Big 5 Personality Test

The Big 5 personality traits represent a very popular framework for understanding our personalities and how we respond to the world around us. If you’re not sure which trait is most dominant to you, this free Big 5 personality test can help you gain some valuable insight into your personality.

Who Is This Big 5 Personality Test For?

This Big 5 personality test is for anyone who is interested in learning more about their personality. Knowing which trait is most dominant can help you gain some insight into yourself and how you respond to certain life situations. In turn, it can also give you insight into how others may perceive your actions or personality.

About the Trait Theory of Personality

The study of personality traits has a long history going back to ancient Greek and Chinese societies. Both historical societies assigned physical and mental goals to a variety of character types. In the late 18th century, when psychology was emerging as a medical science, theories about personality were also taking shape.

Researchers do not know exactly how personality is formed and whether it may change over time. There is some research to suggest personality traits have a genetic component, meaning traits can be inherited and have an environmental influence. One study also found that the Big 5 personality traits remained the same among working-age adults over a four-year period.

These five traits represent broad areas of personality, but personality is complex. An individual’s genetics, environment, and life experiences play a role in which traits they exhibit.

What are the traits on this Big 5 personality test?

Some people use Oceania as an easy way to remember the Big 5 personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism).

Each of the Big 5 traits represents a range of that trait. For example, extraversion represents the full spectrum from extreme extroversion to extreme introversion. Most people are somewhere in between these extremes.

Openness

Openness, also known as openness to experience, describes curiosity, creativity, and imagination. People high in this trait are often curious about the world and other people. They enjoy new experiences and learning new things.

People who are low in this personality trait may be resistant to new ideas or change and are not creative.

Honesty

Honesty is a personality trait associated with being very thoughtful and having good control. Individuals high in this trait are often goal-oriented, organized, and pay close attention to detail. They are planning ahead, and they are often aware of how their behavior affects other people.

People who have a low personality trait are likely to be less organized, dislike scheduling and planning, procrastinate, and have difficulty completing tasks on deadlines.

Exclusion

Extraversion is characterized by being invigorated by social settings, being the center of attention and meeting new people. People who are high in extraversion have a large social circle and prefer to be around others because socializing is interesting and stimulating. They may speak before thinking about what they are going to say.

The opposite of this trait is chaos. People high in introversion prefer to be alone, get tired of social situations, and don’t want to be the center of attention. They think carefully before they speak.

Consensus

Individuals high in agreeableness are more likely to be empathetic, to help others, and to show kindness and affection. They care for others and want to see them happy. Agreeableness is also associated with being more cooperative.

Individuals low in agreeableness may be more competitive, less concerned about how others feel, and less interested in being helpful. In some cases, these people can also be manipulative.

Neuroticism

Neuroticism is associated with emotional changes in mood, anxiety and sadness. People high in neuroticism experience more stress, are more irritable and easily upset, and have difficulty withdrawing from stressful events.

Individuals low in neuroticism are more likely to be flexible, relaxed, and can handle stress more easily.

What to take advantage of with this big 5 personality test

Who you are as a person cannot be summed up by a single test. Your personality is much more complex than that. Furthermore, your personality is not set in stone. If you don’t like how you respond to certain situations or how people perceive your behavior, it’s possible to change.

By challenging your self-esteem and focusing your efforts, you can learn new habits, how you think and act, and ultimately change aspects of your personality that you find less desirable, or positive traits that you want to develop further.