The Big Five Personality traits and their flexibility across situations
Studenteropgave: Kandidatspeciale og HD afgangsprojekt
- Thorey Kristin Thorisdottir
4. semester, Psykologi, Kandidat (Kandidatuddannelse)
Abstract
In this final thesis an interest was in researching the Big Five personality trait
neuroticism and its flexibility. A theoretical framework laid the groundwork for the
research question and hypotheses with a special focus on the trait neuroticism
following priming. The core of the research question was if neurotic individuals
could be influenced by systematic priming so that their self-perception (degree of
neuroticism) would change. Moreover, if there is certain flexibility within the
neuroticism spectrum. A quasi-experiment and a within subject design was used to
answer the research question and test the hypotheses. The systematic priming
contained questions concerning depression, anxiety & stress (DASS21). What
followed these questions were questions concerning Self-Esteem, Self-Control and
Self-Compassion.
The results yielded support for the research question but were quite
unexpected. Neurotic individuals became a little less neurotic between measurements
and those low on neuroticism became a little more neurotic between measurements.
How individuals scored on DASS21 seems to influence the change that occurred
among the participants. DASS21 had a weak but significant and positive correlation
with the change. In addition, the scoring on the Self-Esteem scale also influenced the
change. Self-Esteem had a negative correlation with the change.
Results suggest that there is certain elasticity among the personality trait
neuroticism in that specific situation, i.e. in the framework of this research. One third
of the participants experienced a change in that they either scored higher on
neuroticism or lower on neuroticism after the systematic priming.
Sprog | Engelsk |
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Udgivelsesdato | 30 maj 2017 |
Antal sider | 46 |