FIVE-FACTOR MODEL OF PERSONALITY & PSYCHOLOGY
This research paper presents the Five Factor Model of Personality and how it relates to general psychology practice. The relationships between the Five Factor Model and personality disorders, other clinical issues, treatment planning, health research, and unresolved issues are discussed.
The five-factor model (FFM) is a hierarchical model regarding the structure of personality traits. Personality traits are defined as enduring dispositions which are different from transient states or moods. Neuroticism and Extraversion are two factors that were associated with Eysenck; Eysenck's competing three-factor model (1975) includes Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Psychoticism. Tellegen offered a three-factor model (1985) that substituted Constraint for Psychoticism and viewed Neuroticism and Extraversion as Negative Affectivity and Positive Affectivity. Cloninger's three-factor model uses Harm Avoidance, Novelty Seeking, and Reward Dependence. Models containing more than five factors include Guilford, Zimmerman, and Guilford's ten factor model (Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey) and Cattell's model of sixteen personality traits (Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire) (Costa & Widiger, 1994, pp. 2-3).
The five-factor model is regarded as a tool that sums up other models and is capable of interpreting the terms of other models. Dimensions other than the Big Five, are viewed as tapping trait dimensions at the lower level of the hierarchy. The five factors represent basic dimensions of personality. The FFM is adopted as the most adequate and comprehensive method for describing personality and understanding personality disorders and associated problems (Costa & Widiger, pp. 2-3).
The five-factor model (FFM) consists of the following personality dimensions: Neuroticism (N), a tendency for emotional distress; Extraversion (E), a disposition toward positive emotions, soc...