Common Personality Traits And How They’re Measured

The field of trait psychology rests on the concept of personality traits: psychologically meaningful features that encompass qualities, temperament, emotions, competencies, talents, and habitual patterns of behavior. These encompass broad personality traits that help to describe personality traits in individuals. We each have many different character traits—some stronger than others. These traits form a broad range of personality types, each with its own unique features. While you can teach yourself new habits and behaviors, personality traits tend to be more stable. However, for those experiencing emotional instability, understanding and managing these traits becomes crucial. You may be able to improve certain traits that present challenges.

Below, we’ll look at some common personality traits, some of the tests that are designed to measure these broad traits, and ways that you might use your strong traits to your advantage and improve on your other traits. We’ll also explore the role mental health support, such as therapy, may play in this process.

What are personality traits?

The American Psychological Association defines a personality trait as “a relatively stable, consistent, and enduring internal characteristic that is inferred from a pattern of behaviors, attitudes, feelings, and habits in the individual.” According to this personality trait concept, our traits are the unique aspects of ourselves that form the foundation of how we respond to and interact with the world. 

Most modern personality researchers generally agree that traits where humans show almost no individual differences (such as sleeping or communicating) are not “personality traits.” True personality traits vary from person to person and shape the unique ways we move through life.  “Outgoing,” “humorous,” “self-centered,” and “kind” are just a few examples.

How do personality traits develop?

Most definitions of personality traits imply consistency, meaning our personality traits tend not to change drastically in life (although some may evolve with time). But how do our personalities develop in the first place? 

This topic is still being researched today. A popular theory is that natural personality development starts to happen in infancy, based on what we observe about the world as we seek to have our basic needs met. This may help explain why, even as a young child, you might already act quite differently from someone roughly your same age. According to this theory, your diverse experiences early in life, and the beliefs you form as a result, form the foundation of what will eventually become your adult personality. That said, studies have also shown that inherited personality traits may also play a role, suggesting that life experiences may not be the only ingredients in human personalities. 

The big five personality traits classifications

Personality traits factor I: Surgency (extroversion)

Factor one of the Big Five personality traits has been labeled surgency or extroversion. This trait tends to relate to how you interact with others in social situations. It’s a key aspect of social interaction and plays a significant role in how individuals engage in social contexts. Your tendency within this factor may determine whether you draw your energy from being with people or from being alone. Those who prefer solitary activities might lean more towards the introversion side of this spectrum. If you’re on the extroversion side of the spectrum, you might be described in the following ways: 

• Friendly
• Socially confident
• Sociable
• Assertive
• Outgoing
• Energetic
• Talkative
• Articulate
• Affectionate
• Fun-loving
• Prone to action
• Gregarious

If you’re on the introversion side, you might have the following characteristics:

• Quiet
• Introspective
• Reserved
• Thoughtful
• Silent
• Passive

Personality traits factor II: Agreeableness (pleasantness)

Agreeableness is a character trait that describes the way you get along with and interact with others in most situations. This trait is an important trait that influences a person’s ability to maintain harmonious relationships. An agreeable person tends to have few, if any, enemies. People with this character trait are typically well-respected, admired, and liked by most people. Their amiable nature is a common personality trait appreciated in various social settings. If you’re on the agreeable side of the spectrum, your character traits may include:

• Altruistic
• Trusting
• Humble
• Patient
• Tactful
• Polite
• Loyal
• Helpful
• Sensitive to the needs of others
• Amiable
• Cheerful
• Affectionate
• Sympathetic to others, including to strangers
• Traditional
• Conforming
• Grateful
• Forgiving

People on the disagreeable side of the spectrum may be hard to get along with in social situations. Their character traits may include the following:

• Blunt
• Rude
• Callous
• Sarcastic
• Antagonistic
• Cruel
• Abrasive
• Hostile
• Selfish
• Distrustful

Personality traits factor III: Conscientiousness (dependability)

Conscientiousness, as a category of character traits, tends to include abilities and behavior patterns related to controlling impulses, acting in socially appropriate and acceptable ways, and engaging in goal-seeking behaviors. This factor often involves the ability to complete tasks efficiently and effectively. If you have conscientious character traits, you may be excellent at delaying gratification, planning, organizing, and working within the rules. People who are conscientious tend to have the following character traits:

