How the Big Five Personality Model Can Help In Understanding Who You Are

I recently stumbled across the model by the way of Dr Jordan B. Peterson who frequently references this model in his work regarding personality. I found it to be so profound that I thought I'd share it with the Steemians.

In this post I will break down each of the five personality traits (and their respective sub-traits) from the Big Five Model:

• Agreeableness
• Openness
• Conscientiousness
• Extraversion
• Neuroticism

Agreeableness

In broad terms, this trait determine how much emphasis one puts on sustaining friendly relationships with others. Highly agreeable people tend to see the best in their peers, whereas disagreeable people are more skeptical about the motivations of others. Agreeable people have a desire for cooperation between them and their peers, and as a result, agreeable people tend to avoid conflict with others. Because of their trusting, cooperative nature, agreeable people can be easily taken advantage of if they fear that they will upset others by asserting themselves. However, agreeable people are often described as caring, friendly individuals.

Agreeableness is split into two aspects:

• Politeness - the level of respect one gives to others, in particular, to people of authority
• Compassion - the degree to which one cares about the general well-being of others

The primary benefit of being agreeable lies in the fact that agreeable people are much more capable of forming friendly relationships with others. On the flipside, however, being too agreeable can result in being treated like a doormat, if one is so absorbed in trying to appease everyone around them. If one is too disagreeable, they will have a tougher time of forming friendships and may offend others because of their blunt nature. A certain degree of agreeableness is healthy such that one can cooperate with colleagues/peers and bond with others.

Openness

Is a gauge of a person's interests in certain domains such as art, music or other creative realms; creativity is closely related to openness. People high in openness are always looking for new experiences, and new ways of doing things. They take pleasure out of undertaking and being exposed to artistic endeavors, in particular of the visual form. People high in openness tend to appreciate the beauty of the world around them. People high in openness are also enthralled by abstract ideas and philosophies. Because of their analytical nature, however, highly open people may question themselves constantly, and may be hesitant in taking action.

Openness can be described as, openness:

• To new experience - adaptability, appreciation of art
• To new ideas - analysis of philosophies & preexisting methods

People high in openness tend to see the world for its peculiarities instead of for its utilities; artists are often defined by this trait. The negative side to a high degree of openness is that paralysis by analysis can occur, as open people are not generally practical. Also, because open people are always searching for new experiences, they can have a tough time finding a certain occupation, study, hobby or relationship that keeps them satisfied long term. On the flip side, being entrepreneurial requires some level of openness, as there is an element of risk and uncertainty, but also great promise and excitement in entrepreneurial ventures.

Neuroticism

Is defined as how prone one is to negative emotion, such as anger, anxiety, sadness, etc. Highly neurotic people may experience significant mood swings, and are more prone to bouts of depression or angry fits. They are worriers and may have trouble navigating uncertain, uncomfortable situations. People low in neuroticism are generally very stoic, and aren't as harshly affected emotionally by bad occurrences.

Neuroticism can be broken down into two sub-traits:

• Withdrawal - one's tendency to shrink/become anxious in an uncomfortable scenario, especially social situations
• Volatility - how greatly/frequently one's mood swings

Being highly neurotic does not have much, if any, benefit. A certain degree of self-consciousness is healthy, however highly neurotic people tend to under-perform socially and avoid any form of risk, which are both key factors of living a fulfilling life. It is important for those high in neuroticism to form consistent habits when it comes to sleeping and eating, and to take time out of their day for therapeutic activities such as exercise, meditation, or a hobby one enjoys such as painting or playing an instrument, which will help to ease the mind.

Extraversion

This trait defines one's enthusiasm for life, particularly social situations. Highly extraverted people enjoy the back and forth of conversation and aren't afraid to express themselves around new people. They relish opportunities to forge relationships with new people and to be a part of a group dynamic. In comparison, introverts may find social dynamics draining. They tend to not assert themselves in social situations, particularly when in a group. Introverts enjoy or even prefer their solitude, whereas people high in extraversion find it difficult being isolated for any extended stretch of time. Because of this, introverts are much more suited for lines of work where communication between peers isn't paramount; extraverts enjoy lines of work where being personable is an asset (e.g. sales, social work, human resources).

Extraversion can be broken down into two sub-traits:

• Enthusiasm - for day-to-day experience, in particular social situations
• Assertiveness - linked to boldness in terms of sharing one's opinion, and impulsiveness

Extraversion is an important aspect of social success. One must feel comfortable about the prospect of meeting and establishing rapport with new people if meaningful relationships are to be forged. The more extraverted one is, the more people they have connected with, which results in more opportunities for fulfilling experience or for career. Radiating a vibe of optimism and joy is attractive to others and is contagious, and it is difficult to dislike such people. Being overly extraverted, however, can have its downsides; one may appear overbearing or even annoying. Being comfortable with being alone is an important aspect of one's personality, and extraverts often have trouble with this.

Conscientiousness

This trait determines how much emphasis one puts on planning out a meticulous schedule by which to live by. Conscientious people are extremely achievement orientated, and despise 'slacking off'. They are dutiful and see taking responsibility as important. Those who are conscientious are creatures of cleanliness and order, and as such they are disgusted by others who do not take care of their immediate surroundings (hence why many an in house argument occurs because of the dirty dishes in the sink). Because of their dedicated nature, conscientious people thrive in academic settings and in high pressure work environments; their attention to detail makes them suitable for managerial or administrative occupations.

Conscientiousness can be broken down into two categories:

• Industriousness - how much emphasis one puts on efficiency and process in regards to work
• Orderliness - the importance one places on routine, organization and general cleanliness

Highly conscientious people are generally high achievers because of their unmatched drive and determination. They lead very structured lives and are constantly planning ahead. However, because of their dedication to responsibility, they can have a tough time unwinding and enjoying leisurely activities, as they always seemingly have pressing matters on their mind. Not putting the sufficient energy into socialization or joyful experience can result in living an unbalanced lifestyle. Their emphasis on cleanliness and order can be overbearing on others. It is important, however, to remain conscientious about one's current life as a well-structured, goal-orientated schedule is largely beneficial, and helps to reach achievements and milestones you can be proud of.

Where Can I Learn More?

If this post interested you and you wish to know more about the Big Five model, I urge you to visit UnderstandMyself.com where psychology professors Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, Dr. Daniel M. Higgins and Dr. Robert O. Pihl have conjured a comprehensive test that gives you an in-depth breakdown of your personality based on these five traits.
Doing so has enabled me to understand who I am as a person better, and has helped me realize which aspects of my character I need to work on such that I can maximize my happiness and success.
Thank you for reading!