The Big Five Aspects Scale

You have just completed assessing yourself with 100 phrases. Our systems have compared your-self-ratings to those of thousands of other people. You are being compared to men and women of all ages. This means that if you are young, your scores on neuroticism will be higher and on agreeableness and conscientiousness will be lower than if you were compared to people of your own age (with the reverse being true for older individuals). For men, their scores on agreeableness and on neuroticism will be lower than if they were just being compared to men. We decided to make the comparisons simple, so that you know where you stand in comparison to the typical person (with age and sex regarded as irrelevant).

Here are your results: You will see below where you stand in comparison to others in the general population on the major traits and their aspects:

Agreeableness: Compassion and Politeness
Conscientiousness: Industriousness and Orderliness
Extraversion: Enthusiasm and Assertiveness
Neuroticism: Withdrawal and Volatility
Openness to Experience: Openness and Intellect
Remember that each personality trait and aspect (and your relative position with respect to them) has advantages and disadvantages. It is for that reason that variation exists in the human population: there is a niche for each personality configuration. Much of what constitutes success in life is therefore the consequence of finding the place in relationships, work and personal commitment that corresponds to your unique personality structure. Good luck with your expanded self-understanding!

Note also that if you find that the descriptions harsher than you might consider appropriate this may mean that you were more self-critical than necessary when completing the questions (remember, the results are based on your own self-report, compared to that of others). This can occur if you were feeling temporarily or chronically unhappy or anxious, or hungry, angry or judgmental when you completed the questions.

Agreeableness: Moderately High

You are moderately high in agreeableness, which is the primary dimension of Interpersonal interaction in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Agreeableness has two aspects: compassion and politeness, which will be explained separately. Agreeableness is a very complex trait, with marked positive and negative elements all along its distribution. Because of this, higher scores and lower scores need to be explained at the same time.

People high in agreeableness are nice: compliant, nurturing, kind, naively trusting and conciliatory. However, because of their tendency to avoid conflict, they often dissemble and hide what they think. People low in agreeableness are not so nice: stubborn, dominant, harsh, skeptical, competitive and, in the extreme, even predatory. However, they tend to be straightforward, even blunt, so you know where they stand.

Your score puts you at the 68th percentile for agreeableness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more agreeable than 68 of them and less agreeable than 31 of them.

AGREEABLENESS
68th percentile

You are more agreeable than 68 of 100 people
People with moderately high levels of agreeableness are seen by others as cooperative, warm and considerate. They are likely to look for and even sometimes to see the best in others, and are interpersonally tolerant (an attitude that is much valued by agreeable people). They do not like seeing someone’s feelings get hurt, and are concerned about the emotional state of others, preferring peace and harmony. They tend somewhat towards submissiveness, rather than dominance (particularly if also below average in neuroticism).

People with moderately high levels of agreeableness are somewhat forgiving, accepting, flexible, gentle and patient. They tend to feel pity for those who are excluded, punished or defeated. They generally feel that people should work cooperatively, and are somewhat skeptical of competition, with its losers and winners. However, moderately agreeable people have to be careful not to be taken advantage of, particularly by disagreeable people, including those with criminal or predatory intent. They may also find it somewhat difficult to engage in arguments (and may even avoid discussions) with less agreeable people. They have to work at bargaining for themselves, or at negotiating for more recognition or power. They may have somewhat lower salaries and earn less money, in consequence. All of this can produce a tendency to resentment and hidden anger, particularly among those who are also high in neuroticism. Furthermore, because of their tendency to avoid or reduce conflict, moderately agreeable people may be tempted to sacrifice medium- to long-term stability and function for the sake of short-term peace. This can mean that problems that should be solved in the present can accumulate counterproductively across time.

Women are higher in agreeableness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 61.5. For men it is 38.5. The fact that men are lower in agreeableness than women helps explain their much higher rates of criminal incarceration (90% male). The primary difference between criminals and non-criminals is disagreeableness. If the typical criminal is more disagreeable than 98% of people in the general population, then almost all those criminals will be male. This difference in agreeableness between men and women is largest in countries such as Norway and Sweden, where the most has been done to ensure equality of outcome between the sexes. This provides strong evidence that biological factors rather than environment and learning account for the dissimilarity.

