THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS (FIVEFACTOR MODEL)

Introduction

The Big 5 Personality traits analyze the individual traits of your psyche across five
different dimensions. It is a widely examined theory of five broad dimensions used by some
psychologists to describe the human personality and psyche. In each of the five dimensions,
there are also several subdimensions known as facets. Beneath each proposed global factor,
a number of correlated and more specific primary factors are claimed. There is a great
significance to note that each of the five personality factors represents a range between two
extremes, containing two separate, but correlated aspects reflecting a level of personality below
the broad domains but above the many facet scales that are also part of the Big Five. For
example, extraversion represents a continuum between extreme extraversion and extreme
introversion; and most people lie somewhere in between the two polar ends of each dimension.
A research made by McCrae and his colleagues have also found that the big five traits
are also remarkably universal. One study which was conducted to more than 50 cultures around
the world found that the five dimensions could be accurately used to describe personality.
Hence, the five personality dimensions are not only universal, but they also have biological
origins. An evolutionary explanation for the big 5 suggests that it represents the most important
qualities that shape our social landscape. Although in realistic cases, behavior involves an
interaction between a persons underlying personality and situational variables. The situation
that an individual finds himself or herself in plays a major role in how the person reacts.
However, in most cases, people offer responses that are consistent with their underlying
personality traits since it is a complex and varied and each person may display behaviors
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across several of these dimensions. However, these traits do not always occur together. These
five overarching domains have been found to contain and subsume most known personality
traits and are assumed to represent the basic structure behind all personality traits. These five
factors provide a rich conceptual framework for integrating all the research findings and theory
in personality psychology.

History

Many contemporary personality psychologists believe that there are five basic
dimensions of personality, often referred to as the Big 5 Personality Traits. The five broad
personality traits described by the theory are extraversion, agreeableness, openness,
conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Trait theories of personality have long attempted to pin
down exactly how many different personality traits exist. Earlier theories have suggested a
various number of possible traits, including Gordon Allports list of 4,000 personality traits,
Raymond Cattells 16 personality factors and Hans Eysencks three-factor theory. However,
many researchers felt that Cattells theory was too complicated and Eysencks was too limited in
scope. As a result, the five factor theory emerged to describe the essential traits that serve as
the building blocks of personality. Evidence of this theory has been growing over the past 50
years, beginning with the research of D.W. Fiske (194) and later expanded upon by the other
researchers including Norman (1967), Smith (1967), Goldberg (1981), and McCrae and Costa
(1987).
The initial model was advanced by Ernest Tupes and Raymond Christal in 1961 but
failed to reach an academic audience until the the 1980s. in 1990, J.m. Digman advanced his

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five-factor model of personality, which Lewis Goldberg extended to the highest level of
organization.
At least four sets of researchers have worked independently for decades on this problem
and have identified generally the same five factors. In 1936, Gordon Allport and S. Odbert put
Galtons lexical hypothesis into practice by extracting 4,504 adjectives which they believed were
descriptive of observable and relatively permanent traits from the dictionaries at that time. In
1940, Raymond Cattell retained the adjectives, and eliminated synonyms to reduce the total to
171 traits. He constructed a self-report instrument for the clusters of personality traits he found
from the adjectives, which he called the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire.
Based on a subset of only 20 of the 36 dimensions that Cattell had originally discovered,
Ernest Tupes and Raymond Christal claimed to have found just five broad factors which they
labelled, surgency, agreeableness, dependability, emotional stability and culture. Warren
Norman subsequently relabeled dependability as conscientiousness. The researchers used
somewhat different methods in finding the five traits, and thus each set of five factors has
somewhat different names and definitions. However, all have been found to be highly intercorrelated and factor-analytically aligned.

Discussion

As a result of thorough research on Cattells and Eysencks personality trait theories, the
Big Five Theory was formulated. This model states that there are 5 core traits which collaborate
in order to form a single personality. These include: openness to experience, extraversion,
agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism.

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OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE (Inventive/Curious vs. Consistent/Cautious)

This dimension is known as openness to experiences. It is a general appreciation for art,
emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, imagination, curiosity, and variety of experience. People
who are open to experience are intellectually curious, open to emotion, sensitive to beauty and
willing to try new things. This trait features characteristics such as imagination and insight, and
those high in this trait also tend to have a broad range of interests. People who are high in this
trait tend to be more adventurous and creative. They question norms and conventions, and love
to play with ideas and have a vivid imagination. In contrast, people low in this trait are often
much more traditional and may struggle with abstract thinking. Openness reflects the degree of
intellectual curiosity, creativity and a preference for novelty and variety a person has. It is also
described as the extent to which a person is imaginative or independent, and depicts a personal
preference for a variety of activities over a strict routine.
Openness Facets

Imagination high scorers tend to engage in fantasy to create a more

interesting world.
Artistic Interests high scorers appreciate beauty in art and nature and are

involved and absorbed in aesthetics.

Emotionality High scorers tend to have good access to, and awareness of,

their feelings.
Adventurousness high scorers are eager to try new activities, travel to foreign

lands, and have different experiences.

Intellect high scorers love to play with ideas; open-minded to new and
unconventional ideas, and enjoy debating intellectual issues.

EXTRAVERSION (Outgoing/Energetic vs. Solitary/Reserved)

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This dimension is characterized by breadth of activities (as opposed to depth). The trait
is marked by pronounced engagement with the external world. Extraverts enjoy interacting with
people, and are often perceived as full of energy. They tend to be enthusiastic, action-oriented
individuals. They possess high group visibility, like to talk, and assert themselves. They tend to
have high amounts of emotional expressiveness. Energy, positive emotions, assertiveness,
sociability and the tendency to seek stimulation in the company of others, and talkativeness are
what makes up a person with high extraversion. High extraversion is often perceived as
attention-seeking, and domineering. Low extraversion causes a reserved, reflective personality,
which can be perceived as aloof or self-absorbed.
Extraversion Facets

Friendliness high scorers genuinely like other people and openly demonstrate

positive feelings toward others; they make friends quickly.

Gregariousness high scorers find the company of others pleasantly

stimulating and rewarding; they enjoy the excitement of crowds.

Assertiveness high scorers like to speak out, take charge, and direct the

activities of others.
Activity level high scorers lead fast-paced, busy lives; they move about

quickly, energetically, and vigorously and they are involved in many activities.
Excitement-Seeking high scorers are easily bored without high levels of
stimulation. They love bright lights and hustle and bustle and like to take risks

and seek thrills.

Cheerfulness high scorers typically experience a range of positive feelings on
a regular basis, including happiness, enthusiasm, optimism, and joy.

AGREEABLENESS (Friendly/Compassionate vs. Analytical/Detached)

This personality trait has a tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than
suspicious and antagonistic towards others. It is also a measure of ones trusting and helpful

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nature, and whether a person is generally well-tempered or not. High agreeableness is often
seen as nave or submissive; while low scores are often competitive or challenging people,
which can be viewed as argumentative and untrustworthy. This trait reflects individual
differences in general concern for social harmony. These individuals value getting along with
others, and are generally considerate, kind, generous, trusting and trustworthy, helpful, and
willing to compromise their interests with others. Agreeable people also have an optimistic or
positive view of human nature. This dimension includes attributes such as trust, altruism,
kindness, affection and other pro-social behaviors. People who score low on this trait are frank
in their opinions, and blunt, and not particularly concerned with protecting others feelings.
Agreeableness Facets

Trust high scorers assume that most people are fair, honest, and have good

intentions.
Morality high scorers see no need for pretense or manipulation when dealing

with others; they are candid, frank, and sincere.

Altruism high scorers find that doing things for others is a form of self-

fulfillment rather than self-sacrifice.

Cooperation high scorers dislike confrontations to get along with others; willing

to compromise or to deny their own needs.

Modesty high scorers do not like to claim that they are better than other people
Sympathy high scorers are tenderhearted and compassionate; they feel the
pain of others vicariously and are easily moved to pity.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS (Efficient/Organized vs. Easy-Going/Careless)

This dimension has the tendency to be organized and dependable, show self-discipline,
act dutifully, aim for achievement against measures or outside expectations, it is related to the
way in which people control, regulate, and direct their impulses. and prefer planned rather than
spontaneous behavior. High scorers often perceived as stubborn and obsessive, while low

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scorers are flexible and spontaneous, but also can be perceived as sloppy and unreliable.
Standard features of this include high levels of thoughtfulness, with good impulse control and
goal-directed behaviors. These people tend to be organized and mindful of details and people
high on this trait, plan ahead. Conscientious people tend to not become distracted, and are not
reckless. The average level of conscientiousness rises among young adults and then declines
among older adults. Although a sense of duty is part of this construct, the dimension is not as
dominated by conscience as the label of conscientiousness might suggest. People who score
high on conscientiousness tend to be obsessed with perfectionism, order and control.
Conscientiousness Facets

Self-efficacy high scorers believe they have the intelligence, drive, and self-

control necessary for achieving success.

Orderliness high scorers are well-organized people who like to live according

to routines and schedules; they keep lists and make plans.

Dutifulness high scorers tend to have a strong sense of moral obligation.
Achievement-striving high scorers strive hard to achieveexcellence; they

often have a strong sense of direction.

Self-discipline high scorers have the ability to persist at difficult or unpleasant
tasks until they are completed. They are able to overcome reluctance to begin
tasks and they stay on track despite distractions.

NEUROTICISM (Sensitive/Nervous vs. Secure/Confident)

This dimension of the big five exhibits a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions
easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression, and vulnerability. It also refers to the degree of
emotional stability and impulse control. A high need for stability manifests as a stable and calm
personality, but can also be viewed as uninspiring and unconcerned. A low need for stability, on
the other hand, causes a reactive and excitable personality, often very dynamic individuals, but
they can be perceived as unstable or insecure. It is a trait characterized by sadness and
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moodiness. According to Eysencks theory of personality, neuroticism is interlinked with low

tolerance for stress or aversive stimuli. Neurotic people are more likely to interpret ordinary
situations as threatening, and minor frustrations as hopelessly difficult. Their negative emotional
reactions tend to persist for unusually long periods of time.
Neuroticism Facets

Anxiety high scorers often feel as if something dangerous were about to

happen; they tend to feel tense, jittery, and nervous.

Anger high scorers are inclined to feel angry; they are sensitive about being

treated fairly and feel resentful when they feel they are cheated.
Depression high scorers tend to feel sad, dejected, and discouraged; they lack

energy and have difficulty initiating activities.

Self-Consciousness high scorers are sensitive about what others think of

them they are easily embarrassed and often feel ashamed.

Immoderation high scorers have difficulty resisting strong cravings and urges

and tend to be oriented toward short-term pleasures than long-term happiness.

Vulnerability high scorers experience panic, confusion, and helplessness
when under pressure or stress.

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