fei75766_ch13_408-434.indd 416  02/06/20 01:05 PM
Part IV    Dispositional Theories416
beenfound across avariety ofcultures, using aplethora oflanguages (McCrae &Allik, 
2002). Inaddition, thefivefactors show some permanence withage;thatis,adults—in the
absence ofcatastrophic illness suchasAlzheimer’s—tend tomaintain thesame personality 
structure astheygrowolder (McCrae &Costa, 2003). These findings prompted McCrae 
andCosta (1996) towritethat“thefactsabout personality arebeginning tofallintoplace” 
(p.78).OrasMcCrae andOliver John(1992) insisted, theexistence offivefactors “isan
empirical fact,likethefactthatthere areseven continents oreightAmerican presidents 
fromVirginia” (p.194). (Incidentally, itisnotanempirical factthatthisearth hasseven 
continents: Most geographers count onlysix.)
Description of the Five Factors
McCrae andCosta agreed withEysenck thatpersonality traits arebipolar andfollow 
abell-shaped distribution. Thatis,most people score nearthemiddle ofeachtrait,
withonlyafewpeople scoring attheextremes. How canpeople attheextremes be
described?
Neuroticism (N)andextraversion (E)arethetwostrongest andmost ubiquitous 
personality traits, andCosta andMcCrae conceptualize inmuch thesame wayasEysenck 
defined them. People whoscore highonneuroticism tendtobeanxious, temperamental, 
self-pitying, self-conscious, emotional, andvulnerable tostress-related disorders. Those 
whoscore lowonNareusually calm, even- tempered, self-satisfied, andunemotional. 
People whoscore highonextraversion tendtobeaffectionate, jovial, talkative, 
joiners, andfun-loving. Incontrast, lowEscorers arelikely tobereserved, quiet, loners, 
passive, andlacking theability toexpress strong emotion (seeTable 13.1). 
People highinopenness toexperience canbecreative andprefer activities thataresocially uncommon. 
Liam Bailey/Image Source
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