Question

Explain the Big Five-Factor Model of personality (OCEAN).

Answer 1

Robert McCrae and Paul Costa (1987) developed a theory of personality explaining the five major factors of personality. According to them, personality traits are considered basic tendencies that are rooted in biology and that interact with external influences including culture in shaping the skills, habits, tastes, and values of the individual.

The five major factors (traits) of personality are as follows:

1. Openness to experience (O): Openness to experience is a trait related to an appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, creativity, imagination, curiosity, and a variety of experiences.
2. Conscientiousness (C): Conscientiousness is a trait showing a tendency to display self-discipline. It is related to the way in which people control, regulate, and direct their impulses. People having high conscientiousness are well-organized, responsible, dependable, and hardworking whereas people having low conscientiousness are unorganized, irresponsible, spontaneous, and careless.
3. Extroversion (E): Extroversion is a trait characterized by a breadth of activities and energy creation from external means. People having high extroversion are talkative, enthusiastic, open-minded, sociable, assertive, and courageous. On the other hand, people having low extroversion are less talkative, shy, alone, and less involved.
4. Agreeableness (A): Agreeableness is a trait showing an ability of an individual to get along with people and concern for social harmony. People having high agreeableness are kind, loving, caring, friendly, and cooperative whereas people having low agreeableness are uncooperative, jealous, hostile, and argumentative.
5. Neuroticism (N): Neuroticism is a trait showing the tendency to experience negative emotions, such as anger, anxiety, or depression. People having high neuroticism are anxious, depressed, irritable, fearful, impulsive, angry, and unstable. People having low neuroticism are balanced, calm, and stable.