The five-factor theory of personality is one of the dominating personality theories in psychology that attempt to categorize personality types depending on the manifestation of one of the five primary factors. According to Boyle (2008), the five-factor model, which is also referred to as the Big Five, is comprised of five personality trait dimensions “labeled neuroticism (N), extraversion (E), openness to experience–intellectance (O), agreeableness (A), and conscientiousness (C)” (p. 295). As further elaborated by Saulsman and Page (2004), each of these dimensions represents a number of specific facets that fall under the category of a given factor. In psychology, this theory is commonly applied as a framework for identifying disorders since they are thought to be deriving from personality structure. Consequently, the understanding of the differences between the factors of personality allows for easy identification of personality types and psychological disorders. Therefore, in this paper, the five factors are discussed and compared to identify their differences and the distinctive underlying features that make the five-factor theory a broadly used framework for psychological diagnostics.
Firstly, neuroticism is the first of the personality factors presented within the model. It is characterized by an individual’s particular level of predisposition to feeling distressed in the form of “anxiety, anger, depression, and other negative effects” (Costa Jr. & McCrae, 1990, p. 363). Overall, given that personality traits are closely linked to lexicological representation in the form of adjectives characterizing a person, neuroticism is attributed to commonly negative words (Bagby et al., 2005). Thus, unlike all the rest of the factors of the Big Five, neuroticism is associated with the highest level of negativity.
Secondly, extraversion incorporates a set of traits or characteristics associated with one’s level of either being extraverted or introverted. This personality factor is associated with the manifestations of sociability, cheerfulness, and liveliness (Costa Jr. & McCrae, 1990). Unlike other factors, extraversion is primarily concerned with one’s interaction with other members of society. Thirdly, openness to experience–intellectance is a dimension of personality traits that entails worldview and cognitive activity. In particular, it is manifested through “aesthetic sensitivity, intellectual curiosity, need for variety, and nondogmatic attitudes” (Costa Jr. & McCrae, 1990, p. 363). Unlike other factors, openness to experience is concentrated on one’s cognitive performance.
Fourthly, the agreeableness factor predetermines the readiness of a person to trust others. In particular, as explained by Costa Jr. and McCrae (1990), altruism and sympathy are contrasted with cynicism and egotism within the domain of agreeableness. Although agreeableness is similar to the factor of extraversion in terms of the involvement of an individual with others, it is primarily connected with decision-making regarding social interaction. Finally, conscientiousness is a personality factor that incorporates traits of self-control, self-discipline, and adherence to norms and principles (Costa Jr. & McCrae, 1990). Unlike the rest of the factors, this dimension deals with one’s inner motives and discipline without particular attention paid to the interaction with others.
In conclusion, the described five-factor model of personality and the comparison of the five factors demonstrate that these dimensions are distinctively different. The traits associated with each of the factors are inherently unique to a given dimension, allowing for categorizing personality types or identifying psychological disorders accordingly. Thus, the division of personality traits into five decisive factors is a comprehensive and clinically applicable framework contributing to feasible personality disorder diagnosis.
References
Bagby, R. M., Marshall, M. B., & Georgiades, S. (2005). Dimensional personality traits and the prediction of DSM-IV personality disorder symptom counts in a nonclinical sample. Journal of Personality Disorders, 19(1), 53-67.
Boyle, G. J. (2008). Critique of the five-factor model of personality. In G. J. Boyle, G. Matthews, & D. H. Saklofske (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of personality theory and assessment (pp. 295-312), Sage Publications
Costa Jr., P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1990). Personality disorders and the five-factor model of personality. Journal of Personality Disorders, 4(4), 362-371.
Saulsman, L. M., & Page, A. C. (2004). The five-factor model and personality disorder empirical literature: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 23(8), 1055-1085.