The Big Five Personality traits and their flexibility across situations

Thorisdottir, Thorey Kristin

4. term

Psychology, Master

2017

2017-05-30

46 pages

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.

Big Five

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