Agreeableness, per se, is not strongly associated with political liberalism or conservatism, but this is because the aspects of agreeableness predict such political belief in opposite ways, and cancel each other out. Liberals are higher in aspect compassion, and conservatives in aspect politeness. However, alliance with the category of belief that has come to be known as politically correct is strongly predicted by agreeableness (particularly compassion). What this appears to mean is that agreeable people strongly identify with those they deem oppressed, seeing them, essentially, as exploited infants, and demonize those they see as oppressors, seeing them as cruel, heartless predators.

There are large differences between men and women in terms of spontaneous interest, and these also appear associated with agreeableness. Agreeable people, caring as they do for others, are more likely to enter professions associated with people, such as teaching and nursing, which are dominated by women. This is true even in the Scandinavian countries, where attempts to produce gender-equal societies has reached a maximum. Disagreeable people, by contrast, appear to prefer systematizing over empathizing, and are more interested in things – machines and technology. In consequence, professions such as engineering and trades associated with construction and machinery tend to be dominated by relatively disagreeable men.

Agreeableness has two aspects: compassion and politeness.

Compassion: Moderately High

You are moderately high in compassion, which is one aspect of Agreeableness. Your score puts you at the 66th percentile for compassion. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more compassionate than 66 of them and less compassionate than 33 of them.

Moderately compassionate people are interested in the problems of other people, and other living things. They are concerned about helping other people avoid negative emotion. They make time and do kind things for others, even when doing so may interfere with fulfilling their own needs and interests. They have a noticeably soft side. Other people consider them sympathetic and nice, and will turn to them often for a listening ear. They are empathetic and caring. However, because they are so other-oriented, they may find it difficult to negotiate on their own behalf, and may not get what they deserve (for their hard work, for example). This may lead to feelings of resentment.

COMPASSION
66th percentile

You are more compassionate than 66 of 100 people
Those who are liberal, politically, score somewhat higher in compassion than conservatives.

Women are also higher in compassion than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 61. For men it is 39.

Politeness: Moderately High

You are moderately high in politeness, which is one aspect of Agreeableness. Your score puts you at the 65th percentile for politeness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more polite than 65 of them and less polite than 34 of them.

Moderately polite people tend to be deferential to authority, and are generally obedient. They are respectful and do not want to appear (or to be) pushy. They are more uncomfortable challenging other people than average. Moderately polite people will try to avoid conflict, and basically desire to steer clear of confrontations or fights.

POLITENESS
65th percentile

You are more polite than 65 of 100 people
Those who are liberal, politically, score somewhat lower in politeness than conservatives (the opposite pattern is seen with compassion).

Women are higher in politeness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 59. For men it is 41.

Conscientiousness: Moderately High

You are moderately high in conscientiousness, which is the primary dimension of dutiful achievement in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Conscientiousness is a measure of obligation, attention to detail, hard work, persistence, cleanliness, efficiency and adherence to rules, standards and processes. Conscientious people implement their plans and establish and maintain order.

Your score puts you at the 75th percentile for conscientiousness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more conscientious than 75 of them and less conscientious than 24 of them.

Moderately conscientious people are dutiful. They tend to slog away at a task until finished. They work reasonably hard and do not want to waste time. They are less likely than average to procrastinate (particularly if they are also low in neuroticism). If a moderately conscientious person promises to do something, they will do it, and rarely be delayed. They tend to be relatively decisive, neat, organized, future-oriented, and reliable. They are not too-frequently distracted.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
75th percentile

You are more conscientious than 75 of 100 people
Moderately conscientious people are more likely than average to obtain higher grades in academic settings (particularly if they are also intelligent), and to make competent administrators and managers. They like to have everything in its proper place, but are not particularly obsessed with detail. They tend to do things by the book. Moderately conscientious people are somewhat prone to guilt (although they organize their lives so that they have comparatively little to feel guilty about). They are also more sensitive than average to shame, self-disgust and self-contempt.