• Persistent
• Self-disciplined
• Reliable
• Resourceful
• Hard-working
• Energetic
• Persevering
• Predictable
• Thorough
• Ambitious
• Consistent
• Controlled
• Goal-oriented
• Determined
• Organized

Those who are near the other end of the conscientiousness continuum tend to have the following character traits and behaviors:

• Procrastination
• Impulsivity
• A tendency to be flighty
• Impetuousness
• Carelessness
• A tendency to be negligent or unreliable

Personality traits factor IV: Emotional stability (neuroticism)

Emotional stability is a personality trait that tends to represent how you function in life overall. People who have emotionally stable character traits tend to be comfortable with themselves. However, those with emotional instability may frequently experience negative emotions, making it essential for them to understand and manage these traits. They are often: 

• Self-confident
• Self-assured
• Adventurous

The other side of this character trait spectrum is neuroticism. Neurotic people who are high in this category may be: 

• Emotionally unstable
• Overly sensitive
• Self-conscious
• Low in self-esteem
• Insecure
• Self-critical
• Wary
• Timid
• Fearful
• Nervous
• Jealous
• Moody
• Anxious
• Pessimistic
• Temperamental

Such individuals often experience a broad range of negative emotions, indicating a need for understanding and managing these traits.

Personality traits factor V: Openness

This character trait factor has been called culture, openness to experience, intellect, and imagination. This category involves a tendency to be imaginative and a willingness to try new things. People who are open to experience tend to have the following character traits:

• Creative
• Imaginative
• Insightful
• Interested in a wide variety of subjects
• Original
• Clever
• Curious
• Perceptive
• Intellectual
• Deep
• Daring

These traits describe people who often possess strong abstract thinking skills and enjoy exploring complex concepts. People who have low levels of the openness character trait tend to:

• Stick to set routines
• Prefer what they already know to what they aren’t familiar with
• Enjoy arts and entertainment that are less abstract

Uses of the big five character traits for employment

Researchers have suggested practical ways to use the results of character studies. This is based on the lexical hypothesis, which posits that important traits in human personality are embedded in our language. For example, Lewis R. Goldberg, a psychologist widely known for his work in personality psychology, recommended that the Big Five character traits system be used to predict job performance. This approach considers various factors, including a person’s specific trait, to determine their suitability for certain roles. The idea is that if you know someone’s character traits, you may know more about how they’re likely to perform in their jobs. 

Researchers Murray Barrick and Michael Mount found that conscientiousness was the Big Five character trait factor that was related to job success across all the types of jobs and career fields they studied. Others may see agreeableness as a better predictor of strong job performance, depending on the context. This understanding can lead to a better understanding of the role of personality traits in the workplace. While there is still disagreement among scientists about how the Big Five should be used, many employers are aware of primary personality traits and consider them when making hiring decisions.

Additional personality tests

You might wonder whether the Big Five is the only way personality psychologists measure traits. Although it’s often considered the most widely accepted system, the Big Five is not the only classification system of personality traits.  Other personality trait systems that recognize additional personality characteristics have been devised over the years. These personality scales sometimes introduce a sixth dimension or other factors to describe personality traits. Some were used mostly in conducting research, while others had more practical applications. Some personality trait tests are the result of years of scientific research, while many of the personality tests you find free online may have little or no scientific basis. Words people use to describe major traits can often be linked back to these scientific models. The following four personality trait tests tend to be more notable and well-respected.

Eysenck Personality Questionnaire

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire is a short, 48-item character trait test that aims to measure your levels of extroversion and neuroticism. Several versions have been developed. Eysenck’s later version, the EPQ-BV (a 24-item test), has proven to be a highly consistent, valid, and reliable descriptor of character traits.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a character trait test that was developed in the 1940s and is still used around the world to measure character traits. Within the MMPI are several different scales that measure not only character traits, but also response attitudes, mental symptoms, and special problems a person might be experiencing.

The MMPI character trait test is often used for people who are admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility. It is also sometimes used for people starting therapy or for graduate students pursuing a degree in clinical psychology. People who have brain injuries sometimes take the character trait test to determine the extent of their injuries.

