The Big 5 personality traits: sociability, responsibility, openness, agreeableness and neuroticism.

We delve into the Big Five Personality Factor Theory.

Why does each individual behave differently in different situations and contexts? How can we explain that siblings raised in the same environment are so opposite to each other? In recent centuries, these types of questions about the personality of human beings have been finding certain answers thanks to research in the field of the psychology of individual differences.

In the study of personality psychology, the so-called "Big Five" model is a pattern in the study of personality. is a pattern in the study of personality that examines the structure of personality based on five broad elements or personality traits (personality dimensions). It is one of the most widely used theoretical bodies to define and measure the personality of each individual.

Personality Traits: the big five

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

The Big Five personality traits, also called major factorsThe five major personality traits, also called major factors, are usually given the following names: O factor (openness to new experiences), factor C (responsibility), factor E (extroversion), factor A (agreeableness) and factor N (neuroticism or emotional instability), thus forming the acronym "OCEAN".OCEAN”.

Each of the traits is made up of a set of more specific personality traits. For example, the E factor (extroversion) includes concrete qualities such as emotion-seeking, sociability or optimism..

The Big Five model developed by Raymond Cattell Raymond Cattell (pictured), aims to describe personality, and psychology professionals have been providing new evidence and approaches over the years with different methodologies to analyze these personality traits of each individual.

The 5 personality factors

There is a certain agreement among personality experts in affirming that personality can be categorized into these 5 major traits, which were which were described in the theory of the Big Five personality traits.

The definition of each of them is as follows:

(Factor O): Openness to Experience.

It shows to what degree a subject tends to seek out new personal experiences and creatively envisions his or her future.. The person open to experience has a fluid relationship with their imagination, appreciates art and aesthetics, and is consistent with their emotions and those around them. They prefer to break with routine and often possess knowledge on broad subjects due to their intellectual curiosity. Their opposite is the Closed to Experience (or Change).

Individuals who score low have more conventional interests. They enjoy the simple rather than the complex, ambivalent and subtle. They tend to view the sciences or the arts as impractical disciplines. They prefer familiarity to novelty; they are moderate and attached to tradition.

(Factor C): Responsibility

This personality trait refers to how focused the subject is on his or her goals(Factor C): Responsibility This personality trait refers to how focused the subject is on his or her goals, as well as how disciplined he or she is in achieving those goals.

We could say that the person with a high score in factor C is an organized individual, with the ability to concentrate, to complete tasks and to think before making a decision, without losing the medium and long-term perspective. In short, responsibility is embodied in, on the one hand, thinking and planning things in a structured and detailed way, and on the other hand, moving from ideas to practice.

(Factor E): Extraversion

Defines the degree to which the subject is open with others and channels his or her energy in social contexts.. In other words, Factor E examines how much a subject enjoys being around other people, how much he/she likes to express him/herself in front of others, and so on. Its opposite is Introversion, which is characterized in reserved people, who are often labeled as unpleasant. They tend to be certainly independent, prefer routine and familiar environment.

They prefer to be alone and do not like to be part of crowds of people, which does not mean that they are less happy. They are often as lively as the next person in close friendship circles. They are more reflective than extroverts, and are less inclined to action.

(Factor A): Agreeableness

It is the degree to which the person is respectful, tolerant, and calm.. The kind person is one who trusts in the honesty of other individuals, has a vocation to help and assist those in need, is humble and simple, and is empathetic towards the emotions and feelings of others.

This personality trait is embodied in the type of prosocial behaviors that the person applies when relating to others. If your behavior is little focused on making others feel comfortable and/or welcome, the degree of kindness will be low; but if efforts are invested in taking into account the interests, tastes and points of view of others, it is high.

• You may be interested in "What is prosocial behavior and how does it develop?"

(Factor N): Neuroticism

Emotional stability defines to what degree a person copes with complicated situations in life without any problems. Calm subjects, not very prone to anger or rage, tend to remain cheerful and manage their personal crises very well. On the other hand, the opposite of emotional stability is neuroticism.

Within the personality traits, Factor N is the one we find with a high score in people who have trouble balancing their emotions and who tend to experience sudden mood swings.