Individuals who are moderately conscientious react comparatively poorly to failure (particularly if they are above average in neuroticism). They tend to be judgemental and can be disgusted by their own moral transgressions, as well as those of others. They suffer higher than normal levels of shame and guilt when unemployed or otherwise unoccupied, even when that occurs through no fault of their own. Moderately conscientious people are committed to the idea of personal responsibility. They believe that hard work and diligence will and should be rewarded, and tend to think that those who don’t succeed deserve their failure. They value hygiene, moral purity and achievement. Now and then they might micro-manage and exert too much control.

Moderately conscientious people are slightly more likely to be political conservatives, rather than liberal (particularly if they are also below average in openness).

Women are very slightly more conscientious than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 51.5. For men it is 49.5.

Conscientiousness has two aspects: industriousness and orderliness.

Industriousness: Typical or Average

You are typical or average in industriousness, which is one aspect of conscientiousness. Your score puts you at the 50th percentile for industriousness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more industrious than 50 of them and less industrious than 49 of them.

People of average industriousness are somewhat likely to be successful in school and in administrative and managerial positions (particularly if they are intelligent). They do not live to work, however, and do not always have to be doing something useful. They like their leisure time. Typically, they will do their duty, but they can put things off, and sometimes mess them up. Usually, but not always, they finish what they start, and they do it more or less on schedule, with some exceptions. They are no more concerned than average with efficiency or savings. They can focus on the task on hand, when there are high levels of motivation or pressure, but often find themselves distracted by something more entertaining, or interesting, or worrisome.

INDUSTRIOUSNESS
50th percentile

You are more industrious than 50 of 100 people
People of average industriousness are not particularly judgemental to themselves or others. They like to live and let live. They are somewhat likely to believe that people fail because they don’t apply themselves or work hard enough, but know that other considerations play a role. They tend to feel guilty, but not to an overwhelming degree, if they do not do their duty. They can, however, find themselves in a guilty position because they failed to perform a task on time or properly.

Those who are liberal and those who are conservatives appear equally industrious.

Men are slightly more industrious than women. The mean percentile for men in a general population (women and men) is 51.5. For women it is 49.5.

Orderliness: High

You are high in orderliness, which is one aspect of conscientiousness. Your score puts you at the 88th percentile for orderliness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more orderly than 88 of them and less orderly than 11 of them.

Highly orderly people tend to be disturbed and disgusted by mess and chaos. They keep everything tidy and organized. They tend to think in more black and white terms: things are good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable, with little room for grey areas. They make, like and stick to schedules. They want everything where it should be – and want to make sure it stays where it belongs. They are detail-oriented. They are rule-abiding, and tend to insist that rules are observed. They can be judgmental towards themselves and others if and when rules are broken or procedures ignored. They do not like to be without routine and predictability. They can be good at ensuring that complex sensitive processes are managed properly and carefully.

ORDERLINESS
88th percentile

You are more orderly than 88 of 100 people
Excessive orderliness can also constrain creativity (even among those high in openness) as creative endeavours often require mess, disruption and intervening periods of chaos.

Those who are highly orderly are also more likely to be political conservatives. Orderliness is the second-best predictor of conservatism, after openness to experience.

Women are more orderly than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 54.5. For men it is 45.5. This may account for some of the trouble in relation to housework between women and men. Since women are, on average, more orderly, household disorder will trigger disgust and discomfort in them faster. This may happen with sufficient frequency so they end up doing a disproportionate share of such work (even though if they waited a bit longer their less orderly partners, often men, might end up equally troubled and motivated to fix the problem). Orderly people are more likely to have items such as event calendars, drawer organizers, laundry baskets, irons and ironing boards in their immediate environments.

Extraversion: Moderately Low

You are moderately low in extraversion, which is the primary dimension of positive emotion in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. You could also think of yourself as moderately high in introversion. Extraversion is a measure of general sensitivity to positive emotions such as hope, joy, anticipation and approach, particularly in social situations.

Your score puts you at the 25th percentile for extraversion. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less extraverted than 74 of them and more extraverted than 25 of them.

