Five Different Personality Traits And Their Influence On Mental Health
In popular culture as well as everyday conversations, personality is a common topic of discussion, study, and reflection.
How would you describe your own personality? Most likely, your answer is shaped by your experiences, feedback from loved ones, and even online personality tests. While some traits remain fairly constant throughout our lives, our personalities can also evolve and grow over time.
If you’re curious about the different personality traits and how psychologists study and define personality, read on. We’ll review the definitions of personality, five major personality traits, and how therapy can help you understand the link between your personality, mental health, and relationships.
What is personality?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), personality refers to the enduring characteristics and behaviors that comprise a person’s unique approach to life. Under this definition, personality includes your major traits, interests, drives, values, self-concept, abilities, and emotional tendencies.
Personality traits are generally defined by three criteria: consistency, stability, and individual differences. Therefore, a person’s personality traits – like orderliness, creativity, or loyalty, for example – are usually consistent and stable over time, with room for growth and flexibility depending on the situation.
Across individuals, people vary widely in their behaviors related to a specific trait. This is one of the many reasons why researchers are continually fascinated by personality, and the ways we connect with people whose traits differ dramatically from our own.
Can personality traits change?
While many personality traits are relatively stable throughout your lifetime, people still have the capacity to change and grow. Importantly, personality traits reflect continuous distributions, meaning that each individual can be “low”, medium, or high on any given trait.
Different environmental, sociocultural, and biological factors can all lead to personality change, and some research suggests that people aged 70 and older can still experience significant changes in personality. Other studies note a relationship between seeing a therapist and lower levels of neuroticism over time.
The key takeaway? While many of our personality traits are consistent throughout our lives, some aspects of personality can change gradually over time, and often for the better. These shifts may stem from major life events like divorce, a career change, or the death of a loved one, as well as committing to personal change through therapy and goal setting.
What are the five different personality traits?
In the field of personality psychology, many researchers use the “Big Five” personality model as a guiding framework. The Big Five personality traits are:
- Openness to experience
- Conscientiousness
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Neuroticism
Although these are not the only personality traits in the human population, they provide a helpful way to frame some of our most common characteristics. We’ll examine the key traits in each of the Big Five dimensions, as well as the influence of personality on your friendships, family bonds, and love life.
1. Openness to experience
Openness describes a person’s tendency to be open to new experiences and generally appreciate novelty. When reflecting on how “open” you are to newness, think about your past responses to new art, ideas, values, feelings, experiences, or behaviors.
Within all Big Five traits, there are certain “facets” or more specific, lower-level units of personality. Under the category of openness, these facets include:
- Being prone to fantasy
- Displaying openness to feelings and diverse behaviors
- Considering various values, beliefs, and ideas
Considering these facets, someone who is highly open tends to enjoy the arts and creativity, and actively seeks out unfamiliar places and people.
2. Conscientiousness
A conscientious person tends to be careful, timely, hardworking, and adhere to the rules. Facets of conscientiousness include:
- Orderliness
- Competence
- An orientation toward achievement
- Self-discipline
- Deliberate, dutiful behavior
On the Big Five test, people who score highly in conscientiousness tend to study hard, complete their work thoroughly and on-time, and maintain routines and healthy behaviors related to diet, exercise, and public health measures like wearing a bicycle helmet.
3. Extraversion
You’re likely familiar with the common distinction between extraverts – typically, more outgoing and sociable people – compared to quieter, more reserved introverts. The dimension of extraversion captures this spectrum of sociability, with the caveat that a person’s “sociability” can shift depending on their environment, mood, and other circumstances.
People who score higher in extraversion typically exhibit the following facets of personality:
- A sociable, active presence
- A warm, generally positive emotional state
- A desire for excitement
- Assertiveness
Like other personality traits, extraversion encompasses a spectrum of behaviors and may be influenced by situational factors, like the comforting presence of an old friend or family; or, conversely, an intimidating audience or disagreeable coworker.
