What are the Big Five personality traits? Plus, why they matter
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, CDCES, MBA
Learn about the Big Five personality traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—including their positive and negative qualities.
If you’ve ever wondered why people think, feel, and act the way they do, the Big Five personality traits model could have something to do with it.
Some people suggest that there are five personality traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—and every person falls along a spectrum with each. Your unique combination of personality traits is what makes you who you are. So, while one person might be quite open, conscientious, and extroverted, but less agreeable and neurotic, their best friend might be the exact opposite. Learning more about the Big Five personality traits can improve your relationships — and even help you understand more about yourself.
What are the Big Five Personality traits?
The Big Five Personality traits, also known as the Five-Factor Model (FFM), is a research-backed model used to describe human personality. It’s often used by psychologists, researchers, and in everyday life to understand and predict how people might respond in different contexts.
Big Five personality trait #1: Openness
Openness describes your willingness to engage with new experiences, ideas, and perspectives. People who score high in openness are often described as imaginative, curious, adventurous, and open-minded. They may be drawn to artistic and intellectual pursuits, and enjoy exploring new concepts.
Highly open people often thrive in environments that allow for creative expression and innovation. They may excel in roles that involve problem-solving, such as research, the arts, or entrepreneurism. However, they might need to work on balancing their imagination with practical considerations to avoid potential pitfalls.
Some positive traits are intellectual curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness. Some of the negative traits may include unpredictability, overthinking, and detachment from practicality.
To build openness: Take simple steps, like trying a new hobby, reading a different genre of book, or having conversations with people from different backgrounds to gain new perspectives.
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Big Five personality trait #2: Conscientiousness
Conscientiousness reflects a person's tendency to be organized, dependable, and goal-oriented. People high in conscientiousness are often seen as reliable, hardworking, and detail-oriented. They often excel in structured environments.
Conscientious people often excel in structured environments where attention to detail and reliability are valued. They thrive in roles that require careful planning and execution, such as project management, accounting, or administrative positions. However, they might need to become more flexible and manage their perfectionist tendencies to avoid stress and burnout.
Some of the positive traits include reliability, a strong work ethic, and organization. Some of the negative traits include rigidity, perfectionism, and overworking.
To become more conscientious: Set small, achievable goals, create daily schedules, and break tasks into manageable steps. This can also help improve productivity.
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Big Five personality trait #3: Extraversion
Extraversion is characterized by sociability, assertiveness, and enthusiasm. People who score high in extraversion are often energetic, talkative, and thrive in social situations.
Extroverts often thrive when they’re with others. They’re well-suited to positions that involve teamwork and communication, like sales, marketing, public relations, or teaching. However, they might need to work on balancing their need for social interaction with tasks that require individual focus and reflection.
Some of the positive traits include enthusiasm, sociability, and assertiveness. Some negative traits may include impulsiveness, dominance in conversation, and distraction during alone time.
To become more extraverted: Try stepping out of your comfort zone and engaging in more social activities. Participating in clubs, social events, or team sports can help you improve your social skills and confidence.
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Big Five personality trait #4: Agreeableness
Agreeableness is a person's tendency to be compassionate, cooperative, and friendly. People high in agreeableness are often described as kind-hearted, trusting, and supportive.
People who are highly agreeable often thrive in environments that require collaboration. They excel in roles that involve caregiving, customer service, and counseling. However, they might need to work on asserting themselves and setting boundaries to ensure their own needs are met.
Some positive traits include kindness, trustworthiness, and cooperation. Some negative traits include being overly submissive, and being taken advantage of.
To be more agreeable: Try taking a moment before you argue, disagree, or push back. Check in to see if you need to assert yourself, or if you’re reacting to a situation in emotion.
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Big Five personality trait #5: Neuroticism
Neuroticism reflects a person's tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety, sadness, and moodiness. People who score high in neuroticism are often more sensitive to stress and may struggle with emotional stability.
People high in neuroticism often benefit from stable, supportive environments. They might excel in roles that require empathy and sensitivity, such as counseling, nursing, or in creative fields where emotional depth is an asset. However, they may need strategies to manage their stress and maintain emotional balance.
Some positive traits include a heightened self-awareness, sensitivity, and motivation for self-improvement. Some negative traits include anxiety, mood swings, and negative thinking.
To increase your emotional awareness: Practices like mindfulness, regular self-reflection, and emotional intelligence training can help you become more attuned to your own and others' emotions.
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How do I determine my own personality traits?
Learning more about your Big Five Personality traits can help you understand your behavior, strengths, and areas for growth, so you can make better decisions and improve your relationships.