People with moderately low levels of extraversion are not particularly enthusiastic, talkative, assertive in social situations, or gregarious. They tend to find excessive social contact draining and tiring, and crave time alone to recharge. They are less likely to plan parties, tell jokes, make people laugh, or volunteer for community activities. They are somewhat more likely to be depressed and to have lower levels of self-esteem (particularly if they are high in neuroticism). They are less optimistic about the past, present and future.

EXTRAVERSION
25th percentile

You are less extraverted than 74 of 100 people
People who are moderately low in extraversion find it relatively easy to keep things to themselves. They are not compelled to share everything with everyone. They are not particularly self-disclosing and do not warm up quickly to other people. They are more comfortable with one-to-one interactions than in a group-oriented situation. They are rarely the first to speak in meetings, although they will express an opinion if asked. They are less likely to captivate and convince, and will rarely be the first to act in an ambiguous situation.

People who are moderately low in extraversion are better suited to occupations that require work alone or with a few other well-known individuals (such as computer programming or accounting). Jobs involving sales, persuasion, work in groups and public speaking are unlikely to appeal to them, and they are less likely to be successful at such things (particularly if they are also high in neuroticism).

People moderately low in extraversion are relatively unlikely to be impulsive, even when offered the opportunity to do something exciting or fun. They are therefore less likely to sacrifice the future to the present, when something social or group-oriented beckons. They find it relatively easy to be alone to study and work. They are not easily distracted by opportunities to chat, joke and socialize. This is particularly the case if they are also high in conscientiousness. However, when people are introverted and conscientious, they are less productive than when extraverted and conscientiousness, perhaps because they have lower levels of energy. When introverted and comparatively unconscientiousness, however, they are more productive than when extraverted and unconscientious.

People moderately low in extraversion tend to be less dominant in social situations, particularly if they are also low in agreeableness. Less agreeable extraverts tend to be self-centered – something that can be made worse if they are also low in conscientiousness. More introverted people are somewhat protected against such tendencies.

Those who are politically liberal are slightly less extraverted than conservatives.

Women are slightly more extraverted than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 52. For men it is 48.

Extraversion has two aspects: Enthusiasm and Assertiveness.

Enthusiasm: Very Low

You are very low in enthusiasm, which is one aspect of extraversion. Your score puts you at the 6th percentile for enthusiasm. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less enthusiastic than 93 of them and more enthusiastic than 6 of them.

Individuals who are very low in enthusiasm are quiet and un-excitable. They can be very hard to get to know, as they are not at all chatty or bubbly. When they do talk – and they do so comparatively rarely – it tends to be about things in which they find exceptional interest. They open up to other people with difficulty, particularly in larger social gatherings or parties. They laugh very much less frequently than others. They typically prefer solitude and find it difficult to enjoy themselves around other people. At most, they can handle social contact in small doses. They are private people, on the loner side of the distribution, and tend not to be positive or optimistic. They actively avoid the spotlight and, if creative, may find performing very much less desirable, even draining. They very rarely seek out stimulation, excitement, activity or fun (and, if they do so, much prefer quieter activities). People very low in enthusiasm are solitary, finding it uncommonly difficult to generate a felt sense of excitement when offered the opportunity to engage in something that others might find engaging or entertaining.

ENTHUSIASM
6th percentile

You are less enthusiastic than 93 of 100 people
Enthusiasm is not strongly associated with political preference, either conservative or liberal.

Women are higher in enthusiasm than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 55. For men it is 45.

Assertiveness: Moderately High

You are moderately high in assertiveness, which is one aspect of extraversion. Your score puts you at the 63rd percentile for assertiveness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more assertive than 63 of them and less assertive than 36 of them.

Moderately assertive people are more “take charge” types. They put their own opinions forward, and are somewhat likely to dominate and control social situations. They can be influential and captivating. They have the communication style that is more often associated with leadership. This is good when they are knowledgeable, competent and able, but less good when they aren’t. Moderately assertive people tend to be more action-oriented. They are less likely to wait for others to lead the way. Now and then they might be impulsive, in consequence, acting too quickly, without thinking.

