The Big 5 Personality Traits: Sociability, Responsibility, Openness, Agreeableness, And Neuroticism
Why does each individual behave differently in different situations and contexts? How can we explain that brothers raised in the same environment are so opposite to each other? In recent centuries, these types of questions about the personality of human beings have been finding certain answers thanks to research in the field of the psychology of individual differences.
In the study of personality psychology, the so-called Big Five Model It is a pattern in the study of personality that examines its structure based on five broad elements or personality traits (personality dimensions). It is one of the most used theoretical bodies to define and measure what the personality of each individual is like.
These constitutive elements were reported during a study on the descriptions that some individuals made of the personality of others (Goldberg, 1993), and It is one of the most recognized models of human personality traits
The five big personality traits, also called main factors they usually receive the following names: O factor (openness to new experiences), factor C (responsibility), factor E (extroversion), factor A (kindness) and N factor (neuroticism or emotional instability), thus forming the acronym “OCEAN ”.
Each of the traits is made up of a set of more specific personality traits. For example, factor E (extroversion) includes specific qualities such as the search for emotions, sociability or optimism
The big five model that he developed Raymond Cattell (in the photograph), aims to describe personality, and psychology professionals have been providing new evidence and approaches over the years, different methodologies to analyze these personality traits of each individual.
The 5 factors of personality
There is some agreement among personality experts in stating that Personality can be categorized into these 5 major traits which were described in the theory of Big Five personality traits.
The definition of each of them is as follows:
(Factor O): Openness to Experience
It shows to what degree a subject tends to seek new personal experiences and creatively conceives their future The person open to experience has a fluid relationship with his imagination, appreciates art and aesthetics, and is consistent with his emotions and those around him. They prefer to break away from routine and tend to have knowledge on broad topics due to their intellectual curiosity. Its opposite is Closure to Experience (or Change).
Individuals who score low have more conventional interests. They enjoy the simple more than the complex, ambivalent and subtle. They tend to view science or art as impractical disciplines. They prefer familiarity to novelty; They are moderate and attached to tradition.
(Factor C): Responsibility
This personality trait refers to how focused the subject is on their goals in addition to how disciplined he is in achieving these goals.
We could say that the person with a high score in factor C is an organized individual, with the ability to concentrate, who finishes his or her tasks and who thinks before making a decision, without losing the medium and long-term perspective. In short, responsibility is reflected in, on the one hand, thinking and planning things in a structured and detailed way, and on the other hand, moving from ideas to practice.
Defines the degree to which the subject is open with others and channels his energy in social contexts In other words, the E factor examines how much a subject likes to be surrounded by other people, how much he likes to express himself to others, etc. Its opposite is Introversion, which is characterized by reserved people, who are often labeled as unfriendly. They tend to be certainly independent, preferring routine and a family environment.
They prefer to be alone and do not like to be part of the bustle of people, which does not mean that they are less happy. They often appear as lively as anyone in close circles of friendship. They are more reflective than extroverts, and tend less towards action.
(Factor A): Kindness
Is the degree to which the person is respectful, tolerant and calm The kind person is one who trusts in the honesty of other individuals, has a vocation to help and assist those who need it, is humble and simple, and is empathetic towards the emotions and feelings of others.
This personality trait is reflected in the type of prosocial behaviors that the person applies when relating to others. If her behavior is little focused on making other people feel comfortable and/or welcome, the degree of kindness will be low; But if efforts are invested in taking into account the interests, tastes and points of view of others, it is high.
(Factor N): Neuroticism
Emotional stability defines to what degree a person copes without problem with complicated life situations Calm individuals, not very prone to feeling angry or angry, usually remain cheerful and manage their personal crises very well. On the other hand, the opposite of emotional stability is neuroticism.
Within the personality traits, the N Factor is the one that we find with a high score in people with problems balancing their emotions and who usually experience sudden mood changes.