Take a personality test
One of the easiest and most common ways to find out your Big Five Personality traits is by taking a personality test. These tests typically involve answering a series of questions about your behaviors, preferences, and reactions to different situations.
Look for well-known tests like the Big Five Inventory (BFI), the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), or the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). It can be tempting to give what you think might be the “right” answer, but it’s important to be honest. Your scores for each of the five traits will give an idea of where you fall on each spectrum.
Reflect on your behavior
Self-reflection can help you understand your personality traits. Take time to think about your behaviors, preferences, and how you react in different situations. You might consider asking yourself about:
Openness: Do you enjoy trying new things and exploring new ideas? Are you curious and imaginative?
Conscientiousness: Are you organized and dependable? Do you set and achieve goals regularly?
Extraversion: Do you feel energized by social interactions? Are you outgoing and talkative?
Agreeableness: Are you compassionate and cooperative? Do you prioritize getting along with others?
Neuroticism: How often do you feel anxious or stressed? Are you prone to mood swings?
Ask for feedback
Another way to gain insight into your personality is by asking people who know you well—like family members, friends, or colleagues—to provide their perspectives on your behavior and traits.
Ask people who’ve seen you in various situations to provide honest feedback about your behavior. To get useful insights, ask them about specific traits. For example, you might ask, "Do you think I handle stress well?" or "Do you see me as someone who’s open to new experiences?" Look for patterns in the feedback to help you identify traits and behaviors.
Big Five personality traits FAQs
What are the benefits of understanding the Big Five Personality traits?
Personal development: By recognizing your personality traits, you can lean into your strengths and find new areas for growth. This can lead to better decision-making and personal fulfillment.
Relationships: Knowing the traits of others may help you improve communication and manage conflicts. You might become more empathetic too.
Career: Understanding your strengths and weaknesses can help you find strategies for success at work.
Mental health: If you understand what makes you tick, it becomes easier to manage stress and anxiety, and regulate your emotions.
Can you inherit the Big Five personality traits from your family?
Research suggests that about 40–60% of the variation in the Big Five Personality traits can be attributed to genetic factors. Basically, this means that if your parents have certain personality traits, there's a good chance you might share them.
However, environment can also play a role — life experiences, culture, and personal choices can contribute to shaping these traits. For instance, you may have a genetic predisposition for high neuroticism, but a supportive and stable environment can help reduce the expression of anxiety and mood swings.
Do personality traits change over time?
Personality traits can change over time, though they tend to remain relatively stable after young adulthood. Various factors influence these changes, including life experiences, relationships, career developments, and personal growth.
For example, people often become less open to new experiences as they age. Routine and familiarity tend to become more important. Meanwhile, conscientiousness typically increases with age, as people become more responsible and reliable. Social activities may decrease, but older adults often maintain a stable level of extraversion. Agreeableness may increase, as people become more compassionate and cooperative. Many people experience a decrease in neuroticism over time, becoming more emotionally stable.
Can the Big Five Personality traits predict career success?
The Big Five Personality traits can influence job performance and satisfaction, and certain traits are linked to career success.
Highly conscientious people are generally organized, reliable, and goal-oriented, which makes them excel in most job roles. They’re more likely to be successful in their careers due to their diligence and strong work ethic.
Extraverted people thrive in roles that require social skills, such as sales, marketing, and public relations. Their energy and assertiveness can help them excel in team settings and leadership roles.
Agreeableness is beneficial in jobs that require teamwork and customer service, as being cooperative and empathetic can make them good at building relationships and collaborating.
People high in openness often excel in creative and innovative fields—such as art, research, and technology—due to their curiosity and willingness to explore new ideas.
Lower levels of neuroticism may be better for career success overall, as high emotional stability helps in managing stress and maintaining focus. However, high neuroticism can also bring strengths such as heightened self-awareness and empathy, which can be helpful in roles that require emotional sensitivity, such as counseling or creative arts.
How do cultural differences impact the expression of personality traits?
Cultural differences can significantly influence how personality traits are expressed and valued.
In cultures that emphasize individualism, traits like openness and extraversion are often highly valued. People are encouraged to express themselves, pursue personal goals, and explore new ideas. However, in more collectivistic societies, agreeableness and conscientiousness may be more important, as these cultures value harmony, cooperation, and respect for tradition and authority.
Cultures that value innovation and change might encourage higher openness, but this might be less common in more traditional cultures.
In cultures where group activities and social interactions are highly valued, extraversion may be prized. Lastly, where there is more stigma around expressing anxiety or depression, people may suppress these feelings.
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