Psychology Era on Comparison Between the Big Five Personality Traits and Age
A comparison between the big five personality traits and age
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the comparison between the big five personality traits and males and females between 15 to 30 years and 50 years and over. 26 females and 26 males completed a Big 5 Personality Test online, using the internet. The hypothesis that, males and females, between the ages of 15 to 30 years, would score higher in Openness to experience and Extraversion than males and females who are 50 years and over, was supported. It was concluded that Openness to experience and Extraversion were higher in those who were between the ages of 15 to 30 years old than those who were 50 years and older. Based on these findings it could be generalised that people between the ages of 15 to 30 are more imaginative, outgoing and energetic than those who are 50 years and older, whereas those who are 50 years and over are more organised, reliable, kind and modest.
Introduction
Age-related differences in personality have captured the attention of many people. Personality can be defined as “an individual’s unique pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviour that are relatively stable over time and across situations”. (Grivas & Carter, 2010)
Costa and McCrae (1999) had developed a five-factor model to explain the five big factors that make up a personality, the five factors are: Openness to Experience (includes traits such as imaginative, curious, artistic, excitable, insightful and unconventional), Conscientiousness (includes traits such as organised, thorough, efficient, competent, reliable and self-disciplined), Extraversion (includes traits such as outgoing, sociable, talkative, energetic, assertive and adventurous), Agreeableness (includes traits such as cooperative, compliance, sympathetic, kind, affectionate, forgiving and modest) and Neuroticism (includes traits such as tense, anxious, moody, irritable, impulsive, self-conscious and vulnerability).
Past research had
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the comparison between the big five personality traits and males and females between 15 to 30 years and 50 years and over. 26 females and 26 males completed a Big 5 Personality Test online, using the internet. The hypothesis that, males and females, between the ages of 15 to 30 years, would score higher in Openness to experience and Extraversion than males and females who are 50 years and over, was supported. It was concluded that Openness to experience and Extraversion were higher in those who were between the ages of 15 to 30 years old than those who were 50 years and older. Based on these findings it could be generalised that people between the ages of 15 to 30 are more imaginative, outgoing and energetic than those who are 50 years and older, whereas those who are 50 years and over are more organised, reliable, kind and modest.
Introduction
Age-related differences in personality have captured the attention of many people. Personality can be defined as “an individual’s unique pattern of thoughts, feelings and behaviour that are relatively stable over time and across situations”. (Grivas & Carter, 2010)
Costa and McCrae (1999) had developed a five-factor model to explain the five big factors that make up a personality, the five factors are: Openness to Experience (includes traits such as imaginative, curious, artistic, excitable, insightful and unconventional), Conscientiousness (includes traits such as organised, thorough, efficient, competent, reliable and self-disciplined), Extraversion (includes traits such as outgoing, sociable, talkative, energetic, assertive and adventurous), Agreeableness (includes traits such as cooperative, compliance, sympathetic, kind, affectionate, forgiving and modest) and Neuroticism (includes traits such as tense, anxious, moody, irritable, impulsive, self-conscious and vulnerability).
Past research had
References: Costa, T.R. & McCrae, R.R. (1999) Age Differences in Personality Across the Adult Life Span: Parallels in Five Cultures. Developmental Psychology, 35, 466-477 Costa, T.R. & McCrae, R.R. (2010) Theories of Personality - Costa and McCrae Five-Factor Model. Psychology for the VCE Student Units 1&2 5E, 531-534 Donnellan, M.B. & Lucas, R.E. (2007) Age Differences in the Big Five Across the Life Span: Evidence from Two National Samples. Psychology and Aging, 23, 558-566 Grivas, J. & Carter, L. (2010) Ways of Describing Personality. Psychology for the VCE Student Units 1&2 5E, Chapter 12