuringExtraversion,onewouldnotbeclassifiedaspurelyextrovertedorintroverted,butplacedonascaledeterminingtheirlevelofextraversion.Byrankingindividualsoneachofthesetraits,itispossibletoeffectivelymeasureindividualdifferencesinpersonality. TableofcontentsHistoryandBackgroundConscientiousnessAgreeablenessExtraversionOpennesstoExperienceNeuroticismStabilityoftheTraitsFactorsthatInfluencetheBig5GenderDifferencesBehavioralOutcomesCriticalEvaluationHistoryandBackgroundTheBigFivemodelresultedfromthecontributionsofmanyindependentresearchers.GordonAllportandHenryOdbertfirstformedalistof4,500termsrelatingtopersonalitytraitsin1936(Vinney,2018).Theirworkprovidedthefoundationforotherpsychologiststobegindeterminingthebasicdimensionsofpersonality.Inthe1940s,RaymondCattellandhiscolleaguesusedfactoranalysis(astatisticalmethod)tonarrowdownAllport’slisttosixteentraits.However,numerouspsychologistsexaminedCattell’slistandfoundthatitcouldbefurtherreducedtofivetraits.AmongthesepsychologistswereDonaldFiske,Norman,Smith,Goldberg,andMcCrae&Costa(Cherry,2019).Inparticular,LewisGoldbergadvocatedheavilyforfiveprimaryfactorsofpersonality(Ackerman,2017).HisworkwasexpandeduponbyMcCrae&Costa,whoconfirmedthemodel’svalidityandprovidedthemodelusedtoday:conscientiousness,agreeableness,neuroticism,opennesstoexperience,andextraversion.Themodelbecameknownasthe“BigFive”andhasseenreceivedmuchattention.Ithasbeenresearchedacrossmanypopulationsandculturesandcontinuestobethemostwidelyacceptedtheoryofpersonalitytoday.EachoftheBigFivepersonalitytraitsrepresentsextremelybroadcategorieswhichcovermanypersonality-relatedterms.Eachtraitencompassesamultitudeofotherfacets.Forexample,thetraitofExtraversionisacategorythatcontainslabelssuchasGregariousness(sociable),Assertiveness(forceful),Activity(energetic),Excitement-seeking(adventurous),Positiveemotions(enthusiastic),andWarmth(outgoing)(John&Srivastava,1999).Therefore,theBigFivewhilenotcompletelyexhaustive,covervirtuallyallpersonality-relatedterms.Figure1.TheBigFivePersonalityTraits.ReprintedfromPennState,byR.Gray,2017,https://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2017/09/02/the-importance-of-personality-trait-screening-for-todays-organizations-application-of-the-five-factor-model-ffm/AnotherimportantaspectoftheBigFiveModelisitsapproachtomeasuringpersonality.Itfocusesonconceptualizingtraitsasaspectrumratherthanblack-and-whitecategories(seeFigure1).Itrecognizesthatmostindividualsarenotonthepolarendsofthespectrumbutrathersomewhereinbetween.ConscientiousnessConscientiousnessdescribesaperson’sabilitytoregulatetheirimpulsecontrolinordertoengageingoal-directedbehaviors(Grohol,2019).Itmeasureselementssuchascontrol,inhibition,andpersistencyofbehavior.Facetsofconscientiousnessincludethefollowing(John&Srivastava,1999):HighCompetenceOrganizedDutifulnessAchievementstrivingSelf-disciplinedDeliberationLowIncompetentDisorganizedCarelessProcrastinatesIndisciplineImpulsiveConscientiousnessvs.LackofDirectionThosewhoscorehighonconscientiousnesscanbedescribedasorganized,disciplined,detail-oriented,thoughtful,andcareful.Theyalsohavegoodimpulsecontrol,whichallowsthemtocompletetasksandachievegoals.Thosewhoscorelowonconscientiousnessmaystrugglewithimpulsecontrol,leadingtodifficultyincompletingtasksandfulfillinggoals.Theytendtobemoredisorganizedandmaydisliketoomuchstructure.Theymayalsoengageinmoreimpulsiveandcarelessbehavior.AgreeablenessAgreeablenessreferstohowpeopletendtotreatrelationshipswithothers.Unlikeextraversionwhichconsistsofthepursuitofrelationships,agreeablenessfocusesonpeople’sorientationandinteractionswithothers(Ackerman,2017).Facetsofagreeablenessincludethefollowing(John&Srivastava,1999):HighTrust(forgiving)StraightforwardnessAltruism(enjoyshelping