7 Core Personality Factors: Definitions and Examples

Personality has long captivated the field of psychology, serving as one of its most fascinating and widely applied areas. The roots of experimental psychology and the study of human personality trace back to the late 19th century, when German physiologist and philosopher Wilhelm Wundt laid the groundwork for this burgeoning field¹. Over the next century, research advanced significantly, culminating in a study by Costa and McCrae that found most personality traits can be viewed as facets of five core personality factors: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (low Emotional Stability).² These traits collectively form the Five-Factor Model (FFM), often summarized by the acronym “OCEAN.”

Building on this foundation, Canadian psychology professors Kibeom Lee and Michael C. Ashton introduced the HEXACO model by adding Honesty/Humility as a sixth factor.³ Today, SIGMA Personality has further refined our understanding by dividing Conscientiousness into two distinct higher-order factors: Industriousness and Methodicalness, resulting in a seven-factor model. This expanded framework offers a deeper understanding of individuals’ conscientiousness, which has been described as “the most potent, non-cognitive predictor of workplace performance.”⁴ In this blog, SIGMA’s experts delve into the definitions, benefits, and key considerations for each of these seven core personality factors.

7 Core Personality Factors

1. Agreeableness
2. Emotional Stability
3. Extraversion
4. Honesty/Humility
5. Industriousness
6. Methodicalness
7. Openness to Experience

1. Agreeableness

What is Agreeableness?

Agreeableness refers to the tendency to get along easily with others and be willing to help those in need. People who score high on Agreeableness are forgiving, non-judgmental, and trusting in nature.

6 Traits of Agreeable People:

Cooperative, empathetic, forgiving, non-judgmental, nurturing, trusting.

Benefits of Strong Agreeableness:

• High scores on Agreeableness are positively related to group performance.⁵
• High scores on Agreeableness are negatively related to abusive supervision^.6
• Agreeableness is positively related to supportive leadership⁷ and the charismatic dimension of transformational leadership.⁸
• Agreeableness has been shown to predict the growth of interpersonal relationships⁹.

Cautions for High Scores on Agreeableness:

• May prefer to avoid conflict rather than manage or proactively mitigate it.
• May try to please others and avoid offering alternative opinions or ideas, even if they are viable or better options.
• May be overly trusting of other people, allowing them to be taken advantage of.

Cautions for Low Scores on Agreeableness:

• May be prone towards instigating or exacerbating conflict.
• May adopt a contentious perspective for unproductive purposes.
• May disrupt group cohesion, teambuilding, and unity.

2. Emotional Stability

What is Emotional Stability?

Emotional Stability refers to the tendency to remain calm and composed when faced with uncertain or stressful situations. People who score high on Emotional Stability are confident and capable of regulating their moods.

6 Traits of Emotionally Stable People:

Accepting of criticism, carefree, even-tempered, capable of handling stress, optimistic, strong self-esteem.

Benefits of Strong Emotional Stability:

• High scores on Emotional Stability have been linked to greater career resilience.¹⁰
• The ability to regulate emotions is associated with better mental health outcomes.¹¹
• Emotional Stability is related to better job satisfaction and performance.¹²

Cautions for High Scores on Emotional Stability:

• May not be able to share in strong emotions to the same extent as others on their team.
• May struggle to understand or be patient with those who are more sensitive to negative emotions
• May not take emotional factors into account when communicating or making decisions.

Cautions for Low Scores on Emotional Stability:

• May not effectively handle pressure, uncertainty, or stressful situations.
• May struggle with receiving constructive criticism and managing conflict.
• May let emotions impede job productivity and satisfaction.

3. Extraversion

What is Extraversion?

Extraversion refers to the tendency to enjoy, feel comfortable, and demonstrate confidence in group settings, including persuading others and assuming leadership roles. Extraverted people are able to modify their actions and words to suit different situations.

6 Traits of Extraverted People:

Desiring affiliation (belonging), desiring to lead, enjoying attention, persuasive, socially adaptable, socially confident.

Benefits of Strong Extraversion:

• Out of all personality traits, Extraversion is the best and most consistent predictor of important leadership outcomes;¹³ Extraversion has also been found to be positively related to transformational leadership^{14,15,16,17,18} and charismatic leadership.¹⁹
• Extraversion is associated with greater life satisfaction and positive relationships.²⁰
• On average, extraverted individuals score higher on motivation and performance.²¹

Cautions for High Scores on Extraversion:

• May struggle to stay motivated and focused when working independently.
• May have a tendency of dominating conversations and struggle with active listening.
• May have a hard time working remotely if living on their own.

Cautions for Low Scores on Extraversion:

• May avoid meetings and teamwork even when they would be beneficial.
• May take longer to adapt to new teams.
• May be less inclined towards management, liaison, or other roles that require more assertiveness or leadership skills.

4. Honesty/Humility

What is Honesty/Humility?

