The Big Five personality traits uses factor analysis applied to personality survey data to identify 5 key areas of differentiation between personality types. This is the only theory of personality that seems to have stood up to rigorous statistical and research scrutiny (<- my own thoughts on the subject).
5 Key Factors #
Mnemonics: OCEAN or CANOE
- Extraversion: outgoing/energetic vs. solitary reserved
- Agreeableness: friendly/compassionate vs. critical/rational
- Openness to experience: inventive/curious vs. consistent/cautious
- Conscientiousness: efficient/organized vs. extravagant/careless
- Neuroticism: sensitive/nervous vs. resilient/confident
Heritability vs Learned Behavior #
- Upbringing affects these traits.
- Twins studies and other research shows that 1/2 the variation between individuals results from genetic factors and 1/2 from environmental factors.
- Resarch shows that Big 5 are relatively stable from middle age through old age.