Big Five Trait Clusters Essay Example
Big Five Trait Clusters Essay Example

Big Five Trait Clusters Essay Example

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In modern psychology, the “Big Five” Personality Traits are five categories of personality that are used to describe human personality and the behaviors in which they differ from each other. Some researchers have concluded that adult personality change is genetically influenced. Researchers say individual differences in the “Big Five” traits are large and highly stable and, an adult scoring high or low at a certain age is likely to do the same at another age, with intervals of three to 30 years’ time (Costa & McCrae, 1994).

In more than 150 longitudinal studies with more than 5000 participants, reanalysis showed personality trait stability improved during early and middle adulthood, peaking in the fifties (Roberts & DelVecchio, 2000). These traits are broad categories of personality traits and not all researchers agree on the names given. Howe

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ver, these five categories that remain stable throughout adulthood are: neuroticism, extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. I have listed each trait below and a description of each with high and low ratings.

I will rate myself with each trait rated from 1 as very low to 5 as very high, and will rate myself three times on each trait as to “how I was 10 years ago,” how I am now,” and “how I imagine myself to be in 10 years. ” I will explain the life patterns I see when considering my answers from the past through the future. The first trait is Neuroticism. Individuals high on this trait are worrisome, temperamental, self-pitying, self-conscious, emotional, and vulnerable; and those persons low on this trait are calm, even-tempered, self-content, comfortable, unemotional, and hardy.In explaining how I was 10 years ago, I

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rate my perception of this characteristic as a 2.

I chose this rating because I have been a calm, even-tempered, and contented person. I was comfortable being married, raising my children, and in my work position at the time. The life patterns I see are achieving civic and social responsibilities and assisting my children to become responsible and happy adults. To explain how I am now, I rate my perception of this characteristic as a 3. I rarely worry, I am not temperamental, I do not pity myself, and I am not self-conscious or emotional.

I rated myself a 3 because although I remain calm in tense situations, I have been feeling somewhat vulnerable because my current position as a Licensed Practical Nurse is being eliminated by the hospital I work at in July 2012. I do see myself as somewhat emotional because by the time my job is eliminated; I will have worked at the hospital for 12. 5 years. The life patterns I see are finding a social group to interact with in my free time.

And finally, how do I imagine myself to be in 10 years? I perceive myself as being a 2 in ten years.My plan to get my Associate Degree in Nursing, my Registered Nurse license, and to accomplish my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in the next three years will complete my goal in education. I plan on getting hired as a RN at the hospital I am currently working at now after passing my State Board tests. I will be at retirement age by ten years’ time and hope to continue to work for at least another five years

past my retirement age. The life patterns I see include maintaining a satisfactory performance in my career.

The second trait is Extroversion.Individuals high on this trait are affectionate, talkative, active, fun-loving, and passionate; and those persons who are low on this trait are reserved, quiet, passive, sober, and emotionally nonreactive. In explaining how I was 10 years ago, I rate my perception as a 3. I chose this number because even though I have an affectionate side to me, and am passionate about my family, and things I like or want to do, I can have fun being active at different times with hiking, traveling, and projects at home. I have not been a really talkative person in my lifetime.

This is kind of a crossover, because these traits that I have described are both on the same side of the high side, and are not considered low. The life patterns I see include relating to my husband as a person. To explain how I am now, I rate my perception of this characteristic as a 3. I tend to shy away from social situations but I can be very fun when I know the people around me. I am somewhat introverted and hold back in talking with people I don’t know or that I feel I have nothing in common with.

I am generally reserved and am a quiet person. I don’t mind being alone with myself.I keep myself busy with reading, school work, home projects, and craft projects. I can, however, be very talkative if I feel I “click” with someone.

The life patterns I see involve keeping myself and my family healthy for

psychological well-being. And to finish with the question, how do I imagine myself to be in 10 years? I perceive myself as being a 3 in ten years. Being assertive relates to being talkative which is a trait associated with extroversion, but these traits do not necessarily go together because if you can think of someone that is assertive but not talkative, that is me.Extroverts tend to enjoy being around people, and I do too, and they like being around groups and engaging in conversation and doing things on the spur of the moment. I do like these things, but as I see myself getting older, many of my friends are younger than I and we do not have a lot in common.

