The 5 great personality traits: What are they?

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 the human being have been finding certain answers thanks to research in the field of psychology of differences individual.

In the study of personality psychology, the so-called Big Five Model (in English, "Big Five") It is a pattern in the study of personality that examines its structure from 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.

Personality traits: the big five

These constituent elements were reported during a study on the descriptions that some individuals made of the personality of others (Goldberg, 1993), and is one of the most recognized models of human personality traits.

The five great personality traits, also called

main factors, usually receive the following names: factor O (openness to new experiences), factor C (responsibility), factor E (extroversion), factor A (kindness) and factor N (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, the E factor (extroversion) includes specific qualities such as thrill-seeking, sociability, or optimism.

The Big Five Model He Developed Raymond Cattell (in the photograph), aims to describe the personality, and psychology professionals have been providing new evidence and approaches through 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 broad traits that were described in the theory of Big Five personality traits.

The definition of each of them is as follows:

(Factor O): Openness to Experience

Shows to what degree a subject tends to seek new personal experiences and creatively conceives of 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 of those around him. They prefer to break with the routine and tend to have knowledge on broad topics due to their intellectual curiosity. Its opposite is Closeness to Experience (or to Change).

Low-scoring individuals 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

It refers to how focused the subject is on their goals, in addition to how disciplined he is in achieving these ends. We could say that the person with a high score in factor C is an organized individual, with the ability to concentrate, who completes his tasks and who thinks before making a decision.

(Factor E): Extraversion

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 being around other people, how much he likes to express himself to others, etc. Its opposite is Introversion, which is characterized in reserved people, who are often labeled as unfriendly. They tend to be certainly independent, preferring the routine and the family atmosphere.

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 are often as lively as anyone else in tight circles of friendship. They are more thoughtful than extroverts, and less prone to action.

(Factor A): Friendliness

It is the degree to which the person is respectful, tolerant, and calm. The kind person is one that trusts the honesty of other individuals, has a vocation to help and assist whoever needs it, is humble and simple, and is empathetic towards emotions and feelings strangers.

(Factor N): Emotional stability

Define how well a person copes with difficult life situations. Quiet subjects, not very prone to anger or anger, tend to remain animated and manage their personal crises very well.

Within the personality traits, Factor N is the one that we find with a high score in moderate and calm people.

Bibliographic references:

• Cattell, R.B., (1947). Confirmation and clarification of primary personality factors. Psychometrika, 12, 197-220.