Honesty/Humility refers to the tendency to be truthful, humble, and straightforward with others. People who score high on Honesty/Humility avoid taking risks and carefully follow established rules.

6 Traits of Honest/Humble People:

Modest, risk averse, rule compliant, sincere, truthful, unentitled.

Benefits of Strong Honesty/Humility:

• Studies have shown that leaders’ Honesty/Humility is negatively related to abusive supervision²² and positively related to ethical²³ and authentic leadership.²⁴
• Honesty/Humility is positively correlated with supervisor ratings of overall job performance;²⁵ in fact, in measures of individual and contextual performance, humility has been shown to compensate for lower cognitive ability.²⁶
• Leaders’ expressed humility is positively related with follower engagement.²⁷

Cautions for High Scores on Honesty/Humility:

• May be less adept at communicating strategically and knowing when it is wise to omit information.
• May overlook opportunities due to a strong aversion to risk.
• May struggle to be innovative and creative if they strictly adhere to established procedures.

Cautions for Low Scores on Honesty/Humility:

• May be more prone towards risk-taking and bending the rules.
• May be inclined toward twisting or obscuring difficult news or undesired outcomes.
• May disrupt group cohesion by acting entitled and arrogant.

5. Industriousness

What is Industriousness?

Industriousness refers to the tendency to strive tirelessly for excellence. People who score high on Industriousness work hard, set challenging goals, and derive meaning from work.

6 Traits of Industrious People:

Achievement-oriented, competitive, high/sustained energy, engaged, hard-working, persistent.

Benefits of Strong Industriousness:

• Employees who are engaged in their work tend to do better on overall scores of productivity, well-being, and organizational citizenship.²⁸
• Organizations are more profitable and productive when their employees are engaged.²⁹
• Employee competitiveness is positively related to innovation and career satisfaction.³⁰

Cautions for High Scores on Industriousness:

• May wear out, stress, or frustrate individuals who cannot match their high and sustained energy.
• May disrupt teamwork with their strong competitive spirit.
• May prioritize achievement over maintaining relationships or work/life balance.

Cautions for Low Scores on Industriousness:

• May struggle to stay motivated or to motivate others.
• May be more prone to giving up when a project or relationship becomes difficult.
• May be less inclined to strive for excellence in their work.

6. Methodicalness

What is Methodicalness?

Methodicalness refers to the tendency to act in a deliberate and planful manner. People who score high on Methodicalness can be counted on to meet commitments and deadlines.

6 Traits of Methodical People:

Strong impulse control, organized, planner, punctual, reliable, self-disciplined.

Benefits of Strong Methodicalness:

• Employees with good time management skills are more engaged, proactive, and productive in their roles.³¹
• There is a positive association between time management skills and reduced stress levels among employees.³²
• Self-control is related to higher salary and occupational prestige.³³

Cautions for High Scores on Methodicalness:

• May focus excessively on planning and neglect to implement plans.
• May struggle to make quick decisions or take part in activities spontaneously.
• May have difficulty being flexible and adapting project goals and timelines.

Cautions for Low Scores on Methodicalness:

• May have difficulty adhering to standardized processes.
• May deprioritize punctuality and reliability.
• May struggle to spot subtle mistakes or deliver a high-quality product when the work requires attention to detail.

7. Openness to Experience

What is Openness to Experience?

Openness to Experience refers to the tendency to enjoy creative pursuits and original thinking. People who score high on Openness to Experience thrive when there is an opportunity to learn, discuss differences of opinion, or try something new.

6 Traits of People Who Are Open to Experience:

Abstract thinking, appreciation of aesthetics, breadth of interest, embraces change, embraces differences, innovative.

Benefits of Strong Openness to Experience:

• Openness to Experience is positively related to subjective well-being.³⁴
• Being open minded has a positive, significant effect on group learning capacity.³⁵
• Trying something new has been found to increase the brain’s ability to adapt and solve problems.³⁶

Cautions for High Scores on Openness to Experience:

• May be inclined towards change and innovation when maintaining the status quo is the better option.
• May require a variety of tasks to satisfy their intellectual curiosity.
• May prolong the completion of routine, practical tasks because of a preference for those involving thinking or creativity.

Cautions for Low Scores on Openness to Experience:

• May prefer to follow established procedures rather than trying novel methods that might be more effective.
• May struggle to appreciate different personalities, experiences, and approaches to work.
• May have difficulty grasping “the big picture,” including abstract concepts such as long-term strategy or mission/vision statements.

7 Core Personality Factors: How to Measure

Are you ready to measure the seven core personality factors outlined above? SIGMA Personality provides a convenient and scientifically validated solution. Administered online through SIGMA’s state-of-the-art platform, this assessment takes only 20 minutes to complete, making it an ideal tool for your research and talent development initiatives. Complete the form below to share your objectives, and let us help you unlock the full potential of your team. We look forward to hearing from you.