)ComplianceModestySympatheticEmpathyLowScepticalDemandingInsultsandbelittlesothersStubbornShow-offUnsympatheticDoesn'tcareabouthowotherpeoplefeelAgreeablenessvs.AntagonismThosehighinagreeablenesscanbedescribedassoft-hearted,trusting,andwell-liked.Theyaresensitivetotheneedsofothersandarehelpfulandcooperative.Peopleregardthemastrustworthyandaltruistic.Thoselowinagreeablenessmaybeperceivedassuspicious,manipulative,anduncooperative.Theymaybeantagonisticwheninteractingwithothers,makingthemlesslikelytobewell-likedandtrusted.ExtraversionExtraversionreflectsthetendencyandintensitytowhichsomeoneseeksinteractionwiththeirenvironment,particularlysocially.Itencompassesthecomfortandassertivenesslevelsofpeopleinsocialsituations.Additionally,italsoreflectsthesourcesfromwhichsomeonedrawsenergy.Facetsofextraversionincludethefollowing(John&Srivastava,1999):HighSociableEnergizedbysocialinteractionExcitement-seekingEnjoysbeingthecenterofattentionOutgoingLowPreferssolitudeFatiguedbytoomuchsocialinteractionReflectiveDislikesbeingthecenterofattentionReservedExtraversionvs.IntroversionThosehighonextraversionaregenerallyassertive,sociable,fun-loving,andoutgoing.Theythriveinsocialsituationsandfeelcomfortablevoicingtheiropinions.Theytendtogainenergyandbecomeexcitedfrombeingaroundothers.Thosewhoscorelowinextraversionareoftenreferredtoasintroverts.Thesepeopletendtobemorereservedandquieter.Theypreferlisteningtoothersratherthanneedingtobeheard.Introvertsoftenneedperiodsofsolitudeinordertoregainenergyasattendingsocialeventscanbeverytiringforthem.Ofimportancetonoteisthatintrovertsdonotnecessarilydislikesocialevents,butinsteadfindthemtiring.OpennesstoExperienceOpennesstoexperiencereferstoone’swillingnesstotrynewthingsaswellasengageinimaginativeandintellectualactivities.Itincludestheabilityto“thinkoutsideofthebox.”Facetsofopennessincludethefollowing(John&Srivastava,1999):HighCuriousImaginativeCreativeOpentotryingnewthingsUnconventionalLowPredictableNotveryimaginativeDislikeschangePreferroutineTraditionalOpennessvs.ClosednesstoExperienceThosewhoscorehighonopennesstoexperienceareperceivedascreativeandartistic.Theyprefervarietyandvalueindependence.Theyarecuriousabouttheirsurroundingsandenjoytravelingandlearningnewthings.Peoplewhoscorelowonopennesstoexperiencepreferroutine.Theyareuncomfortablewithchangeandtryingnewthingssotheypreferthefamiliarovertheunknown.Astheyarepracticalpeople,theyoftenfinditdifficulttothinkcreativelyorabstractly.NeuroticismNeuroticismdescribestheoverallemotionalstabilityofanindividualthroughhowtheyperceivetheworld.Ittakesintoaccounthowlikelyapersonistointerpreteventsasthreateningordifficult.Italsoincludesone’spropensitytoexperiencenegativeemotions.Facetsofneuroticismincludethefollowing(John&Srivastava,1999):HighAnxiousAngryhostility(irritable)ExperiencesalotofstressSelf-consciousness(shy)VulnerabilityExperiencesdramaticshiftsinmoodLowDoesn'tworrymuchCalmEmotionallystableConfidentResilientRarelyfeelssadordepressedNeuroticismvs.EmotionalStabilityThosewhoscorehighonneuroticismoftenfeelanxious,insecureandself-pitying.Theyareoftenperceivedasmoodyandirritable.Theyarepronetoexcessivesadnessandlowself-esteem.Thosewhoscorelowonneuroticismaremorelikelytocalm,secureandself-satisfied.Theyarelesslikelytobeperceivedasanxiousormoody.Theyaremorelikelytohavehighself-esteemandremainresilient.StabilityoftheTraitsPeople’sscoresoftheBigFiveremainrelativelystableformostoftheirlifewithsomeslightchangesfromchildhoodtoadulthood.AstudybySoto&John(2012)attemptedtotrackthedevelopmentaltrendsoftheBigFivetraits.Theyfoundthatoverallagreeablenessandconscientiousnessincreasedwithage.Therewasnosignificanttrendforextraversionoverallalthoughgregariousnessdecreasedandassertivenessincreased.Opennesstoexperienceandneuroticismdecreasedslightlyfromadolescencetomiddleadulthood.Theresearchersconcludedthatthereweremoresignificanttrendsinspecificfacets(i.e.adventurousnessanddepression)ratherthanintheBigFivetraitsoverall.FactorsthatInfluencetheBig5Likewithalltheoriesofpersonality,theBigFiveisinfluencedbybothnatureandnurture.Twinstudieshavefoundthattheheritability(theamountofvariancethatcanbeattributedtogenes)oftheBigFivetraitsis40-60%.Jangetal.