My Big 5 Personality Test

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Summary
Agreeableness: 46th percentile
Compassion: 36th percentile
Politeness: 58th percentile
Conscientiousness: 17th percentile
Industriousness: 14th percentile
Orderliness: 30th percentile
Extraversion: 14th percentile
Enthusiasm: 25th percentile
Assertiveness: 12th percentile
Neuroticism: 14th percentile
Withdrawal: 23rd percentile
Volatility: 11th percentile
Openess: 64th percentile
Intellect: 78th percentile
Openness: 44th percentile

Use this information for Game Theory Purposes. Knowing your personality, you know how to deal with yourself and with others.

Richard has low level of conscientiousness (industriousness, orderliness)
Richard has low regard for obligation, attention to detail, hard work, persistence, cleanliness, efficiency and adherence to rules, standards and processes. Richard doesn't implement plans and establish and maintain order.
Richard does not regard duty as particularly important, and doesn't like to slog away at his tasks. He will only work hard if pushed, generally by outside forces (supervisors, spouses, friends, parents) and he doesn't mind wasting time. 
Even when Richard commits to doing something, there is a good chance they will be late, or delayed, even when there is no real reason for it. He tends to formulate and deliver excuses for his failure under such circumstances, typically blaming the situation for the problem. He is not decisive, neat, organized, future-oriented, or reliable, and is too-easily distracted.
Richard is not concerned by failure. He is not judgmental, to himself or others, and he finds situational explanations for disappointment, frustration or lack of success.
Richard is highly intelligent and is regarded as an underachiever. He focuses less on work than others and is substantively more likely to procrastinate, miss deadlines, or fail to complete assignments or projects completely. He puts off responsibilities, concentrating more on fun, worry, relationships, excitement or creative endeavor. He isn't concerned with schedules, timelines or efficiency, and will have to be supervised excessively before their tasks will be completed. He lacks focus and is too-easily distracted.
Richard is low in industriousness and is not judgmental to himself or others. He lets people, including himself, off the hook. 
Richard is neither disturbed nor disgusted by mess and chaos. He tends not to notice such things.  Richard rarely use schedules, list, or routines and, even if he plans,  he tends not to implement those plans, preferring to take things as they come, and let chance determine the outcome. He is not oriented toward detail and take neither rules nor procedures too seriously.
Richard does not care for routine and predictability. His schedules are loose and disruption doesn’t bother him. He requires almost constant reminder and supervision to maintain attention and focus, and is easily distracted. He can, however, tolerate the mess, disruption and intervening periods of chaos that may accompany creative endeavor.
Richard has low level of extraversion (High Introversion)
Introverts lack the exuberance, energy, and activity levels of extraverts. They tend to be quiet, low-key, deliberate, and disengaged from the social world. Their lack of social involvement should not be interpreted as shyness or depression; the introvert simply needs less stimulation than an extravert and prefers to be alone. The independence and reserve of the introvert is sometimes mistaken as unfriendliness or arrogance. In reality, an introvert who scores high on the extraversion dimension will not seek others out but will be quite pleasant when approached.

How to fix this
Minimalism
Low Cognitive Load
Pruning / Deletion
Simplification
Frameworks, Heuristics, Rules
Mindsets
Self-Authority/Self-Respect/Word is bond
Use Openness/Passions
Intellect, Cunning, Planning
Interesting Ideas
Music
Meditation

Extraversion is marked by pronounced engagement with the external world.
  
Extraverts enjoy being with people, are full of energy, and often experience positive emotions. They tend to be enthusiastic, action-oriented, individuals who are likely to say "Yes!" or "Let's go!" to opportunities for excitement. In groups they like to talk, assert themselves, and draw attention to themselves.
  
Introverts lack the exuberance, energy, and activity levels of extraverts. They tend to be quiet, low-key, deliberate, and disengaged from the social world. Their lack of social involvement should not be interpreted as shyness or depression; the introvert simply needs less stimulation than an extravert and prefers to be alone. The independence and reserve of the introvert is sometimes mistaken as unfriendliness or arrogance. In reality, an introvert who scores high on the extraversion dimension will not seek others out but will be quite pleasant when approached.

Agreeableness: Typical

You are typical or average in agreeableness, which is the primary dimension of Interpersonal interaction in the Big Five personality trait scientific model.