4. Agreeableness
As you might expect, a more agreeable person tends to agree and go along with others’ demands and actions, rather than assert their own opinions and choices. Core facets of this personality trait include:
- Sense of trust
- Modesty
- Altruism
- A straightforward mindset
- Tenderness
In certain situations, agreeableness can cultivate forgiveness and a helpful, communal environment. But if you’re too agreeable, you may limit opportunities for respectful debate or notice that others take advantage of your kindness. Like many personality traits, finding the right balance of assertiveness and a kind, good-natured spirit is key.
5. Neuroticism
Neuroticism describes a person’s interpersonal sensitivity and their tendency to experience “negative” emotions such as anger, worry, and sadness. These emotions are universal and not necessarily negative, but they can be intense and upsetting to experience. Ideally, taking time to process these emotions can improve a person’s understanding of themselves, other people, and the world at large.
A more neurotic person may struggle to process these emotions in a healthy way. Additionally, they may worry frequently about little things, avoid risks, and generally feel insecure and inadequate. Other facets of neuroticism include:
- Anxiety, anger, and depression
- Self-consciousness
- Impulsivity
- Vulnerability
Again, most people experience these emotions and behaviors from time to time; but among those who score higher in neuroticism on the Big Five test, these facets are more consistent and may prevent them from pursuing new adventures or challenges.
Building on the big five: Other personality traits
While the Big Five personality framework is widely used and accepted in the psychological community, researchers have identified other personality traits that may improve our understanding of personality across cultures.
Most notably, some researchers point toward a sixth dimension of “Honesty-Humility”. People with high levels of honesty and humility are typically sincere, fair, and modest, while lower levels of these traits correspond with manipulative, narcissistic, and self-centered behaviors.
Other studies suggest the existence of personality traits unique to China, Denmark, Bolivia, the Philippines, and other cultures, which are not captured by the Big Five. If anything, this research illuminates the complexity of personality and the value of psychological research to enhance our self-understanding.
Learn more about personality in online therapy
Learning about personality is fun but complicated – which is why more people are seeking therapy to understand their traits and connect more authentically with friends and loved ones.
While some people prefer in-person therapy, a growing number of individuals and couples use online therapy to support their personal growth. Using a digital platform like Regain, you can connect with a licensed therapist shortly after completing a brief questionnaire. Each Regain therapist has at least three years of professional experience, plus expertise in relationship therapy and extensive knowledge of human personality and behavior.
Several studies show the value of online therapy to improve self-understanding and mental health, including a 2016 review of the effectiveness of online mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). Based on results taken during 15 randomized controlled trials, the researchers found that online MBIs have significant small to moderate effects on mental health. The studies noted significant reductions in anxiety, stress, and depression, as well as improvements in well-being and mindfulness. More studies are needed to assess the value of online therapy for concerns related to personality, but current research shows that online therapy can effectively address a range of psychological concerns.
Takeaway
Wherever you fall on the spectrum of personality, your unique traits and behaviors form the basis of your identity, relationships, and the way you learn and interact with the world.
We’re always learning and evolving, both individually and in our relationships. This is an exciting process, but the journey can also be overwhelming and tough to navigate on your own. If you’re looking for guidance as well as expertise, a licensed therapist is ready to support you and help you uncover the most honest and confident version of yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 10 personality traits?
Several psychologists during the 1950s and 1960s tried to figure out the defining traits of healthy personalities. Although there were individual differences, they each came up with some version of this list of ten personality traits of a healthy personality.
- Tends to have more positive emotions than negative ones
- Expresses emotions openly and with a great degree of flexibility
- Self-trust
- Self-acceptance
- Not overwhelmed in stressful situations
- Assertive
- Competent and responsible
- Warm and authentic when interacting with others
More recently, Wiebke Bleidorn and his associates created another healthy personality profile in their own personalized text. In this profile, some of the traits of the previous list are included, but other personality traits on this second list are slightly different. Here are the ten traits they identified as most healthy:
- Open to feelings
- Straightforward
- Competent
- Warmth
- Positive emotions
- Low in angry hostility
- Low in anxiety
- Low in depression
- Low vulnerability to daily stress
- Low in impulsivity
It may seem counterintuitive, but you might be able to change these traits. Personality is fairly stable over a lifetime, but you can always work towards improving. Many people have found that through persistently being aware of their feelings and motives and making positive choices, they can learn to favor the positive traits. Personality can indeed become healthier over time.
