The Big Five Model of Personality
So in my research, I became interested in discovering if there was more than just workplace factors that influence the onset and course of burnout syndrome. I found evidence that personality traits do indeed influence an individual’s susceptibility to burnout. The most prominent model to explain this is the Big Five model, also known as the OCEAN model of personality. This model is the most scientifically sound theory of human personality, and is widely accepted in the psychological community.
The OCEAN model has five broad dimensions, each representing a continuum between two extremes. These traits are:
- Openness to Experience
- Conscientiousness
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Neuroticism
Out of these, Neuroticism, is the most prominent personality factor, followed by agreeableness and conscientiousness.
Most people have a negative reaction to the word neuroticism – is that nm? What does that mean? Neuroticism is just a tendency to experience more negative emotion than others, such as feeling anxious, more prone to depression, and melancholic. However, it’s important to also look at how these 3 OCEAN traits fuse with more commonly known personality traits, such as the “Type A” and perfectionists of the world.
Type A Personality
OCEAN Trait Correlate:
Neuroticism. Type A individuals often experience high levels of stress and anxiety due to their competitive and ambitious nature. This aligns with Neuroticism, which involves a tendency toward negative emotional states like anxiety, stress, and emotional instability.
Perfectionism
OCEAN Trait Correlate:
Conscientiousness. Perfectionism is closely related to Conscientiousness, which reflects an individual’s tendency to be diligent, detail-oriented, and self-disciplined. Perfectionists set high standards and are highly critical of their performance, which aligns with the conscientious aspect of striving for order and high achievement.
On that note, I thought i’d toss in a few more. Because I’m a psychologist and I just like thinking, maybe you find it interesting too. Why not.
Low Self-Esteem
OCEAN Trait Correlate:
Neuroticism. Low Self-Esteem is associated with high levels of Neuroticism. Individuals with low self-esteem often experience self-doubt and negative emotions, which are core components of neuroticism. This trait includes tendencies toward anxiety, self-criticism, and emotional instability.
High Empathy
OCEAN Trait Correlate:
Agreeableness. High Empathy aligns with Agreeableness, which encompasses traits such as compassion, empathy, and a cooperative attitude toward others. Highly empathetic individuals are often more attuned to others’ emotions, which reflects the agreeableness dimension of being understanding and supportive.
Thougthts over.