Agreeableness has two aspects: compassion and politeness

Agreeableness is a very complex trait, with marked positive and negative elements all along its distribution. Because of this, higher scores and lower scores need to be explained at the same time.

People high in agreeableness are nice: compliant, nurturing, kind, naively trusting and conciliatory. However, because of their tendency to avoid conflict, they often dissemble and hide what they think. People low in agreeableness are not so nice: stubborn, dominant, harsh, skeptical, competitive and, in the extreme, even predatory. However, they tend to be straightforward, even blunt, so you know where they stand.

Your score puts you at the 46th percentile for agreeableness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more agreeable than 46 of them and less agreeable than 53 of them.

People with typical levels of agreeableness are seen by others as somewhat cooperative, warm and considerate. They look for and even sometimes see the best in others, and are reasonably interpersonally tolerant (an attitude that is much valued by agreeable people). They are no more sensitive than average to seeing someone’s feelings get hurt and, although sometimes concerned about the emotional state of others, don’t always prefer peace and harmony to conflict. They strike a good balance between submissiveness and dominance.

People with average levels of agreeableness are somewhat forgiving, accepting, flexible, gentle and patient. They sometimes feel pity for those who are excluded, punished or defeated. However, they are less likely than highly agreeable people to be taken advantage of by disagreeable people or those with criminal or predatory intent. They can be skeptical. They believe in cooperation, but also feel that competition, with its losers and winners, has its valid place. They are less likely to lose arguments (and will not typically avoid discussion) with less agreeable people. They can be quite good at bargaining for themselves, and at negotiating for more recognition or power. They are likely to have somewhat higher salaries and earn more money, in consequence. This may mean they are less likely to suffer from resentment or to harbour invisible anger, although this tendency may be increased, if they are high in neuroticism. In addition, because of their tendency to engage in conflict, when necessary, typically agreeable people are less prone to sacrifice medium- to long-term stability and function for the sake of short-term peace. This can mean that problems that should be solved in the present are often solved, and do not accumulate counterproductively across time.

Women are higher in agreeableness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 61.5. For men it is 38.5. The fact that men are lower in agreeableness than women helps explain their much higher rates of criminal incarceration (90% male). The primary difference between criminals and non-criminals is disagreeableness. If the typical criminal is more disagreeable than 98% of people in the general population, then almost all those criminals will be male. This difference in agreeableness between men and women is largest in countries such as Norway and Sweden, where the most has been done to ensure equality of outcome between the sexes. This provides strong evidence that biological factors rather than environment and learning account for the dissimilarity.

Agreeableness, per se, is not strongly associated with political liberalism or conservatism, but this is because the aspects of agreeableness predict such political belief in opposite ways, and cancel each other out. Liberals are higher in aspect compassion, and conservatives in aspect politeness. However, alliance with the category of belief that has come to be known as politically correct is strongly predicted by agreeableness (particularly compassion). What this appears to mean is that agreeable people strongly identify with those they deem oppressed, seeing them, essentially, as exploited infants, and demonize those they see as oppressors, seeing them as cruel, heartless predators.

There are large differences between men and women in terms of spontaneous interest, and these also appear associated with agreeableness. Agreeable people, caring as they do for others, are more likely to enter professions associated with people, such as teaching and nursing, which are dominated by women. This is true even in the Scandinavian countries, where attempts to produce gender-equal societies has reached a maximum. Disagreeable people, by contrast, appear to prefer systematizing over empathizing, and are more interested in things – machines and technology. In consequence, professions such as engineering and trades associated with construction and machinery tend to be dominated by relatively disagreeable men.

Agreeableness has two aspects: compassion and politeness.

Compassion: Moderately Low

You are moderately low in compassion, which is one aspect of Agreeableness. Your score puts you at the 36th percentile for compassion. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less compassionate than 63 of them and more compassionate than 36 of them.

Less compassionate people are not primarily oriented towards the problems of other people or other living things. They are less swayed by cuteness. They are willing to make other people experience negative emotion by engaging in conflict and competition. They like to win, and are less concerned about helping other people. They make sure their own needs and interests are attended to, and are less likely to sacrifice for the sake of other people. This can make them appear harsh and unsympathetic. People might turn to them for the truth, but not for a soft, patient, eternally-listening ear. They are not markedly empathetic and caring. However, because they are not primarily other-oriented, they can often negotiate effectively on their own behalf, and are likely to get at least what they deserve (for their hard work, for example). In consequence, they are unlikely to harbor feelings of resentment or hidden anger.

