Sometimes, we may blame on people who do not understand our thoughts. By the way, do you understand yourself?
What is Big 5 Personality Theory?
Many contemporary psychologists believe that there are five basic dimensions of personality, often referred to as the "Big 5" personality traits. The Big 5 personality traits are Extroversion, Agreeableness, Openness, Conscientiousness and Neuroticism.
Extroversion is a personality trait characterized by excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness, and high amounts of emotional expressiveness. People high in extroversion are outgoing and tend to gain energy in social situations.
Agreeableness is a personality trait characterized by trust, altruism, kindness, and affection. People who are high in agreeableness tend to be more cooperative.
Openness emphasizes imagination and insight the most out of all five personality traits. People who are high in openness are curious about the world and other people and are eager to learn new things and enjoy new experiences. They tend to be more adventurous and creative.
Conscientiousness is one defined by high levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control, and goal-directed behaviors. People who are high in conscientiousness tend to be organized and mindful of details. They are able to plan ahead and deeply,
Neuroticism is a personality trait characterized by sadness, moodiness, and emotional instability. People who are high in neuroticism tend to experience mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and sadness.
Here is a summary to show the characteristics of high and low level of each personality trait:
High | Low | |
Extroversion | Enjoys being the center of attention Likes to start conversations Enjoys meeting new people Has a wide social circle of friends and acquaintances Feels energized when around other people |
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 | 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 |
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 |
Openness | Creative Open to trying new things Focused on tackling new challenges Happy to think about abstract concepts |
Dislikes change Does not enjoy new things Resists new ideas Not imaginative Dislikes abstract or theoretical concepts |
Conscientiousness | Spends time preparing Finishes important tasks right away Pays attention to detail Enjoys having a set schedule |
Dislikes 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 |
Neuroticism | 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 |
Emotionally stable Deals well with stress Rarely feels sad or depressed Doesn't worry much Always relaxed |
Understanding what each personality trait is and what it means to score high or low in that trait can give you insight into your own personality. Hence, you can explain the decisions of your actions or thoughts clearly as you know who you are. Big 5 also helps you better understand others.
It is important to note that each of the five primary personality traits represents a range between two extremes. In fact, most people lie somewhere in between. For examples, extroversion represents a continuum between extreme extroversion and extreme introversion.
How to Use the Big 5 Personality Traits?
When you know your personality traits, it helps you to strengthen the talents and overcomes your weakness. If you are high in openness and conscientiousness, but low in extroversion, you may be a person who is good at organization and planning, but not good at building news relationships with partners or clients. Due to the high openness, you are open-minded to meet new friends. You can first prepare conversation topics before joining gatherings or parties. You can continue to use the strategies for the next gathering if a good result is gained. Otherwise, you can find another ways to perform a better result next time.
The big 5 personality model is not a typology system, so there are no specific "types" identified. Instead, these dimensions represent qualities that all people possess in varying amounts. One study found that most people do tend to fall into one of four main types based on the Big 5 traits.
Self-centered (high in extroversion and low in conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness)
Reserved (low on extroversion, neuroticism, and openness, and high on conscientiousness and agreeableness)
Role models (high on every big 5 trait other than neuroticism)
By the way, everyone should enjoy comfortable life in personal ways. Big 5 Personality Theory is just a reference since everyone is unique and traits can be changed or built up via practices and experience.
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Source retrieved from:
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422