(1996)conductedastudywith123pairsofidenticaltwinsand127pairsoffraternaltwins.Theyestimatedtheheritabilityofconscientiousness,agreeableness,neuroticism,opennesstoexperience,andextraversiontobe44%,41%,41%,61%,and53%,respectively.Thisfindingwassimilartothefindingsofanotherstudy,wheretheheritabilityofconscientiousness,agreeableness,neuroticism,opennesstoexperienceandextraversionwereestimatedtobe49%,48%,49%,48%,and50%,respectively(Jangetal.,1998).SuchtwinstudiesdemonstratethattheBigFivepersonalitytraitsaresignificantlyinfluencedbygenesandthatallfivetraitsareequallyheritable.Heritabilityformalesandfemalesdonotseemtodiffersignificantly(Leohlinetal.,1998).StudiesfromdifferentcountriesalsosupporttheideaofastronggeneticbasisfortheBigFivepersonalitytraits(Riemannetal.,1997;Yamagataetal.,2006).GenderDifferencesDifferencesintheBigFivepersonalitytraitsbetweengendershavebeenobserved,butthesedifferencesaresmallcomparedtodifferencesbetweenindividualswithinthesamegender.Costaetal.(2001)gathereddatafromover23,000menandwomenin26countries.Theyfoundthat“genderdifferencesaremodestinmagnitude,consistentwithgenderstereotypes,andreplicableacrosscultures”(p.328).WomenreportedthemselvestobehigherinNeuroticism,Agreeableness,Warmth(afacetofExtraversion),andOpennesstoFeelingscomparedtomen.MenreportedthemselvestobehigherinAssertiveness(afacetofExtraversion)andOpennesstoIdeas.AnotherinterestingfindingwasthatbiggergenderdifferenceswerereportedinWestern,industrializedcountries.Researchersproposedthatthemostplausiblereasonforthisfindingwasattributionprocesses.Theysurmisedthatactionsofwomeninindividualisticcountrieswouldbemorelikelytobeattributedtoherpersonalitywhereasactionsofwomenincollectivisticcountrieswouldbemorelikelytobeattributedtotheircompliancewithgenderrolenorms.BehavioralOutcomesRelationshipsInmarriageswhereonepartnerscoreslowerthantheotheronagreeableness,stability,andopenness,thereislikelytobemaritaldissatisfaction(Myers,2011).HealthNeuroticismseemstobeariskfactorformanyhealthproblems,includingdepression,schizophrenia,diabetes,asthma,irritablebowelsyndrome,andheartdisease(Lahey,2009).Peoplehighinneuroticismareparticularlyvulnerabletomooddisorderssuchasdepression.Lowagreeablenesshasalsobeenlinkedtohigherchancesofhealthproblems(John&Srivastava,1999).Thereisevidencetosuggestthatconscientiousnessisaprotectivefactoragainsthealthdiseases.Peoplewhoscorehighinconscientiousnesshavebeenobservedtohavebetterhealthoutcomesandlongevity(John&Srivastava,1999).Researchersbelievethatsuchisduetoconscientiouspeoplehavingregularandwell-structuredlives,aswellastheimpulsecontroltofollowdiets,treatmentplans,etc.EducationAhighscoreonconscientiousnesspredictsbetterhighschoolanduniversitygrades(Myers,2011).Contrarily,lowagreeablenessandlowconscientiousnesspredictjuveniledelinquency(John&Srivastava,1999).WorkConscientiousnessisthestrongestpredictorofallfivetraitsforjobperformance(John&Srivastava,1999).Ahighscoreofconscientiousnesshasbeenshowntorelatetohighworkperformanceacrossalldimensions.Theothertraitshavebeenshowntopredictmorespecificaspectsofjobperformance.Forinstance,agreeablenessandneuroticismpredictbetterperformanceinjobswhereteamworkisinvolved.However,agreeablenessisnegativelyrelatedtoindividualproactivity.Opennesstoexperienceispositivelyrelatedtoindividualproactivitybutnegativelyrelatedtoteamefficiency(Nealetal.,2012).Extraversionisapredictorofleadership,aswellassuccessinsalesandmanagementpositions(John&Srivastava,1999).LimitationsoftheBigFiveDescriptorRatherThanaTheoryTheBigFivewasdevelopedtoorganizepersonalitytraitsratherthanasacomprehensivetheoryofpersonality.Therefore,itismoredescriptivethanexplanatoryanddoesnotfullyaccountfordifferencesbetweenindividuals(John&Srivastava,1999).Italsodoesnotsufficientlyprovideacausalreasonforhumanbehavior.Cross-CulturalValidityAlthoughtheBigFivehasbeentestedinmanycountriesanditsexistenceisgenerallysupportedbyfindings(McCrae,2002),therehavebeensomestudiesthatdonotsupportitsmodel.MostpreviousstudieshavetestedthepresenceoftheBigFiveinurbanized,literatepopulations.AstudybyGurvenetal.(2013)wasthefirsttotestthevalidityoftheBigFivemodelinalargelyilliterate,indigenouspopulationinBolivia.Theyadministereda44-itemBigFiveInventorybutfoundthattheparticipantsdidnotsorttheitemsinconsistencywiththeBigFivetraits.Moreresearchinilliterateandnon-industrializedpopulationsisneededtoclarifysuchdiscrepancies.Is5ReallytheMagicNumber?AcommoncriticismoftheBigFiveisthateachtraitistoobroad.AlthoughtheBigFiveisusefulintermsofprovidingaroughoverviewofpersonality,morespecifictraitsarerequiredtobeofuseforpredictingoutcomes(John&Srivastava,1999).Thereisalsoanargumentfrompsychologiststhatmorethanfivetraitsarerequiredtoencompasstheentiretyofpersonality.Anewmodel,HEXACO,wasdevelopedbyKibeomLeeandMichaelAshton,andexpandsupontheBigFiveModel.HEXACOretainstheoriginaltraitsfromtheBigFiveModelbutcontainsoneadditionaltrait:Honesty-Humility,whichtheydescribeastheextenttowhichoneplacesothers’interestsabovetheirown.AbouttheAuthorAnnabelleLimisasecond-yearstudentmajoringinpsychologyandminoringineducationalstudiesatHarvardCollege.Sheisinterestedintheintersectionsbetweenpsychologyandeducation,aswellaspsychologyandthelaw.Howtoreferencethisarticle:Howtoreferencethisarticle:Lim,A(2020,June15).Thebigfivepersonalitytraits.SimplyPsychology.www.simplypsychology.org/big-five-personality.htmlAPAStyleReferencesAckerman,C.(2017,June23).BigFivePersonalityTraits:TheOCEANModelExplained.PositivePsychology.com.https://positivepsychology.com/big-five-personality-theoryCherry,K.(2019,October14).WhatAretheBig5PersonalityTraits?VerywellMind.Retrieved12June2020,fromhttps://www.verywellmind.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422Costa,P.,Terracciano,A.,&McCrae,R.(2001).GenderDifferencesinPersonalityTraitsAcrossCultures:RobustandSurprisingFindings.JournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology,81(2),322-331.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-35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LightTriadPersonalityTraits DarkTriadPersonalityTraits IntrovertsandExtroverts McCrae,R.R.,&Terracciano,A.(2005).Universalfeaturesofpersonalitytraitsfromtheobserver'sperspective:datafrom50cultures.Journalofpersonalityandsocialpsychology,88(3),547.Cobb-Clark,DA&Schurer,S.Thestabilityofbig-fivepersonalitytraits.EconomicsLetters.2012;115(2):11–15.Marsh,H.W.,Nagengast,B.,&Morin,A.J.(2013).Measurementinvarianceofbig-fivefactorsoverthelifespan:ESEMtestsofgender,age,plasticity,maturity,andladolcevitaeffects.Developmentalpsychology,49(6),1194.PowerRA,PluessM.HeritabilityestimatesoftheBigFivepersonalitytraitsbasedoncommongeneticvariants.TranslPsychiatry.2015;5:e604.PersonalityTheories TypeAandBPersonality PersonalityTheoriesBookChapterTheCambridgeHandbookofPersonalityPsychologyHowtoreferencethisarticle:Howtoreferencethisarticle:Lim,A(2020,June15).Thebigfivepersonalitytraits.SimplyPsychology.www.simplypsychology.org/big-five-personality.html 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