Those who are liberal, politically, score somewhat higher in compassion than conservatives.

Women are also higher in compassion than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 61. For men it is 39.

Politeness: Typical or Average

You are typical or average in politeness, which is one aspect of Agreeableness. Your score puts you at the 58th percentile for politeness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more polite than 58 of them and less polite than 41 of them.

Typically polite people can be deferential to authority, but can also be challenging, when necessary. They are not particularly obedient. They can be respectful, but will also push back if pushed. They are not made uncomfortable by the necessity of standing up to other people. Typically polite people will avoid conflict, reasonably, but are not completely averse to confrontation.

Those who are liberal, politically, score somewhat lower in politeness than conservatives (the opposite pattern is seen with compassion).

Women are higher in politeness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 59. For men it is 41.

Conscientiousness: Low

You are low in conscientiousness, which is the primary dimension of dutiful achievement in the Big Five personality trait scientific model.

Conscientiousness is a measure of obligation, attention to detail, hard work, persistence, cleanliness, efficiency and adherence to rules, standards and processes. Conscientious people implement their plans and establish and maintain order.

Your score puts you at the 17th percentile for conscientiousness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less conscientious than 82 of them and more conscientious than 17 of them.

People low in conscientiousness do not regard duty as particularly important, and they don’t like to slog away at their tasks. They will only work hard if pushed, generally by outside forces (supervisors, spouses, friends, parents) and don’t mind wasting time. They are highly likely to procrastinate (particularly if they are also above average in neuroticism).

Even when people with low levels of conscientiousness commit to doing something, there is a good chance they will be late, or delayed, even when there is no real reason for it. They tend to formulate and deliver excuses for their failure under such circumstances, typically blaming the situation for the problem. They are not decisive, neat, organized, future-oriented, or reliable, and they find themselves too-easily distracted.

People with low levels of conscientiousness are much less likely to obtain higher grades in academic settings (particularly if they are also less intelligent), and generally require substantial supervision to stay on task. For this reason, they make sub-optimal managers and administrators. They do not feel compelled to do things by the book, however. This can perhaps be an advantage, if they are engaged in creative tasks, where rules must be broken for advancement to take place. They will rarely make career accomplishment a primary goal, turning instead to pursuit of safety and security (if high in neuroticism), creative accomplishment (if high in openness), establishment of intimate relationships and friendships (if highly agreeable), or social success, excitement and fun (if extraverted). Such people are by no means achievement-oriented.

People low in conscientiousness tend to relatively be free of guilt, shame, self-disgust and self-contempt. Other people, however, are likely to react negatively to their tendency to slack off and avoid responsibility (particularly if those other people are disagreeable and conscientious).

Individuals who are low in conscientious tend not to be concerned by failure. They are not judgmental, to themselves or others, and find and formulate situational explanations for disappointment, frustration or lack of success. They can handle periods of inactivity and unemployment with comparative ease. They downplay the relationship between hard work, diligence and success, assuming instead that chance factors and luck in life play a determining role. They live, in large part, for leisure and very much look forward to time off. They can be very good at relaxing, and living in the moment (particularly when low in neuroticism). They are much less concerned than average with cleaning, moral purity and achievement. It’s far more fun to be at the beach or at a party with a person low in conscientiousness – but you might not want to invite them over on moving day.

People low in conscientiousness are substantively more likely to be political liberals rather than conservatives. This is particularly true if they are also high in openness.

Women are very slightly more conscientious than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 51.5. For men it is 49.5.

Conscientiousness has two aspects: industriousness and orderliness.

Industriousness: Low

You are low in industriousness, which is one aspect of conscientiousness. Your score puts you at the 14th percentile for industriousness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less industrious than 85 of them and more industrious than 14 of them.

People who are low in industriousness are much less likely to be successful in school and in administrative and managerial positions (particularly if they are also less intelligent). If they are highly intelligent, they tend to be regarded as underachievers. They focus less on work than others and are substantively more likely to procrastinate, miss deadlines, or fail to complete assignments or projects completely. They put off responsibilities, concentrating more on fun, worry, relationships, excitement or creative endeavour. They aren’t concerned with schedules, timelines or efficiency, and will have to be supervised excessively before their tasks will be completed. They lack focus and are too-easily distracted.

