The Five-Factor Model, also known as the Big Five, is one of the most widely researched and accepted models for describing human personality. Accroding to it our individual personality can be understood through five broad dimensions:
Openness to Experience (curiosity, creativity, willingness to try new things),
Conscientiousness (organisation, responsibility, reliability),
Extraversion (sociability, energy, enthusiasm), Agreeableness (kindness, empathy, cooperativeness), and
Neuroticism (emotional stability vs. sensitivity to stress and negative emotions).
Instead of categorising people into fixed “types,” the model views these traits as spectrums—for example, someone can be highly extroverted, moderately agreeable, but low in Conscientiousness. This approach more accurately reflects the complexity of real-life personalities.
The Big Five are not only used in psychological research but also in everyday contexts, such as workplace assessments, coaching, and self-development. They give people a practical framework to understand their strengths, potential challenges, and how they might interact with others. In a way, the model is like a map of your personality landscape, showing where you might thrive and where growth is possible.