The Big Five Personality Traits
Openness
This trait features characteristics such as imagination and insight. People who are high in this trait also tend to
have a broad range of interests. They are curious about the world and other people and eager to learn new things
and enjoy new experiences.
People who are high in this trait tend to be more adventurous and creative. People low in this trait are often
much more traditional and may struggle with abstract thinking.
Conscientiousness
Standard features of this dimension include high levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control, and goal-
directed behaviors. 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.
Extraversion
Extraversion (or extroversion) is characterized by excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness, and high
amounts of emotional expressiveness. People who are high in extraversion are outgoing and tend to gain energy
in social situations. Being around other people helps them feel energized and excited.
People who are low in extraversion (or introverted) tend to be more reserved and have less energy to expend in
social settings. Social events can feel draining and introverts often require a period of solitude and quiet in order
to "recharge."
Agreeableness
This personality dimension 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 trait tend
to be more competitive and sometimes even manipulative.
Neuroticism
Neuroticism is a trait characterized by sadness, moodiness, and emotional instability.1 Individuals who are high
in this trait tend to experience mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and sadness. Those low in this trait tend to be
more stable and emotionally resilient.
Are the Big Five Traits Universal?
McCrae and his colleagues have also found that the big five traits are also remarkably universal. One study that
looked at people from more than 50 different cultures found that the five dimensions could be accurately used to
describe personality.
Based on this research, many psychologists now believe that the five personality dimensions are not only
universal; they also have biological origins. Psychologist David Buss has proposed that an evolutionary
explanation for these five core personality traits, suggesting that these personality traits represent the most
important qualities that shape our social landscape.
What Factors Influence the Big Five Traits?
Research suggests that both biological and environmental influences play a role in shaping our personalities.
Twin studies suggest that both nature and nurture play a role in the development of each of the five personality
factors.
One study of the genetic and environmental underpinnings of the five traits looked at 123 pairs of identical
twins and 127 pairs of fraternal twins. The findings suggested that the heritability of each trait was 53 percent
for extraversion, 41 percent for agreeableness, 44 percent for conscientiousness, 41 percent for neuroticism, and
61 for openness.
Longitudinal studies also suggest that these big five personality traits tend to be relatively stable over the course
of adulthood. One study of working-age adults found that personality tended to be stable over a four-year period
and displayed little change as a result of adverse life events.
Studies have shown that maturation may have an impact on the five traits. As people age, they tend to become
less extraverted, less neurotic, and less open to the experience. Agreeableness and conscientiousness, on the
other hand, tend to increase as people grow older.
A Word From Verywell
Always remember that behavior involves an interaction between a person's underlying personality and
situational variables. The situation that a person finds himself or herself plays a major role in how the person
reacts. However, in most cases, people offer responses that are consistent with their underlying personality
traits.
These dimensions represent broad areas of personality. Research has demonstrated that these groupings of
characteristics tend to occur together in many people. For example, individuals who are sociable tend to be
talkative. However, these traits do not always occur together. Personality is complex and varied and each person
may display behaviors across several of these dimensions.