NEO PI-R

The NEO Personality Inventory, or the NEO PI-R, is designed to measure the Big Five Factors. This test uses the five dimensions of emotional, interpersonal, experiential, attitudinal, and motivational styles. The test-taker answers 240 questions using a five-point scale. The test is then used by mental health professionals, doctors, and educators. The NEO PI-R is considered reliable and valid.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

One of the most well-known personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI is a test that assigns one of 16 distinct personality types based on four pairs of opposites:

• Introversion/Extroversion
• Intuitive/Sensing
• Thinking/Feeling
• Judging/Perceiving

Many people take the MBTI when preparing to start or change their career. The MBTI may help you determine your strengths and weaknesses to get an idea of the jobs you could do most successfully. You can take the test yourself through the Myers & Briggs Foundation.

What do personality traits say about behavior and life outcomes?

Some trait psychologists talk a lot in their work about whether or not personality traits are useful for predicting important life outcomes: Do certain personality factors predict good grades, help them maintain healthy diets, or set them up for success at work? What’s more important for a person’s achievements and well-being: their abilities, or their inherent traits? 

As we discussed earlier, traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness may be linked to job success. Other studies have found that conscientiousness may be associated with better physical health later in life. Still others have found that individuals with higher agreeableness and more openness are more likely to carry credit card debt. 

In this discussion of people’s traits versus more controllable factors, keep in mind that no two people are exactly the same, and life outcomes are not set in stone. In addition, some research has found that changes in personality traits over a person’s lifetime may be associated with changes in life outcomes. This suggests that simply having a certain personality trait does not automatically predict whether you will live a long, happy, or healthy life, and many other factors contribute to life outcomes than personality alone. 

How personality traits relate to mental health

A variety of research has been performed to better understand the relationship between personality traits and mental health. Studies suggest that traits like neuroticism are closely linked to mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Other studies have found that higher emotional instability is associated with higher use of mental health care services. 

Certain personality traits may also cause challenges in daily life—from frequent mood swings to difficulty understanding abstract ideas—that may indirectly affect mental health over time. For instance, people with more introverted tendencies may need time to themselves when they experience too much sensory stimulation, which could potentially make it more challenging to socialize and build an emotional support system. Given that lower levels of social support are associated with a higher risk of mental health challenges, being more introverted could therefore be a hypothetical risk factor for mental illness. 

Again, however, it may be important to remember that not everyone with a certain personality trait is the same, and these correlations are not universal. 

What can you do about your personality traits?

Your personality traits tend to be relatively stable over the course of your lifetime, but this doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do about them. For those with neurotic personality types, understanding and managing traits becomes even more crucial. While you may not be able to completely change your personality traits, there are several steps you can take to make the most of your positive character traits and minimize the impact of other traits.

Leveraging your positive traits

When you understand your positive character traits, you may be able to choose a career where you can shine as an individual. This applies particularly to those who have broad personality traits that can be channeled into professional strengths. For example, if you’re high in the openness-to-experience traits, you might do well in a creative or intellectual career. If you’re high in conscientiousness character traits, you might make a great leader. By choosing a career compatible with your character traits, you may increase the likelihood that you will thrive throughout your career.

Addressing traits that you’d like to improve

Some personality traits may be difficult to change, but recognizing them may help you make better decisions. For example, if you tend to be low on the extroversion scale, you may be setting yourself up for failure if you choose a job that requires lots of face-to-face communication with others. This is particularly true for those who prefer solitary activities and may feel overwhelmed in highly interactive roles.

You might also learn to minimize your challenging personality traits and maximize your positive character traits by learning different ways of thinking and behaving. One way to do this is through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT, a counselor can guide you as you examine your thoughts and behaviors and help you explore your mental health from a personality trait perspective. This can be especially beneficial for individuals who experience negative emotions and struggle with emotional instability. Together, you can decide if they’re helpful enough to hold onto or so unhelpful that you want to change them. Your overall character traits may not change, but the way you respond to the outside world can. Research has found that CBT, including internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT), can help improve certain personality traits.

If you feel hesitant about traditional in-office therapy, you might consider online therapy, which numerous peer-reviewed studies have found to be effective. 

With BetterHelp, you can connect with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home or office at a time that works for you. You can communicate with them via phone, online chat, or videoconferencing. Also, you can message them at any time through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can.