People low in industriousness are not judgmental to themselves or others. They let people, including themselves, off the hook. They believe that people fail not because they don’t apply themselves or work hard but because chance and luck play the determining roles. They are resistant to guilt, self-disgust or self-contempt, and have a very laissez-faire, whatever-will-be-will-be attitude toward life.

Those who are liberal and those who are conservatives appear equally industrious.

Men are slightly more industrious than women. The mean percentile for men in a general population (women and men) is 51.5. For women it is 49.5.

Orderliness: Moderately Low

You are moderately low in orderliness, which is one aspect of conscientiousness. Your score puts you at the 30th percentile for orderliness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less orderly than 69 of them and more orderly than 30 of them.

People moderately low in orderliness are neither disturbed nor disgusted by mess and chaos. They tend simply not to notice such things. They see the world in shades of grey, rather than black and white, and are non-judgmental in their attitudes toward themselves and others. They rarely use schedules, list, or routines and, even if they plan, tend not to implement those plans, preferring to take things as they come, and let chance determine the outcome. They are not oriented toward detail and take neither rules nor procedures too seriously.

People who are moderately low in orderliness care less than average for routine and predictability. Their schedules are loose and disruption doesn’t bother them. They require almost constant reminder and supervision to maintain attention and focus, and are easily distracted. They can, however, tolerate the mess, disruption and intervening periods of chaos that may accompany creative endeavour.

Those who are below average in orderliness are less likely to be political conservatives. Orderliness is the second-best predictor of conservatism, after openness to experience.

Women are more orderly than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 54.5. For men it is 45.5. This may account for some of the trouble in relation to housework between women and men. Since women are, on average, more orderly, household disorder will trigger disgust and discomfort in them faster. This may happen with sufficient frequency so they end up doing a disproportionate share of such work (even though if they waited a bit longer their less orderly partners, often men, might end up equally troubled and motivated to fix the problem). Orderly people are more likely to have items such as event calendars, drawer organizers, laundry baskets, irons and ironing boards in their immediate environments.

Extraversion: Low

You are low in extraversion, which is the primary dimension of positive emotion in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. You could also think of yourself as high in introversion. Extraversion is a measure of general sensitivity to positive emotions such as hope, joy, anticipation and approach, particularly in social situations.

Your score puts you at the 14th percentile for extraversion. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less extraverted than 85 of them and more extraverted than 14 of them.

People with low levels of extraversion are much less enthusiastic, talkative, assertive in social situations, or gregarious. They find social contact somewhat draining and tiring, and crave time alone to recharge. They are much less likely to plan parties, tell jokes, make people laugh, or volunteer for community activities. They are more likely to be depressed and to have lower levels of self-esteem (particularly if they are high in neuroticism). They tend to be much less optimistic about the past, present and future.

People who are low in extraversion find it easy to keep things to themselves. They are by no means compelled to share everything with everyone. They are not self-disclosing and do not warm up quickly to other people. They are much more comfortable with one-to-one interactions than in a group-oriented situation. They rarely speak up in meetings, and are particularly unlikely to speak first, although they will express an opinion if asked. They are much less likely to captivate and convince, especially in groups, and will rarely be the first to act in an ambiguous situation.

People who are low in extraversion are much better suited to occupations that require work alone or with a few other well-known individuals (such as computer programming or accounting). Jobs involving sales, persuasion, work in groups and public speaking are quite unlikely to appeal to them, and they are less likely to be successful at such things (particularly if they are also high in neuroticism).

People low in extraversion are unlikely to be impulsive, even when offered the opportunity to do something exciting or fun. They are therefore unlikely to sacrifice the future to the present, when something social or group-oriented beckons. They find it relatively easy to be alone to study and work. They are not easily distracted by opportunities to chat, joke and socialize. This is particularly the case if they are also high in conscientiousness. However, when people are introverted and conscientious, they are less productive than when extraverted and conscientiousness, perhaps because they have lower levels of energy. When introverted and comparatively unconscientiousness, however, they are more productive than when extraverted and unconscientious.

