The Traits of the Big Five - Essay Example

Introduction Personality can be defined as to the characteristic differences in patterns and modes of feeling, behaving and thinking. Personality studies focus to understand how the different parts of an individual come together wholly. The studies also try to understand the differences in individuals in particular characteristics of personality. This article discusses the four modes of analyzing and determining the personality of an individual. Big 5 scale In psychology, the most commonly used and the best-accepted personality model are the traits of the big five. The big five have got their origin from statistical studies of personality items responses. Researchers use a technique referred to as factor analysis to determine the response of persons to several items of personality. Researchers have done the factor analyses using various samples worldwide, and a general result has always been gotten. While it seems like personality variables are unlimited, there are five that tend to stand out when people try to answer questions in line with their personality. The five include the neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and extraversion. The big five tests of personality traits can be measured in several different ways. Goldberg (1992) developed an Item Pool for International Personality that has factor markers of the Big-five that the test uses. There are fifty statements contained in the test. Each statement is rated on the basis of how much a person agrees to the statement on a scale of five points: agree, slightly agree, neutral, slightly disagree and disagree (Goldberg 2). After taking a test on the Big Five Personality, I realized that I am fairly extraversion. I learned that I am oriented towards issues outside myself and that I get satisfied when I interact with other people. My percentile score was 65. My conscientiousness is also fairly good. The percentile score was 52. I learned that I was fairly orderly and careful. My tendency to feel and experience bad emotions are high. The test indicated a percentile of 68 on neuroticism. The strongest personality that I have is agreeableness. The percentile score was 91. I learned that I tended to try to please and like people so much. Lastly, my weakest personality was openness. It had a percentile score of 22. I realized that I did not like seeking for new experiences. Keirsey personality measure Keirsey is a Temperament test that is psychologically known that was adopted from a psychological theory known as Jungian. The test assigns people basic personality types. The personality types are based on the responses of a series of questions that are short. The test has sixteen possible types of questions. To find out the personality type of a person it provides an insight into the weaknesses and strengths of the writing style of the person. In case a person has difficulties with block of writers, meeting deadlines and other problems related to writing, the Keirsey test might provide a solution. Keirsey Temperament Theory suggests that there are four temperament groups that exist. The groups define human behavior. The four temperaments are called Guardians, Artisans, Idealists and Rationalists. The four temperaments have further subdivisions often called character types. The four temperaments have got four types each. Under Artisan, the types are composer, performer, crafter, and promoter. Under the Guardian, the types include supervisor, provider, inspector, and protector. The rational consists of field-marshal, inventor, mastermind and architect. Lastly, the Idealist consists of a counselor, teacher, healer, and champion. The model of Keirsey of temperament has its basis on the core needs of people that need freedom, to be competent and useful. After understanding the components of the keirsey measure of personality, I learnt that I am a Guardian. This is because I am caring, organized concrete and I have got a strong desire for belonging and security. I love order and I know, instinctively, how to motivate and care for others. My work ethic is strong and my standards for authority and institution figures are very high. Locus of control Locus of control, in psychology of personality, shows an extent to which an individual believes that he/she can have control of the events that affect him/her. It is a questionnaire with thirteen items and Rotter (1966) developed it. The questionnaire can measure a generalized expectancy for external verses internal reinforcement control. A person whose locus control is external has a belief that his or her behavior does not matter, and the rewards and credentials of life do not exist within his or her control. A person with a locus control that is internal, on the other hand, has a belief that his or her actions determine the credentials and rewards they achieve. The scores here range from thirteen to zero. A score that is low is an indication of a control that is internal whereas a score that is high is an indication of a control that is external (Rotter 1). After learning and understanding how the locus control works, I realized that as the surrounding around me changes, I can attribute failure and success to two factors. The factors are either the things that I have control over or the forces outside my influence. I am aware that the orientation I choose has some bearing on my long-term success. Locus control gives a description of the extent to which a person perceives that results come from his or her doings, or from external forces. The perception leads to the production of a continuum with internal control in one hand and external control on the other. A person that develops a locus control that is internal has a belief that their success is their responsibility. The idea of locus of control has motivated me to worker harder and smarter in whatever I do. I believe in making my destiny. I study hard so as to score high grades. I believe that failure to put much effort into my studies will lead me to failure. I believe that there is no such a thing as luck in life. People have the responsibility to make their destinies. Self-monitoring scale According to Snyder (1974), the self-monitoring theory depicts consistency in individual differences patterns. These differences show how a person regulates his or her presentation of the self by tailoring his or her actions according to the situational cues that are immediate. In the case such differences exist, and they are accurately measurable, the understanding of people about their behavior socially could be enhanced in paramount ways. Persons tend to have differences in the extent of their capability and ability of controlling or observing their self-presentation for a public appearance that they desire. That thus makes them very responsive to interpersonal and social cues of performances that are situationally appropriate. An individual whose self-monitoring is low is viewed to be lacking either the motivation or ability of regulating his or her expressive self- presentations. His or her expressive behaviors are instead thought to reflect, functionally, his or her momentary or enduring inner states that include their traits, feelings, and attitudes. Tests show that people widely vary in the control of their expressiveness. The variation of expressive control leads to several questions. For instance, why some individuals are better placed at expressive control than others? What surrounding genetic predispositions and history inhibit or foster expressive control development (Lennox 3). Self-monitoring is a single expressive control theory. It concerns the consequences and antecedents of variation to an extent of persons strategically cultivating public appearances. Self-monitoring is important for students from adulthood to preschool and it is teachable at varying cognitive functioning. It has interventions that foster independency in functioning allowing disabled persons to depend less on other people’s prompts. The interventions strategies are the most useful, effective and flexible for students having behavioral and academic difficulties. Works Cited Lennox Richard & Wolfe Raymond. Revision of the Self-Monitoring Scale. 1984, Retrieved from on 21st February 2015. Goldberg & Lewis. The development of markers for the Big-Five factor structure. 1992, Retrieved from on 21st February 2015. Rotter Julian. Locus Control. 1966, retrieved from < http://www.psych.uncc.edu/pagoolka/LocusofControl-intro.html> 21st February 2015. Read More