Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness is a personality trait that reflects how seriously a person takes responsibilities and the regard they have for the feelings and needs of others. Psychologists consider it to be one of the five most important traits. It is also considered a significant factor in predicting a person’s success in life.

People who display high levels of conscientiousness are generally disciplined, organized, and reliable. However, they can also tend toward perfectionism, inflexibility, and stubbornly persisting in finishing things even when that becomes inappropriate. Those who display low levels of conscientiousness tend to be more spontaneous and less stressed about goals and decision-making. This can result in behaviors that tend to earn disapproval from others, such as being late, making impulsive purchases, and living in disorder.

Background

People have discussed the character and behavior of humans since ancient days. Early efforts to categorize personality traits centered around the overall attitude of a person, such as melancholy or friendly, as opposed to identifying the individual traits of the person. In the early twentieth century, the first concerted efforts were made to develop a consistent vocabulary to discuss these individual traits. Psychologists Gordon Allport and Henry Odbert established a list of about 4,500 personality-focused words in 1936. Over time, others refined the list by combining some related terms.

By the 1940s, psychologist Raymond Cattell whittled the number of traits to sixteen. He developed a test known as 16PF, or the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire. The test identified the level to which an individual displayed each of the sixteen traits, providing insight into personality and the likelihood the individual would act in certain ways in specific situations.

In the 1970s, two American psychologists developed an even shorter list of traits to assess a person’s likelihood of success. Robert R. McCrae and Paul Costa identified just five traits they saw as most significant in predicting a person’s overall success in life. This became known as the Five-Factor Model (FFM). In addition to conscientiousness, the traits included are agreeableness, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness to experience.

McCrae and Costa proposed that everyone possesses each of these traits but to different degrees. Most people score higher in some traits and lower in others. For instance, someone may score high on agreeableness but be more introverted than extroverted and tend toward the anxiety which is a hallmark of a high score in neuroticism. The FFM test is a tool used by psychologists and is also often used by employers who seek a specific type of individual to fill an open position.

Overview

Of the traits in the Five-Factor Model, research continues to indicate conscientiousness as one of the most reliable indicators for success in life. It is also generally reported as the trait employers most desire in their employees. People with high scores in conscientiousness are also more suited to certain professions, especially those where being able to set and follow through on individual goals is important and those where attention to detail and follow-through are essential.

Conscientious people are goal- and accomplishment-oriented. This means they set both short- and long-term goals and create plans to reach these goals. The goals are often associated with some type of accomplishment, such as getting good grades, becoming the captain of a sports team, or earning a promotion. A conscientious person generally displays good self-discipline and work habits aimed at helping them achieve their goals and dislikes leaving things incomplete.

The Five-Factor Model also identifies sub-traits that are part of the overall trait of conscientiousness. These include achievement-striving, cautiousness, dutifulness, orderliness, self-discipline, and self-efficacy. Conscientious people also tend to have a rational decision-making style, and they often seek advice or conduct research before making a decision. These traits combine on various levels to help a highly conscientious person become known as someone who is dependable, reliable, and prepared.

Part of the reason conscientious people operate this way is because they have a keen sense of duty to and responsibility for others. A conscientious person is aware that their actions—or failure to act—affect others. They are also likely to anticipate potential obstacles to fulfilling their responsibilities toward others and plan to prevent or minimize such problems. This means a conscientious person is likely to be one who keeps everyone on schedule for group projects, stays late to make sure a work presentation is perfect, and packs extra sunscreen and bottles of water for everyone else on a family outing.

Conscientiousness is considered a predictor of success because people who display it to a high degree tend to identify what needs to be done to achieve a goal and keep working toward meeting that goal. These people do not like to leave responsibilities unfulfilled, whether that means completing a project or being on time for appointments. The level of organization and determination to finish anything they are doing means they are generally good employees and team players. They are often good leaders as well.

People who score lower on conscientiousness tend to be less organized and less goal-oriented. They may procrastinate or set lower standards for themselves. Low levels of this trait can also be associated with impulsive behavior, such as making expensive purchases without research or thought. These people also tend to experience less anxiety about duties such as meeting deadlines and focusing on high-level goals.

While less-conscientious behaviors are contrary to what most people see as indicative of success, this does not mean that a person with a lower score in conscientiousness is doomed to failure. However, these individuals may not be happy or successful in jobs that require them to constantly meet deadlines or work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments where attention to detail and organization are essential. Lower levels of conscientiousness will likely mean that the person will have lower levels of neuroticism and related anxiety as long as the person acknowledges their tendencies and chooses a life path that can accommodate them. For example, jobs where working on a task until it is done rather than finishing in a specific amount of time would be more suitable.

Bibliography

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