People low in extraversion are less dominant in social situations, particularly when they are also low in agreeableness. Less agreeable extraverts tend to be self-centered – something that can be made worse if they are also low in conscientiousness. More introverted people are somewhat protected against such tendencies.

Those who are politically liberal are slightly less extraverted than conservatives.

Women are slightly more extraverted than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 52. For men it is 48.

Extraversion has two aspects: Enthusiasm and Assertiveness.

Enthusiasm: Moderately Low

You are moderately low in enthusiasm, which is one aspect of extraversion. Your score puts you at the 25th percentile for enthusiasm. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less enthusiastic than 74 of them and more enthusiastic than 25 of them.

Individuals who are moderately low in enthusiasm are rarely excitable, not particularly easy to get to know, and not known for their talkative nature. When they do talk, it tends only to be about things in which they find particular interest. They do not easily open up to people, particularly in larger social gatherings or parties. They laugh more rarely than others. They tend to prefer solitude, although they can enjoy themselves around other people, in moderation. They are more private people, and are not particularly positive or optimistic. They do not crave the spotlight and, if creative, may find performing less desirable. They rarely seek out stimulation, excitement, activity or fun (and, if they do so, prefer quieter activities). People moderately low in enthusiasm are not gregarious or people-loving, and are not particularly positive about what might happen next .

Enthusiasm is not strongly associated with political preference, either conservative or liberal.

Women are higher in enthusiasm than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 55. For men it is 45.

Assertiveness: Low

You are low in assertiveness, which is one aspect of extraversion. Your score puts you at the 12th percentile for assertiveness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less assertive than 87 of them and more assertive than 12 of them.

People low in assertiveness are not known to be “take charge” types. They put their own opinions forward rarely and with reservation, and do not typically attempt to dominate and control social situations. Such people tend not to be or captivating in social groups. They manifest much less of the communication style that is often associated with leadership. This can be a handicap when they are knowledgeable, competent and able, but causes less trouble when they aren’t. Those low in assertiveness are much less likely to be people of spontaneous action. They don’t leap in heedlessly and, in consequence, tend to allow others to lead the way. They are much less impulsive, in consequence, and hardly ever act without thinking.

Liberals tend to be slightly less assertive than conservatives.

Women are slightly less assertive than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 48. For men it is 52.

Neuroticism: Low

You are low in neuroticism, which is the primary dimension of negative emotion in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Neuroticism is a measure of general sensitivity to negative emotions such as pain, sadness, irritable or defensive anger, fear and anxiety.

Your score puts you at the 14th percentile for neuroticism. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be lower in neuroticism than 85 of them and higher in neuroticism than 14 of them.

People with low levels of neuroticism rarely focus on the negative elements, anxieties and uncertainties of the past, present and future. It is rare for them to face periods of time where they are unhappy, anxious and irritable, unless facing a serious, sustained problem. Even under the latter conditions, they cope well, don’t worry too much, and recover quickly when stressed. They’re good at keeping their head in a storm, and they seldom make mountains out of molehills.

They tend to have much higher levels of self-esteem, particularly when they are also average or above average in extraversion. They are at low risk for developing anxiety disorders and depression (again, particularly if average or above in extraversion).

When good things happen to them, people with low levels of neuroticism can accept it, without questioning whether or not they deserved it. They are usually satisfied with their relationships and careers. Overall, they are tolerant of stress, and can accept failure and setbacks as part of life. Low levels of neuroticism are associated with decreased concern about mental and physical health, much fewer physician and emergency room visits, and reduced absenteeism at work and at school (unless accompanied by very low levels of conscientiousness).

People with low levels of neuroticism can handle risk substantively better, without becoming unduly concerned. They are rarely concerned with security, and can more easily handle recreational, career, financial and social situations where the possibility of loss is higher. They find considering as well as implementing career changes and other transformations that could enhance their lives much less stressful.

Neuroticism is not a powerful predictor of political belief, either conservative or liberal.

Females tend to be higher in neuroticism than males. The typical woman is higher in neuroticism than 60% of the general population of men and women combined. In part, this may be why women report more unhappiness in their relationships, at work, in school and with their health than men, on average, and why women initiate 70% of all divorces. This difference in neuroticism between men and women appears to emerge at puberty. It is largest in countries such as Norway and Sweden, where the most has been done to ensure equality of outcome between the sexes. This provides strong evidence that biological factors rather than environment and learning account for the dissimilarity.

