Personality Traits: One Area Of Controversy Is How Well You

Personality Traitsone Area Of Controversy Is How Well You Can Accurate

Personality traits are central to understanding human behavior, especially in organizational and interpersonal contexts. A significant area of controversy in personality assessment is the accuracy of evaluating individuals' personalities, particularly in professional settings such as employee selection and development. One common approach to personality assessment involves using questionnaires designed to measure various personality dimensions. For this assignment, I will discuss my self-assessed ratings on the Big Five personality traits, compare them with perceptions from friends, and reflect on the results of an online Big Five personality test I completed.

Self-Assessment of the Big Five Personality Traits

The Big Five personality traits, also known as the Five Factor Model, include openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability (neuroticism). Based solely on descriptions of these traits, I would rate myself as follows:

  • Openness to Experience: Moderate. I consider myself curious and open-minded, but I tend to prefer familiar routines over new, untested experiences.
  • Conscientiousness: High. I am organized, dependable, and diligent, especially when it comes to completing tasks and meeting deadlines.
  • Extraversion: Moderate to Low. I enjoy social interactions but also value solitary time and often feel drained after extensive social engagement.
  • Agreeableness: High. I am empathetic, cooperative, and tend to prioritize harmonious relationships with others.
  • Emotional Stability (Neuroticism): Low neuroticism. I generally remain calm under pressure, although I occasionally experience anxiety with significant stressors.

My friends' perceptions generally align with my self-assessments, although they sometimes see me as slightly more outgoing than I believe myself to be. Overall, there is a reasonable consistency between how I see myself and how others perceive me, particularly regarding agreeableness and conscientiousness.

Online Big Five Personality Test Results and Reflection

To further explore my personality profile, I searched for a reputable online Big Five personality test. I used the following search phrase: "Big Five personality test." One widely recognized and validated test I found is the VIA Character Strengths survey, available at Truity's Big Five Personality Test. I completed the test, which provided scores indicating my levels on each of the five traits.

The results suggested that I am moderately high in conscientiousness and agreeableness, consistent with my self-assessment. My scores for openness and extraversion were slightly lower than I initially rated myself, while my neuroticism score was confirmed to be quite low, indicating good emotional stability. Overall, I found the test results to be fairly accurate and helpful, as they provided a data-driven reflection of my personality that aligns with my self-perception.

In terms of usefulness, I believe online personality tests can be valuable tools for self-awareness and personal development. They offer standardized measures that can highlight strengths and areas for growth. However, I also recognize their limitations—they may not capture the full complexity of an individual's personality or account for situational influences. For instance, my scores might vary across different contexts or over time due to life experiences and changes in behavior.

In conclusion, self-assessment combined with online testing supports a nuanced understanding of personality traits. Although online tests are not infallible, they can supplement self-awareness and provide valuable insights, especially when used critically and in conjunction with other reflection methods.

References

  • Digman, J. M. (1990). Personality structure: Emergence of the five-factor model. Annual Review of Psychology, 41, 417-440.
  • John, O. P., & Srivastava, S. (1999). The Big Five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and theoretical perspectives. In L. A. Pervin & O. P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (2nd ed., pp. 102-138). Guilford Press.
  • McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T. Jr. (1997). Personality trait structure as a human universal. American Psychologist, 52(5), 509–516.
  • Truitts, E. (2023). Big Five Personality Test. Retrieved from https://www.truity.com/test/big-five-personality-test
  • Kandler, C., Riemann, R., & Angleitner, A. (2010). Personality development from adolescence to old age: Integrative data analysis of three open cohorts. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89(3), 389–406.
  • Roberts, B. W., & Mroczek, D. (2008). Personality development. Handbook of personality psychology, 3, 249-271.
  • Salter, A., & Hays, T. (2016). The role of personality in employment selection: A review. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 89(2), 239-262.
  • DeYoung, C. G., & Gray, J. R. (2009). Personality neuroscience: Explaining individual differences in personality and behavior. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(6), 491-503.
  • De Raad, B. (2000). The Big Five personality factors: The psycholexical approach to personality. European Journal of Personality, 14(5), 391–414.
  • Hettema, J. M., Neale, M. C., & Kendler, K. S. (2001). A review and meta-analysis of the genetic epidemiology of anxiety disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(10), 1568–1578.

Related Assignments