NEO Personality Inventory: Big Five Traits Explained

Introduction

There are many versions of psychological tests that have been developed over time by Paul T. Costa Jr. and Robert R. McCrae. One of these tests is the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), which is based on the Big Five personality traits. These traits are openness to experience, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and extraversion. The NEO-FFI has 60 items, equally distributed across these five domains.

There is also a longer version of this test known as the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, or NEO-PI-R. It has 240 items spread across the five personality traits. Both tests are applicable to adult males and females who have no overt psychopathology issues. The NEO PI-R remains popular in the literature, and the NEO-PI-3 and NEO-FFI-3 incorporate certain updates. In 2010, the NEO PI-R and NEO-FFI were updated for inclusion in a manual titled NEO Personality Inventory-Revised, NEO Five-Factor Model 3, and NEO Personality Inventory-3.

The personality test has gone through various developments over time. The first version was introduced in 1978 under the name Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness Inventory (NEO-I). As the name indicates, it took into consideration only three of the five personality traits. The first revision was made in 1985 to include the remaining two traits, and the name was changed to NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI). All subsequent versions retained the word "NEO" in their names, though it was no longer used as an acronym. The next revision was made in 1990 as NEO PI-R and then in 2005 as NEO-PI-3.

History and Naming of the NEO Inventory

OCEAN or CANOE is a mnemonic device commonly used to refer to the five primary factors.

Personality traits change over the course of an individual's life — some increase while others decrease. Researchers have conducted many studies observing how the degree of various personality traits shifts with increasing age. In a research study analyzing 92 personalities, researchers concluded that the period between 20 and 40 years of age is notable because it produces increases in traits such as emotional stability, conscientiousness, and social dominance (Brent et al., 2006). Another study showed that agreeableness increases with age while extraversion and neuroticism decline (Paul et al., 2006).

The Effect of Age on NEO PI-R

Many researchers consider the NEO to be a valid instrument. In a comprehensive manual, Costa and McCrae have supported its validity with extensive documentation (Costa et al., 2000).

There is a notable relationship between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) traits and NEO facets. For instance, tender-mindedness is related to the Feeling dimension at r = 0.39 (Costa et al., 2000). The NEO facet of fantasy is related to intuition at 0.43, and intuition is also related to aesthetics at 0.56. Introversion is related to gregariousness at −0.59 and warmth at −0.61.

Validity of the NEO

There is also a personality inventory model used in mental health known as the MMPI, which was later replaced by the MMPI-2 (Costa et al., 2000). The MMPI is related to NEO facets in several ways. For instance, the Schizoid scale is related to gregariousness at 0.66, self-consciousness is related to avoidance at 0.58, angry hostility is related to the Borderline scale at 0.47, and anxiety is related to the Compulsive scale at 0.51.

Further correlations include Aesthetics related to Artistic at 0.56, Ideas related to Investigative at 0.43, and Tender-mindedness related to Social at 0.36 (Costa et al., 2000).

Several other studies are important in terms of criterion validity. In 2005, Cano-García and colleagues found a relationship between teacher burnout in Sevilla and the Spanish version of the NEO. Conard (2006) found a significant relationship between college students' GPA and their SAT scores as predicted by personality. In 2006, Haase, Wang, and Bruch discovered that very few students' extraversion scores correlated with Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy (CDMSE) at r = 0.30 (Cano-García et al., 2005). They also found that neuroticism was strongly linked to career commitment (r = 0.42) and correlated with the emotional exhaustion factor of burnout at 0.44. Agreeableness was linked with the personal accomplishment facet of burnout — which is negatively scored — at a predictive value of 0.36 (Wang et al., 2006). In 2007, Korukonda reported that neuroticism is positively linked with computer anxiety while showing a negative relationship with both agreeableness and openness (Korukonda, 2007).

People who score low on Extraversion tend to be serious and reserved. They prefer to carry out their work alone or in the company of very few people and usually avoid large groups. While it might be tempting to describe introverts as lacking social skills, this assumption is incorrect. Many introverts perform very well in social settings but simply choose to avoid them. These reserved individuals are often reflective and thoughtful, particularly when high openness is also present (Costa et al., 2000).

A person who is high in Openness is typically curious and eager to explore new ideas, appreciating beauty in nature and art. Such individuals tend to be emotionally sensitive, able to understand the feelings of others, and are regarded by those around them as original and inquisitive (Costa et al., 2000). Although they constantly seek new ideas, they often arrive at exceptional and unconventional conclusions.

Global Description of Personality: The Five Factors

People who fall in the middle range of Neuroticism display average emotional stability. There is a balance of satisfaction and dissatisfaction in their lives, and the degree of psychological stress they experience is within the normal range. Their confidence is neither particularly high nor low, and their capacity to handle stress is at least comparable to that of an average person (Costa et al., 2000).

Good-natured people fall under the category of Agreeableness. Such individuals are often sympathetic toward others but can be firm when necessary. Their judgment can generally be relied upon, though they may at times be taken advantage of. People in this category are eager to help others but are also willing to compete when the situation demands it (Costa et al., 2000).

Individuals who score in the average range on Conscientiousness do not typically feel a strong need for high achievement. They may set work aside in favor of immediate gratification at times. They do not necessarily maintain a highly disciplined lifestyle, and while they are not dishonest, only a moderate level of trust can be reliably placed in them.

All five factors encompass a number of more specific traits. The NEO PI-R measures six facets within each of the five factors. Examining these facets provides a much more detailed picture of the various ways in which each factor manifests in a given individual (Costa et al., 2000).

The individual falling under this category tends to be restless and prone to worry. Such a person is often in a negative mood and may react with anger. He or she is susceptible to loneliness and sadness. Despite this, such individuals can be reasonably confident in social situations, and while they are able to manage stress to some degree, they tend to struggle with impulse control (Costa et al., 2000).

This person is warm and affectionate and can enjoy mingling in large and lively crowds. However, the individual also has relatively low energy levels and prefers a slower, steady pace. He or she can be assertive when the situation demands it but rarely experiences intense feelings of happiness, excitement, or stimulation.