Trait neuroticism is made up of the aspects withdrawal and volatility.

Withdrawal: Moderately Low

You are moderately low in withdrawal, which is one aspect of neuroticism. Your score puts you at the 23rd percentile for withdrawal. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be lower in withdrawal than 76 of them and higher in withdrawal than 23 of them.

Individuals moderately low in withdrawal tend not to suffer from nor be impeded by anticipatory anxiety. They can handle new, uncertain, unexpected, threatening or complex situations quite well. They are not more likely to avoid or withdraw in the face of the unknown and unexpected.

People with moderately low levels of withdrawal occasionally feel sad, lonesome, disappointed and grief-stricken, but not too deeply, and not for too long. They experience lower than normal levels of doubt and worry, embarrassment, self-consciousness and discouragement in the face of threat and punishment. They are not particularly sensitive nor worried about social rejection, and don’t easily feel hurt or threatened. Even when hurt, frightened, or anxious, they recover with relative ease and speed. People with moderately low levels of withdrawal are not particularly concerned that something bad is going to happen. Technically, withdrawal has been associated with activity in the brain systems that regulate passive avoidance.

Those who are liberal, politically, are slightly higher in withdrawal than conservatives.

Women are higher in withdrawal than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 60. For men it is 40.

Volatility: Low

You are low in volatility, which is one aspect of neuroticism. Your score puts you at the 11th percentile for volatility. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less volatile than 88 of them and more volatile than 11 of them.

Individuals low in volatility are stable and predictable in their moods. They are not irritable, and feel much less disappointment, frustration, pain and loneliness. People find them easy to get along with and can often relax around them. They rarely express their frustration, disappointment and irritability and appear reasonable when they do so. Even on the rare occasions they become stirred up, upset, angry or irritated, they calm down quickly. They are much less argumentative than average and rarely lose their composure.

If thoroughly provoked in a dispute, a person of low volatility may react in kind (particularly if also low in agreeableness). However, such people remain calm and unperturbed, even when stressed. Volatile people tend to get upset if something bad does happen, while people high in withdrawal (the other aspect of neuroticism) tend to be concerned that something bad might happen. Technically, volatility has been associated with activity in the brain systems that regulate fight, flight or freeze.

Volatility is not strongly related to political preference, either liberal or conservative.

Women are higher in volatility than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 57.5. For men it is 42.5.

Openness to Experience: Moderately High

You are moderately high in openness to experience, which is the primary dimension of creativity, artistic interest and intelligence (particularly verbal intelligence) in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Openness to experience is a measure of interest in novelty, art, literature, abstract thinking, philosophy as well as sensitivity to aesthetic emotions and beauty.

Your score puts you at the 64th percentile for openness to experience. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in openness to experience than 64 of them and lower in openness to experience than 35 of them.

People with moderately high levels of openness to experience are somewhat more likely than average to be characterized by others as smart, creative, exploratory, intelligent and visionary. They tend to be more interested in learning and in acquiring new abilities and skills. They are curious and exploratory. They find themselves interested in abstract thinking, philosophy, and the meaning of belief systems and ideologies. They attend cultural events such as movies, concerts, dance recitals, plays, poetry readings, gallery openings and art shows. They are likely to enjoy writing. They enjoy complex, abstract ideas more than the average person, and like to confront and solve problems.

They are likely to be readers, with a wider range of interests. They have a broader and deeper vocabulary. They can think and learn quite quickly. They are comparatively proficient at formulating new ideas, and tend to be articulate (particularly if average or above in extraversion). People moderately high in openness can sometimes see old things in new ways. They can formulate problems in a diverse range of ways, and can typically generate a reasonable number of problem-solving solutions. They enjoy change, often to make things better, but also just for the sake of change.

People who are moderately high in openness to experience are somewhat less well adapted to situations or occupations that are routinized and predictable. They have some trouble fitting in at the bottom of hierarchies. They are less suited to entry-level, repetitive, rote positions, because they often think up new ways to do things, and such ideas are seldom welcome from someone at the bottom. They are creative thinkers. They tend to shake things up a bit, particularly if they are also disagreeable and assertive, and may be attracted to more revolutionary ideas (particularly if below average in conscientiousness).