And, if your personality is causing you significant problems in life, talking to a therapist is a good way to approach the task of developing a healthier personality.
What are the 5 main personality traits?
The five major traits often called “the big five personality traits,” are easy to recall when it comes to personality traits. All you have to do is use the OCEAN mnemonic device. Each letter stands for one of the big five personality traits in this model of personality.
- O: open to experiences
- C: conscientious
- E: extroverted
- A: agreeable
- N: neurotic
Here is a summary of each of these five personality traits. The descriptions refer to people who are high in these traits. If someone is low on these five traits, their personality traits would be the opposite. For example, someone who is low on extroversion is introverted.
Openness to experience: If you have this trait, you likely appreciate art, emotional experiences, unique ideas and enjoy doing a variety of different activities. You probably have a high level of curiosity, too.
Conscientiousness: You tend to be efficient, organized, disciplined, competent, and thoughtful. You strive for success through hard work and persistence. You think before you act.
Extroversion: You’re outgoing, energetic, positive, talkative, social, and assertive.
Agreeableness: You’re compassionate, cooperative, trusting, and helpful.
Neuroticism: You’re sensitive, nervous, and tend to experience uncomfortable emotions like anger, depression, or anxiety.
What are the 7 character traits?
Seven character traits can help you live a healthy, more successful life. These are personality traits that you can work on and develop, whether in therapy or by reading and making appropriate behavioral choices. These seven personality traits can be defined as:
- Resilience: being able to persevere and bounce back after setbacks
- Curiosity: fascination with the world and a desire to explore and learn
- Social intelligence: the ability to be aware of other people, read their emotions, and connect with them meaningfully
- Gratitude: feeling appreciative for what you have
- Kindness: being nice and thoughtful of others to the extent that you sacrifice your time and efforts for others
- Self-control: managing your impulses and feelings
- Optimism: positive outlook, confidence, and seeing opportunity in most situations
What are the 8 personality types?
In his personality text, Carl Jung identified eight types of personality that Myers-Briggs and others built on to form their own theories. Jung’s model of personality includes these eight personality types.
- Extroverted thinking
- Introverted thinking
- Extroverted feeling
- Introverted feeling
- Extroverted sensation
- Introverted sensation
- Extroverted intuition
- Introverted intuition
Each personality type is either extroverted or introverted, combined with one of these four personality traits – focused on thinking, feeling, sensation, or intuition. Jung claimed there are no true types, such that everyone has more than one of these personality traits.
Some personality traits might be repressed, but they will occasionally show up in dreams or real life. For example, if you’re an extroverted, intuitive personality type, there may be times when your less developed introverted or thinking side bubble up to the surface.
What are 3 personality traits?
Gordon Allport, the first personality trait theorist, identified three broad categories of traits. These personality traits are defined as:
- Cardinal Traits: the major traits that shape your behavior as an individual
- Central Traits: general characteristics that everyone has to some degree
- Secondary Traits: traits that only show up in specific circumstances, such as your likes and dislikes and your attitude
What are the 7 most difficult personality types?
Dr. Marilyn Manning has defined seven difficult types of personality. Here they are with a brief description of the personality traits of each personality type.
- Hardcore Bully: abusive, hostile, intimidating
- Princess: egoistic, feelings of superiority, want to be the center of attention.
- Passive-Aggressive: try to harm you in sneaky, indirect ways rather than having an open conflict with you.
- The baby: see things in a negative light and complain or whine about it.
- Negative Ned Or Nancy: these negators see the worst in every situation or person. They think the only right answer is their own answer.
