Big Five personality traits (aka five factor model) are 5 broad dimensions used by psychologists, to describe the human personality and psyche.
Mnemonic OCEAN:
| High trait | Low trait | |
| Openness to experience | ✓ Involves an appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, curiosity, and a variety of experience. It reflects the degree of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and preference for novelty and variety a patient has. It is the extent to which a patient is imaginative or independent, and depicts a preference for a variety fo activities over a strict routine. It can be perceived as unpredictability or lack of focus. They pursue self-actualization by seeking out intense, euphoric experiences | In contrast, those with low openness gain fulfillment through perseverance, and are pragmatic and data driven, perceived to be dogmatic and closed minded |
| Conscientiousness | ✓ Tendency to be organized and dependable, show self discipline, act dutifully, aim for achievement, and prefer planned rather than spontaneous behavior. High conscientiousness can be perceived as stubborn and obsessive | In contrast, low conscientiousness is flexible and spontaneous, but can be perceived as sloppy and unreliable |
| Extraversion | ✓ Involves energy, positive emotions, surgency, assertiveness, sociability, and tendency to seek stimulation in the company of others, and talkativeness. High extraversion is often perceived as attention seeking, and domineering | Low extraversion involves a reserved, reflective personality, which can be perceived as aloof or self absorbed |
| Agreeableness | ✓ Tendency to be compassionate and cooperative, rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others. It is a measure of one's trusting and helpful nature, and whether a patient is generally well temered or not. High agreeableness can be seen as naive or submissive | Low agreeableness are often seen as competitive or challenging, which can be seen as argumentative or untrustworthy |
| Neuroticism (aka emotional stability) | Tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, e.g. anger, anxiety, depression, and vulnerability. It is the degree of emotional stability, and impulse control. Low emotional control is a reactive and excitable personality, but they can be perceived as unstable or insecure | ✓ High emotional control is stable and calm personality, but can be seen as uninspiring and unconcerned |
✓ = Desirable trait