THE BIG FIVE

PESONALITY TRAITS
Background
 Personality theorist, wanting to explore consistency
among competing theories of personality, undertook
an analysis of personality instruments.

 Over time, it was discovered that all instruments

measured a limited number of constructs.

 These constructs, in various dimensional

combinations seemed to constitute personality.
Five Factor Model
 After considerable discussion and argument about
what and how many constructs seemed to be
necessary to encompass what was being measured by
personality instruments, five factors seem to be the
most central.

 Each factor is composed of a number of sub-factors

that fit under its heading and meet necessary criteria
for being a distinct cluster.
Five Factor Model
 Personality, then, is a specific combination of these
traits in specific amounts.

 We all have the same five factors, but we have

differing degrees of these factors in combination,
giving us different personalities.

 Thus we differ from each other dimensionally and

not categorically.
The BIG Five Personality Traits
 The "Big Five" factors (or Five Factor
Model; FFM) of personality are five broad
domains or dimensions of personality which are
used to describe human personality.

 There are compelling reasons to believe that most,

but not all, individual differences in personality can
be boiled down to differences on 5 basic
personality traits
TAKE THE TEST
SCORING AND THE
BUCKET GAME
What are the big five?
 Extraversion
 Agreeableness
 Conscientiousness
 Neuroticism
 Openness to Experience
Extroversion
 This trait reflects preference for, and behavior in,
social situations.
 Relates to interpersonal behavior
 Extent to which individuals prefer to be alone or
with others
 Ability to experience positive emotions
 Surgency: ability to be vigorous and energetic
 People high in extraversion are energetic and seek
out the company of others. Low scorers (introverts)
tend to be more quiet and reserved.
Facets of Extraversion
 Warmth
 Gregariousness
 Assertiveness
 Activity
 Excitement seeking
 Positive Emotions
Agreeableness
 This trait reflects how we tend to interact with
others. People high in agreeableness tend to be
trusting, friendly and cooperative. Low scorers tend
to be more aggressive and less cooperative.
 Relates to interpersonal behavior
 Characteristic responses of other people to an
individual
 Liked by others, nice, warm, courteous
Facets of Agreeableness
 Trust
 Straightforwardness
 Altruism
 Compliance
 Modesty
 Tender mindedness
Conscientiousness
 This trait reflects how organized and persistent we
are in pursuing our goals.
 Relates to way in which individual performs tasks
 Careful, hardworking, neat, organized

 High scorers are methodical, well organized and

dutiful. Low scorers are less careful, less focused
and more likely to be distracted from tasks.
Facets of Conscientiousness
 Competence
 Order
 Dutifulness
 Achievement
 Self-discipline
 Deliberation
Openness to Experience
 This trait reflects 'open-mindedness' and interest in
culture.
 Assesses seeking and appreciation of experience
for its own sake
 Toleration for and exploration of the unfamiliar
 High scorers tend to be imaginative, creative, and
to seek out cultural and educational experiences.
Low scorers are more down-to-earth, less interested
in art and more practical in nature.
Facets of Openness
 Fantasy
 Aesthetics
 Feelings
 Actions
 Ideas
 Values
Neuroticism
 This trait reflects the tendency to experience
negative thoughts and feelings.
 Relates to person’s emotional life
 Measures psychological adjustment and emotional
stability
 Prone to experience negative emotions
 High scorers are prone to insecurity and emotional
distress. Low scorers tend to be more relaxed, less
emotional and less prone to distress.
Facets of Neuroticism
 Anxiety
 Hostility
 Depression
 Self-consciousness
 Impulsiveness
 Vulnerability
QUESTIONS ??????