Personality Analysis on the Five-Factor Model

Personality Analysis on the Five-Factor Model

Mia Cleveland

Saint Cloud State University

Personality Analysis on the Five-Factor Model

        When we are describing someone or ourselves we are using traits, personality traits. For example, suppose you were having a conversation with someone and they said that they are outgoing and energetic. Those are considered personality traits.  Personality traits were discovered to describe who we are as trait-descriptive adjectives, which are characteristics. In this essay, I will discuss the Five-Factor Models and its history. I will then share my results on a personality test and if I agree with the results or not. I will explain both sides of the arguments and studies that went beyond the Big Five.

Big Five Model.

        The Five-Factor Model is based on a model that was developed for using factor analysis, to be proficient in determining the key traits in human personality. Trait theories began in the 1930s, with the pioneer work of Allport and Odbert they went throughout the dictionary and identified a little under 18,000 trait terms, they eventually shortened the number to 4,500 traits and made 171 clusters of traits (Larsen & Buss, 2014). Around the mid 40’s it was discovered that we did not need such a high number, so Cattell reduced the amount to 35 clusters of personality traits. Towards the end of the 40’s another gentleman by the name of Fiske took Cattell’s 35 clusters and grouped them into 22, he was one of the first persons to discover the FFM. In 1961 Tupes and Christal contributed to the FFM, taking its 22 clusters and shortened the number to 8 clusters. The “Big Five” or another commonly used acronym OCEAN was finally achieved into the five factor traits.

 The traits are Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion/Introversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism. These traits capture, and provides an integrative descriptive model for personality research (Oliver& Sanjay, 1999). Since then, further research has confirmed a basic five factor model of personality or ‘Big Five’ from the creator of the model Norman (1963). The five-factor model structure has been replicated by Norma (1963), Borgatta (1964), Digman and Takemoto-Chock (1981) and Botwin & Buss (1989) from the list that was imitated from Cattle’s 35 variables (Larsen & Buss, 2014)). The FFM definitions are, Neuroticism which is easily experienced as unpleasant emotions such as; anxiety, anger, or depression. Extroversion is known as having energy, surgency, to seek out stimulation and to also seek out the company of others. Agreeableness is about being compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others, Conscientiousness shows self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement. As for Openness to experience it is to have an appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, and unusual ideas, imaginative and curious. These five traits pretty much decide who we are. The way we measure the ‘Big Five’ to that fit us, are determined by us taking a personality test that was developed by Paul T Costa and Robert McRae (Larsen & Buss, 2014). The test is called the NEO-PI-R. They now have a test called the IPIP-NEO test that we had to take to measure our personality.