The Big 5 Personality Traits

The Big 5 Personality Traits
Openness
Openness (also referred to as openness to experience) emphasizes imagination and insight the
most out of all five personality traits. 1 People who are high in openness tend to have a broad
range of interests. They are curious about the world and other people and are eager to learn new
things and enjoy new experiences.
People who are high in this personality trait also tend to be more adventurous and creative.
Conversely, people low in this personality trait are often much more traditional and may struggle
with abstract thinking.
High
 Very creative
 Open to trying new things
 Focused on tackling new challenges
 Happy to think about abstract concepts
Low
 Dislikes change
 Does not enjoy new things
 Resists new ideas
 Not very imaginative
 Dislikes abstract or theoretical concepts
Conscientiousness
Among each of the personality traits, conscientiousness is one defined by high levels of
thoughtfulness, good impulse control, and goal-directed behaviors. 1 Highly conscientious people
tend to be organized and mindful of details. They plan ahead, think about how their behavior
affects others, and are mindful of deadlines.
Someone scoring lower in this primary personality trait is less structured and less organized.
They may procrastinate to get things done, sometimes missing deadlines completely.
High
 Spends time preparing
 Finishes important tasks right away
 Pays attention to detail
 Enjoys having a set schedule
Low
 Dislike structure and schedules
 Makes messes and doesn't take care of things
 Fails to return things or put them back where they belong
 Procrastinates important tasks
 Fails to complete necessary or assigned tasks
Extraversion
Extraversion (or extroversion) is a personality trait characterized by excitability, sociability,
talkativeness, assertiveness, and high amounts of emotional expressiveness. 1 People high in
extraversion are outgoing and tend to gain energy in social situations. Being around others helps
them feel energized and excited.
People who are low in this personality trait or introverted tend to be more reserved. They have
less energy to expend in social settings and social events can feel draining. Introverts often
require a period of solitude and quiet in order to "recharge."
High
 Enjoys being the center of attention
 Likes to start conversations
 Enjoys meeting new people
 Has a wide social circle of friends and acquaintances
 Finds it easy to make new friends
 Feels energized when around other people
 Say things before thinking about them
Low
 Prefers solitude
 Feels exhausted when having to socialize a lot
 Finds it difficult to start conversations
 Dislikes making small talk
 Carefully thinks things through before speaking
 Dislikes being the center of attention
Agreeableness
This personality trait includes attributes such as trust, altruism, kindness, affection, and
other prosocial behaviors.1 People who are high in agreeableness tend to be more cooperative
while those low in this personality trait tend to be more competitive and sometimes even
manipulative.
High
 Has a great deal of interest in other people
 Cares about others
 Feels empathy and concern for other people
 Enjoys helping and contributing to the happiness of other people
 Assists others who are in need of help
Low
 Takes little interest in others
 Doesn't care about how other people feel
 Has little interest in other people's problems
 Insults and belittles others
 Manipulates others to get what they want
Neuroticism
Neuroticism is a personality trait characterized by sadness, moodiness, and emotional
instability.1 Individuals who are high in neuroticism tend to experience mood swings, anxiety,
irritability, and sadness. Those low in this personality trait tend to be more stable and
emotionally resilient.
High
 Experiences a lot of stress
 Worries about many different things
 Gets upset easily
 Experiences dramatic shifts in mood
 Feels anxious
 Struggles to bounce back after stressful events
Low
 Emotionally stable
 Deals well with stress
 Rarely feels sad or depressed
 Doesn't worry much
 Is very relaxed

The Big 5 Personality Traits - Notes

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