The Big Five remain relatively stable throughout most of one’s lifetime. They are influenced significantly by genes and the environment, with an estimated heritability of 50%. They also predict certain important life outcomes such as education and health.
Each trait represents a continuum. Individuals can fall anywhere on the continuum for each trait.
Unlike other trait theories that sort individuals into binary categories (i.e. introvert or extrovert), the Big Five Model asserts that each personality trait is a spectrum.
Therefore, individuals are ranked on a scale between the two extreme ends of five broad dimensions:
Openness to experience refers to one’s willingness to try new things as well as engage in imaginative and intellectual activities. It includes the ability to “think outside of the box.”
Facets of openness include the following (John & Srivastava, 1999):
High
- Curious
- Imaginative
- Creative
- Open to trying new things
- Unconventional
Low
- Predictable
- Not very imaginative
- Dislikes change
- Prefer routine
- Traditional
Conscientiousness describes a person’s ability to regulate impulse control to engage in goal-directed behaviors (Grohol, 2019). It measures elements such as control, inhibition, and persistence of behavior.
Facets of conscientiousness include the following (John & Srivastava, 1999):
High
- Competence
- Organized
- Dutifulness
- Achievement striving
- Self-disciplined
- Deliberation
Low
- Incompetent
- Disorganized
- Careless
- Procrastinates
- Indiscipline
- Impulsive
Extraversion reflects the tendency and intensity to which someone seeks interaction with their environment, particularly socially. It encompasses the comfort and assertiveness levels of people in social situations.
Additionally, it also reflects the sources from which someone draws energy.
Facets of extraversion include the following (John & Srivastava, 1999):
High
- Sociable
- Energized by social interaction
- Excitement-seeking
- Enjoys being the center of attention
- Outgoing
Low
- Prefers solitude
- Fatigued by too much social interaction
- Reflective
- Dislikes being the center of attention
- Reserved
Agreeableness refers to how people tend to treat relationships with others. Unlike extraversion which consists of the pursuit of relationships, agreeableness focuses on people’s orientation and interactions with others (Ackerman, 2017).
Facets of agreeableness include the following (John & Srivastava, 1999):
High
- Trust (forgiving)
- Straightforwardness
- Altruism (enjoys helping)
- Compliance
- Modesty
- Sympathetic
- Empathy
Low
- Skeptical
- Demanding
- Insults and belittles others
- Stubborn
- Show-off
- Unsympathetic
- Doesn’t care about how other people feel
Neuroticism describes the overall emotional stability of an individual through how they perceive the world. It takes into account how likely a person is to interpret events as threatening or difficult.
It also includes one’s propensity to experience negative emotions.
Facets of neuroticism include the following (John & Srivastava, 1999):
High
- Anxious
- Angry hostility (irritable)
- Experiences a lot of stress
- Self-consciousness (shy)
- Vulnerability
- Experiences dramatic shifts in mood
Low
- Doesn’t worry much
- Calm
- Emotionally stable
- Confident
- Resilient
- Rarely feels sad or depressed
Annabelle G.Y. Lim, Psychology Graduate, BA (Hons), Psychology, Harvard University
Annabelle G.Y. Lim is a graduate in psychology from Harvard University. She has served as a research assistant at the Harvard Adolescent Stress & Development Lab. Updated on December 20, 2023, Reviewed by, Saul McLeod, PhD