In the 1980s, a significant personality theory known as the Big Five model was introduced. This theory proposes that human personality can be characterized using five core traits, each encompassing a spectrum of opposing characteristics. These traits include Neuroticism (ranging from anxiety and volatility to emotional stability and confidence), Conscientiousness (spanning from persistence and responsibility to sloppiness and laziness), Agreeableness (encompassing friendliness and empathy to hostility and insolence), Openness to experience (from creativity and curiosity to intolerance and rigidity), and Extroversion (covering assertiveness and urgency to introversion and shyness). Many experts argue that the Big Five model offers a more accurate comprehension of individuals’ personalities and a broader range of life outcomes compared to popular alternatives such as the Myers-Briggs (MBTI) and Enneagram tests. You can take the Big 5 personality test for free on the Psyculator platform https://psyculator.com/. In this article, we present five compelling reasons why adopting the Big Five personality model can be advantageous for you.
1.Science Gives It Precision
Unlike the MBTI and Enneagram, which lack empirical foundations and are grounded in untested philosophies, the Big Five personality traits and their associated theories were meticulously crafted through scientific observation. While Carl Jung, the psychologist who inspired the MBTI, relied on a psychoanalytical approach and constructed a personality system based on his personal assumptions about human nature, without subjecting these ideas to empirical testing, the researchers behind the Big Five followed a different path. They allowed empirical data to shape their understanding of personality structure. Some of the earliest studies in this field explored the lexical hypothesis, suggesting that if there are noticeable characteristics on which individuals differ, and comprehending these distinctions is essential for effective interactions, then every culture should have developed language to describe these traits. In the English language alone, there are approximately 4,500 words dedicated to describing personality traits, reflecting consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Researchers analyzed self-assessments and assessments of others on these traits using factor analysis, a statistical technique that groups characteristics based on strong associations. This process led to the identification of five major clusters of interconnected traits that effectively capture most individual differences, followed by the development and testing of theories to explain the origins of these traits.
2.Continuums Offer More Accuracy Than Categories
In contrast to the MBTI and Enneagram, which categorize individuals into personality types, the Big Five assesses personality as a set of traits measured on a continuum from low to high. Psychologists prefer traits over types for several reasons. Personality types often encompass multiple traits within a single category, causing overlap among personality types and permitting individuals to identify with multiple types. Furthermore, type-based approaches tend to place individuals into extreme categories, while human qualities are better understood as falling along a continuum, with most individuals situated somewhere in the middle. The Big Five assesses these traits using questions with sliding scales, avoiding forced-choice formats.
3.Assessing Personal Growth Over Time
Using a personality type framework makes it challenging, if not impossible, to measure and track changes in personality across different periods. When reflecting on yourself from 5, 10, or 20 years ago, you can likely identify various ways in which you’ve evolved, from minor adjustments to significant transformations. Research supports these personal observations, demonstrating that, in addition to individualized changes, humans tend to undergo similar transformations as they age. The ability of personality types to account for these meaningful changes is questionable. For instance, someone identified as an INTJ in 2004 may have undergone significant changes over 15 years, but retaking the MBTI test may or may not reflect these changes, as the MBTI assigns a type based on where one falls in various personality spectrums.
4.Predicting Significant Life Outcomes Using Your Personality
Given that your personality shapes your approach to the world, it stands to reason that it would influence your choices and various aspects of your life. The Big Five personality traits consistently demonstrate their capacity to predict various life outcomes, encompassing life satisfaction, academic performance, job performance and satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, the likelihood of divorce, physical health, health-related behaviors, and even life expectancy. These correlations persist even after accounting for factors like intelligence, socioeconomic status, and other important variables.
5.Better Managing Costs
Critics often emphasize the high cost associated with systems like the MBTI, Enneagram, DISC, and other commercially available assessments. While the Enneagram offers a relatively affordable option at around $10, taking the MBTI online through their website can cost approximately $50 or more. In contrast, while there are pay-to-access Big Five tests like the NEO inventories, most of them are freely accessible on the internet for researchers and the general public. Many personality psychologists advocate for transparency in their research, which extends to providing assessment tools to the public at no cost.