I see us continuing to be friends and doing things together in the future, however, I see myself as not being as available or involved. The life patterns I see include establishing an affiliation with people of my own age group. The third trait is Openness to experience.Individuals who are high on this trait are imaginative, creative, original, curious, and liberal; and those persons who are low on this trait are down-to-earth, uncreative, conventional, uncurious, and conservative.

In explaining how I was 10 years ago, I rate my perception of this characteristic as a 5. I loved to sew for my family and for my daughter. I had a very good imagination and created new ways to plant vegetables and fruits around my yard in places other than the designated garden. The life patterns I see include achievement of a personally meaningful identity.

To explain how I am now, I rate my perception

of this characteristic as a 4. I see myself as somewhat conventional, and down-to-earth. I feel that this rating is mixed between low and high for myself as I have traits from both sides. The life pattern I see here is in developing expertise in my field of work.

Next, how do I imagine myself to be in 10 years? I perceive myself as being a 4 in ten years, still creative, and curious about new things to learn such as making my own website, or learning to do stand up paddle boarding on the rivers and lakes in the valley.The life patterns I see include declines in the functioning of my body as I age, such as cardiovascular, respiratory and immune system, and loss of elasticity of the skin, which may come faster with exposure from the sun. The fourth trait is Agreeableness. Individuals who are high on this trait are soft-hearted, trusting, generous, acquiescent, lenient, and good-natured; and those persons who are low on this trait are ruthless, suspicious, stingy, antagonistic, critical, and irritable.

In explaining how I was 10 years ago, I rate my perception as a 5.I chose this rating because I have been agreeable and very easy going to most everything in my past. I have been a trustworthy person, have had a soft heart toward people and animals, and have been caring, and good natured toward others. The life patterns perceived here consist of feeling in control of the events in my life. To explain how I am now, I rate my perception of this characteristic as a 5. I am good-natured, caring and a loving person, I am

courteous and empathetic, and supportive of my family and friends, and of my co-workers.

I have never been ruthless or uncaring, suspicious of others or stingy, do not antagonize people, am not critical and, for the most part, am not irritable. The life pattern here includes striving to commit myself to my husband, and to take care of my aging mother. Finally, how do I imagine myself to be in 10 years? I perceive myself as being a 5 in ten years’ time as I have the attribute of getting along well with others. While I agree that it is favorable to agree with people, I have learned that disagreement can be a good thing to help balance things. I do ot perceive myself as being accommodating all the time because I do not want to be taken for granted which is a weakness.

The life pattern here is trying to achieve a meaningful and mutually gratifying relationship with friends and coworkers. The last and fifth trait is Conscientiousness. Individuals who are high on this trait are conscientious, hardworking, well-organized, punctual, ambitious, and persevering; and those persons who are low on this trait are negligent, lazy, disorganized, late, aimless, and are not persistent. In explaining how I was 10 years ago, I rate my perception as a 4.I chose this number because I feel that I had high levels of thoughtfulness as I was hardworking, well-organized, punctual, and I had goal-directed behaviors.

The life patterns I see include managing my home and work life. To explain how I am now, I rate my perception of this characteristic as a 3. I am generally organized, always punctual;

I have ambition to finish what I started, and to persevere in things that I really want for myself and my family. The life patterns I see include stress management, exercise, and optimism to deal with midlife challenges.How do I imagine myself to be in 10 years? I perceive myself as being a 3 in ten years because having conscientiousness shows self-discipline, being dutiful, and achieving my goals.

I imagine the life patterns to include changes in mental abilities such as not being able to remember people’s names as quickly as I once did. I also see my creativity increasing. The “big five” personality traits are one way to measure aspects of individuals to differentiate each person from one another which makes them distinctive. Personalities are complex and each person is unique in their own way.

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