- People pleaser: try so hard to please everyone that they can’t say no and tend to over-commit
- Non-player: won’t reveal what they want or why they do what they do.
What are dark personality traits?
The dark tetrad is a model of personality that applies to people who have certain “dark” personality traits, but not to the extent that they would be diagnosed with a personality disorder. There are nine dark traits, which include:
- Egoism: they put their own needs first to an excessive extent.
- Machiavellianism: they are master manipulators
- Moral disengagement: they behave in unethical ways without feeling bad about it or worrying about the consequences.
- Narcissism: They manifest a sense of entitlement. They’re grandiose, attention-loving, self-important, and view other people with disdain.
- Psychological entitlement: they see themselves as better than everyone else and deserving of special treatment.
- Psychopathy: they lack empathy and shame and tend to be reckless, impulsive, and aggressive.
- Sadism: they enjoy inflicting emotional, physical, and sexual pain on others.
- Self-Interest: they’re selfish, prioritize success over everything else, and they can appear to be altruistic when they’re really doing something to help themselves.
- Spitefulness: so anxious to cause others to harm that they don’t even care if their actions hurt themselves.
While all nine personality traits are considered dark traits, the dark tetrad focuses on only four major traits: psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and sadism.
What are the 4 personality styles?
Many psychologists and philosophers have put their own spin on the four personality styles and their accompanying traits throughout history. Personality was described early on as choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholic. These names are no longer used for personality traits. Yet, many of the ideas have carried on and evolved from those earlier descriptions. Everyone has personality traits from each style, but most people lean towards one of the styles.
Here is one version of the four types listed by managementisajourney.com and the name given to the style in ancient times.
- The dominant personality: choleric temperament
- The influence personality: sanguine temperament
- The steadiness personality: phlegmatic temperament
- The conscientiousness personality: melancholic temperament
The personality traits that go with the dominant personality include extroversion, task-oriented, action-oriented, take-charge style. This personality style is characterized most by thinking and doing.
Someone with an influential personality has personality traits that favor doing and feeling. They’re extroverted, talkative, and enjoy recognition. What they appreciate most is getting results.
If you have a steadiness personality style, you are more in tune with watching and feeling. You’re cautious, reserved, and prefer stability.
Those with the conscientiousness personality style lean towards thinking and feeling. These people are detail-oriented, reserved, and value quality.
What are the 7 personality disorders?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are actually ten personality disorders. Each of the following is personality disorders, along with the patterns of thought and behavior that characterize them. Here are the traits, personality disorders, and how they go together.
- Borderline: unstable in relationships, intensely emotional, impulsive, negative self-image
- Avoidant: shy, feel inadequate, sensitive, especially to criticism
- Histrionic: excessively emotional, seeks attention
- Antisocial: tends to violate or disregard others’ rights
- Obsessive-Compulsive: tends to be obsessed with having things orderly, in absolute control, and perfect
- Schizoid: shows little emotion and remains detached from social relationships
- Paranoid: tends to be suspicious of other people and thinks they’re unkind or full of spite
- Schizotypal: feeling uncomfortable in intimate relationships, behaves in eccentric ways, prone to thought distortions
- Narcissistic: has a deep-seated need for admiration and no empathy for others, along with grandiosity and a sense of entitlement
- Dependent: feels the need for someone else to take care of them, clingy and submissive
Earlier, we discussed healthy personality traits. But what about unhealthy personality traits? What makes personality traits unhealthy has a lot to do with the degree.
For example, if one of your personality traits is shyness, that’s not necessarily unhealthy. But if you’re excessively shy, it might be one of the personality traits in the avoidant personality disorder. The next step to understanding your disorder would be to notice whether any of the other personality traits associated with an avoidant personality match your traits.
In any case, it’s usually not helpful to try to diagnose a personality disorder in yourself. While it may be helpful to recognize you have a problem, it’s always better to let a psychiatrist or other mental health expert make the final diagnosis.
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