Individuals moderately high in openness to experience tend to be entrepreneurial in spirit, as well as smarter and more creative. They have more than average interest in creating new ventures, sometimes for profit, sometimes for curiosity, and sometimes for personal transformation. At least moderately high levels of openness to experience appear necessary to the formation and leadership of business and other forms of complex organization, although conscientiousness appears required for the attention to detail and process management that such organizations also always need.

People moderately high in openness to experience tend to be interested in many things. However, they can still typically settle on a single path in life, to specialize to a necessary degree, and to create an integrated identity (unless they are very high or above in neuroticism and/or very low or below in conscientiousness). People characterized by the combination of moderately high openness to experience and very high or above levels of neuroticism can undermine their own convictions and beliefs by questioning and making themselves lost and anxious. Open, unconscientious people tend to be “under-achievers” (particularly if also above average in neuroticism). Such people appear to have the capability to succeed, can learn quickly, and are creative, but they can have some trouble implementing their ideas.

Openness to experience is the dimension that best predicts political allegiance (with conscientiousness, particularly the aspect of orderliness, coming in at second place). Those who are liberal, politically, are very much more likely to be high in openness to experience than conservatives.

Women and men differ very little in openness to experience at the trait level, although there are differences in the aspect levels.

Trait openness to experience is made up of the aspects of intellect and openness.

Intellect: High

Note: Do not confuse the personality aspect of Intellect with IQ. Intellect is a measure of interest in abstract ideas, essentially, while IQ is a measure of processing speed, verbal ability, working memory, and problem solving capacity, and is better measured with a formal IQ test. It is perfectly possible to have a high IQ and a low score on the personality trait of Intellect (or the reverse).

You are high in intellect, which is one aspect of openness to experience. Your score puts you at the 78th percentile for intellect. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in intellect than 78 of them and lower in intellect than 21 of them.

People high in intellect are quite interested in ideas and abstract concepts. They enjoy being confronted with novel information, even when it is complex. They are substantially more curious and exploratory than average, and frequently like to tackle and solve problems. They will actively engage in and seek out and initiate issue-oriented discussions, and are likely to read, think about and want to discuss idea-centered books (most frequently non-fiction). They are generally articulate and can formulate ideas clearly and quickly (particularly if average or higher in extraversion). They have a wide vocabulary, and actively enjoy learning new things. People high in intellect will often find and generate novel, creative concepts and voluntarily search for and adapt well to new experience and situations.

People high in intellect find complex, rapidly changing occupations to their liking and will generally do well at them (particularly if they are also high in conscientiousness and low in neuroticism). However, they are substantially less well-suited to stable, straightforward and more traditional occupations, where the rules don't change, and will experience frequent periods of boredom and frustration in such positions.

Liberals are higher in intellect than conservatives (although the biggest difference between the two is openness to experience at the trait level).

Women are lower than men in intellect (although not in IQ). This is probably a difference in interest: people high in intellect, compared to openness, are more likely to prefer the sciences to the arts. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 45. For men it is 55.

Openness: Typical or Average

You are average in openness, which is one aspect of openness to experience. Your score puts you at the 44th percentile for openness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in openness than 44 of them and lower in openness than 55 of them.

The closest synonym for openness (rather than openness to experience, which encompasses openness and intellect) is creativity. People who are average in openness or creativity find beauty reasonably important. They may enjoy an outlet for their creative ability, but will not wither away without it. They can appreciate art or beautiful crafts. They are somewhat sensitive to color and architectural form. They sometimes enjoy collecting, but it is rare for them to pursue it passionately. They are reasonably imaginative, and may daydream and reflect on occasion. They tend to enjoy music, often of the more conventional popular forms, and may be somewhat musical or artistic themselves (both of these are rare in the general population). They do not generally become so immersed in a book, or a movie, or in their own thoughts, that they lose touch with the outside world. They are interested in but by no means obsessed with beauty, creativity and art.

People of typical or average openness tend to be quite stable and reasonably conventional (particularly if they are also average or above in conscientiousness). At least moderate levels of openness tend to be necessary for entrepreneurial success, and prove comparatively useful at the top of hierarchies, even in very conservative occupations such as banking, accounting and law, which need creative people in leadership positions to provide new vision and direction.

Liberals are higher in openness than conservatives (although the biggest difference between the two is openness to experience, at the trait level).

Women are higher in openness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 56.5. For men it is 44.5.

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