Week 3: Personality Testing: Five-factor Model of Personality (NEO-PI)

Question 1

What is the purpose of the NEO Personality Inventory?

Answer 1

To assess five dimensions of personality.

Question 2

How many questions does the NEO-PI contain and how is it rated?

Answer 2

It contains 240 questions that are rated on a five-point Likert Scale, with 1 = Strongly Disagree and 5 = Strongly Agree.

Question 3

How many subscales are there in the NEO-PI?

Answer 3

There are 30 subscales.

Question 4

What are the five domains of personality?

Answer 4

OCEAN
O - openness to experience
C - conscientiousness
E - extraversion
A - agreeableness
N - neuroticism

Question 5

What is openness to experience?

Answer 5

This domain of personality is associated with imagination, curiosity, attunement towards personal emotions, and enjoyment of abstract thinking/ideas.

Question 6

What does it mean if someone scores high in openness to experience?

Answer 6

It means that they are likely to be more quirky or unusual, will be open to a range of emotions and experiences, and will enjoy creativity.

Question 7

What are the six facets of openness to experience?

Answer 7

FIFAVA
Fantasy - How active is the person’s imagination and how much is this used to interact with the world. problem-solving, and creativity?
Ideas - How intellectually curious is the person and how much do they enjoy abstract concepts and philosophical debates?
Feelings - How open is the person to allowing themselves to feel emotions and valuing this aspect of life?
Actions - How willing is the person to try new things and do they get bored with routine easily?
Values - How willing is the person to re-examine their own values in the face of different perspectives, worldviews or cultures?
Aesthetics - How appreciative is the person of art and beauty, and how absorbed do they get in artistic works?

Question 8

What is conscientiousness?

Answer 8

This domain relates to an orientation towards accomplishing things and the behaviours requires to do so.

Question 9

What does it mean if someone scores high in conscientiousness?

Answer 9

It means that the person likely thinks things through before acting and they are clear and concise in their approach. They may have a tendency towards perfectionism, compulsiveness and judgement of others.

Question 10

What are the six facets of conscientiousness?

Answer 10

CODASD
Competence - How effective and capable does the person feel in succeeding?
Order - How neat, tidy and orderly is the person?
Dutifulness - To what degree does the person feel like they need to do what is expected of them?
Achievement-striving - an attitude of aspiration and striving to meet goals
Self-discipline - The ability to follow through on a plan once it is set
Deliberation - Thinking and planning out carefully before acting

Question 11

What is extraversion?

Answer 11

The domain that measures how sociable and outgoing a person is. It is associated with assertiveness, friendliness, warmth and being upbeat.

Question 12

What does it mean if someone scores high in extraversion?

Answer 12

It means that the person tends to be outgoing in social situations, and leaders. At very high levels, they can be dominant and aggressive.

Question 13

What does it mean if someone scores low in extraversion?

Answer 13

The person is more likely to be reserved but not necessarily socially anxious. They may be more evenly paced and prefer solitary pursuits.

Question 14

What are the six facets of extraversion?

Answer 14

WAGEAP
Warmth - How comfortable is the person with intimacy and closeness?
Assertiveness - Making oneself heard and known in social situations, and a willingness to take on leadership roles
Gregariousness - Preference for having other people around
Excitement-seeking - Need for enjoyment and high stimulation activities
Activity - Level of energy and gusto that people bring to their lives
Positive emotions - tendency to experience positive emotions like happiness, bliss, joy and love

Question 15

What is agreeableness?

Answer 15

It is the attitude about the goodness and general trustworthiness of others, as well as behaviours linked to respecting, empathising with and deferring to others.

Question 16

What does it mean if someone scores high in agreeableness?

Answer 16

The person may be passive and compliant, and can be viewed as “weak” or “dependent”.

Question 17

What does it mean if a person scores low in agreeableness?

Answer 17

It means that the person is distrustful of others and expect competition and conflict in their relationships.

Question 18

What are the six facets of agreeableness?

Answer 18

TAMSCT
Trust - Faith in the goodness of others
Altruism - Concern for the wellbeing of others
Modesty - having humility and not boasting about their achievements
Straightforwardness - directness, unflinching honesty and genuineness, avoiding deceitfulness
Compliance - How the person reacts to conflict
Tender-mindedness - sympathy and concern for the wellbeing of others

Question 19

What is neuroticism?

Answer 19

This domain assesses the tendency for emotional instability, turmoil and general distress.

Question 20

What does it mean if someone scores high in neuroticism?

Answer 20

The person may be emotionally unstable, quick to anger and feel anxiety or sadness, as well as feel low self worth, and second guess themselves.

Question 21

What are the six facets of neuroticism?

Answer 21

ASDAIV
Anxiety - Jittery, easily frightened, prone to worry and apprehensive
Self-consciousness - Discomfort with social awkwardness, including emotions of shame and embarrassment, and can have a preoccupation with social mistakes
Depression - sadness, guilt, shame, hopelessness, and worthlessness, and likely to internalise negative events
Angry hostility - Anger, resentment and bitterness. Not necessarily a measure of aggression
Impulsivity - Difficulties in resisting urges and often feel regret about behaviours later on. Not necessarily associated with risk-taking behaviour
Vulnerability - How capable a person feels to cope with stress, linked also to hopelessness and being overwhelmed with decision-making

Question 22

What are some assets of the NEO-PI

Answer 22

1. It is more versatile in measuring clinically meaningful thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
2. It is applicable for a variety of settings.
3. It uses accessible language and is simple to score.

Question 23

What are some limitations of the NEO-PI?

Answer 23

1. It cannot be used as a standalone clinical assessment.
2. There are no validity scales to detect people who might be responding randomly, and makes it easy to present oneself as socially desirable.