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In regard to one’s personality, there are thousands of traits that can be used to describe an individual’s character. According to “Traits” (2017), Gordon Allport examined over 18,000 different traits, suggesting many principals to create a listing that was more reasonable. Raymond B. Cattell condensed Allport’s list of traits to a smaller number and then separated them into groups, which eventually led him to develop the 16 fundamental source traits along with the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire to measure those traits (“Traits”, 2017). Kandler, Bleidorn, Riemann, Angleitner, & Spinath (2011) explained that “personality traits are usually conceptualized as complex biologically based bipolar dimensions of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral dispositions, which are largely heritable and relatively consistent across situations and time” (p. 1633, para. 1). Therefore, it was believed by many psychologists that a simple five factors proved to be more valuable in assessing personality, which are Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Openness (“Traits”, 2017). The Big Five questionnaire was developed to measure these factors.
My Personality Traits Based on The Big Five Assessment Tool
Upon completing The Big Five questionnaire, I found the assessment to be surprisingly accurate in every category except one. The results described several aspects of my personality in great detail that offered insight on why I behave the way that I do. The assessment began with reporting my score of 70% in the openness factor, which–– I must add–– is in the moderate range. According to the assessment, openness is significantly connected to an individual’s interest in art and culture –– it explains a person’s ability to think in abstract, complex ways (“The Big Five Personality Test”, 2016). Individuals who score high in this area are more inclined to enjoy the arts and find uncommon, intricate ways to express themselves. Individuals who score low in openness are commonly apprehensive of the arts and choose to pursue more hands-on interests. Because my score is in the mid-range, the assessment explained that it’s very possible that I don’t stand out as either a predominantly artistic or predominantly conservative person. I would have to say that the evaluation of my openness to experience is very much true. I don’t consider myself to be particularly creative or unconventional. I believe my interests appear to be a little of both, but not as extreme to be one or the other.
The next factor that the assessment reports is conscientious. I scored rather high at a 77.5% based off the measures of the Big Five assessment tool. Conscientiousness is explained as a person’s ability to use self-discipline and control in order to chase their goals (“The Big Five Personality Test”, 2016). People that score high in this area tend to be organized and determined. The assessment used words such as orderly, dependable, and hardworking to describe an individual high in conscientiousness. It also noted that these individuals have great potential to be successful in their professions and are not likely to develop addictive habits of any kind. This feedback of my conscientious score was nothing but gospel. I believe I have an enormous amount of self-control, and my threshold for resisting impulses is pretty high as well. I’m very organized in all aspects of my life and I feel somewhat frustrated when my surroundings aren’t neat and orderly.
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According to “The Big Five Personality Test” (2016), Extraversion describes an individual’s desire to find encouragement from the outside world, especially when it’s attention from other people. Extraverts work diligently to gain the admiration of others, thus experiencing an exciting thrill when others pay homage to their victories. Introverts, on the other hand, are the exact opposites––they don’t put so much effort into gaining social praise for achievements, nor do they experience a high for recognition of such accomplishments. I scored at 52.5% in this measurement, making me moderately extraverted. I’m in agreeance with the explanation of my results in this area, as I’m not particularly driven to seek out social rewards. However, I do like to be recognized for accomplishments, but I’m also content when I’m not receiving acknowledgement from others.
I scored at 67.5% in the agreeableness measurement––again, this is considered a moderate score. Agreeableness explains an individual’s ability to put other’s needs ahead of their own, and to collaborate instead of competing with others (“The Big Five Personality Test”, 2016). People who score high in this area are thought of as trusting and forgiving. They’re considered very empathetic and experience great pleasure when they serve and take care of others. In contrast, people who score low in this area do not experience empathy often and tend to put their own needs before others. Low scoring individuals can be described as hostile, competitive, and aggressive. With my score being in the middle, it indicates that I have a good balance with my needs and the needs of others. I find this analysis to be, once again, true. I don’t mind helping others and putting their interests before mine some of the time, but I also realize that I have to make sure that I’m okay as well.
Lastly, the assessment reported my score of 27.5% in the neuroticism measurement. This is, by far, the lowest I’ve scored on this evaluation, and the area that I don’t necessarily agree with in terms of my results. Neuroticism is described as an individual’s ability to experience undesirable emotions such as fear, sadness, anxiety, guilt, and shame (“The Big Five Personality Test”, 2016). Individuals that score low in neuroticism are considered carefree, hopeful, self-confident, and composed. The assessment goes on to state that individuals who score low in this measurement are able to handle stress well, take difficult obstacles in stride, and are less likely to experience depression or anxiety. My reason for not totally agreeing with the results of this measurement is due to the fact that I don’t believe I’m a carefree person. I also experience anxiety when I feel overwhelmed or going through challenging situations. I do, however, feel that I have a solid self-esteem and a positive outlook on life.
Personality Factors and Genetics
When comparing my results of The Big Five Personality Test to Cattell’s 16 Personality Factors (16PF), I found that there were some similarities. The 16PF measures underlying source traits of personality. I noticed that my results on the assessment described me as being “cautious” in the conscientious measurement and “self-confident” in the neuroticism measurement. In view of the 16PF, “apprehension” and “self-reliance” are factors that seem to be underlying source traits that predict personality, thus concluding that the two assessment questionnaires are similar in what factors they measure.
According to Cloninger (2013), many personality assessments show significant genetic influences. Cattell believed that many traits have high heritability––the degree to which a trait is impacted by genetics (Cloninger, 2013). I believe my results in the Conscientious measurement of The Big Five assessment revealed that I inherited this trait from my father’s family. It was the measurement that I scored the highest in. My father was a very resilient and self-sufficient individual, as is many relatives on his side of the family. He also had strong need to always appear neat and clean in everything he was involved in, including his surroundings. I believe traits are equally inherited and learned (environment). Not all the traits I possess were gained from hereditary––several were gained from experiences as I matured into an adult.
Conclusion
The Big Five personality traits are the five basic measurements of personality. Earlier theories suggested many other possible traits, such as Gordon Allport’s lengthy list of thousands of personality traits and Raymond Cattell’s 16 personality factors. The five-factor theory helped to establish a less complicated approach that served as the structure of personality.