ASSERTIVENESS
63rd percentile

You are more assertive than 63 of 100 people
Liberals tend to be slightly less assertive than conservatives.

Women are slightly less assertive than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 48. For men it is 52.

Neuroticism: Typical or Average

You have typical levels of neuroticism, which is the primary dimension of negative emotion in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Neuroticism is a measure of general sensitivity to negative emotions such as pain, sadness, irritable or defensive anger, fear and anxiety.

Your score puts you at the 50th percentile for neuroticism. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in neuroticism than 50 of them and lower in neuroticism than 49 of them.

People with typical or average levels of neuroticism have a balanced view of the happiness and sadness of the past, present and future. Sometimes they are unhappy, anxious and irritable, particularly when facing a genuine problem, but they generally cope well and don’t worry too much.

NEUROTICISM
50th percentile

You are higher in neuroticism than 50 of 100 people
They have normal levels of self-esteem, particularly when they are also average or above average in extraversion. They are not particularly at risk for developing anxiety disorders and depression.

People with average or typical levels of neuroticism are able to experience the consequences of success and to be appropriately satisfied in relationships and career. Average levels of neuroticism are associated with no more than average concern about mental and physical health, a typical number of physician and emergency room visits, and an expected degree of absenteeism at work and at school (unless accompanied by very low levels of conscientiousness).

People with average levels of neuroticism appear to neither seek risk out, nor avoid it. They are interested in security, but can also handle recreational, career, financial and social situations where the possibility of loss is higher. Such people appear to be concerned both with maintaining their current status, as well as enhancing it. This is a reasonable strategy in genuinely dangerous or uncertain times and better times alike.

Neuroticism is not a powerful predictor of political belief, either conservative or liberal.

Females tend to be higher in neuroticism than males. The typical woman is higher in neuroticism than 60% of the general population of men and women combined. In part, this may be why women report more unhappiness in their relationships, at work, in school and with their health than men, on average, and why women initiate 70% of all divorces. This difference in neuroticism between men and women appears to emerge at puberty. It is largest in countries such as Norway and Sweden, where the most has been done to ensure equality of outcome between the sexes. This provides strong evidence that biological factors rather than environment and learning account for the dissimilarity.

Trait neuroticism is made up of the aspects withdrawal and volatility.

Withdrawal: High

You are high in withdrawal, which is one aspect of neuroticism. Your score puts you at the 80th percentile for withdrawal. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in withdrawal than 80 of them and lower in withdrawal than 19 of them.

Individuals high in withdrawal may feel above average levels of anticipatory anxiety. This makes it much more challenging for them to approach new, uncertain, unexpected, threatening or complex situations. They are instead substantially more likely to avoid or withdraw in the face of the unknown and unexpected.

People high in withdrawal much more frequently feel sad, lonesome, disappointed and grief-stricken. They have higher than average levels of doubt and worry, become embarrassed easily, are self-conscious and strongly tend to get discouraged in the face of threat and punishment. Their anticipatory anxiety is likely to be general. They are sensitive to social rejection, and can be relatively easily hurt. Once hurt, frightened, or anxious, as well, it takes them longer to recover. They can be argumentative and lose their composure. They can be provocative in a dispute (particularly if also low in agreeableness). Perhaps people high in withdrawal are concerned that something bad might happen, while people high in volatility (the other aspect of neuroticism) get upset if something bad does happen. Technically, withdrawal has been associated with activity in the brain systems that regulate passive avoidance.

WITHDRAWAL
80th percentile

You are higher in withdrawal than 80 of 100 people
Those who are liberal, politically, are slightly higher in withdrawal than conservatives.

Women are higher in withdrawal than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 60. For men it is 40.

Volatility: Low

You are low in volatility, which is one aspect of neuroticism. Your score puts you at the 21st percentile for volatility. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less volatile than 78 of them and more volatile than 21 of them.

Individuals low in volatility are stable and predictable in their moods. They are not irritable, and feel much less disappointment, frustration, pain and loneliness. People find them easy to get along with and can often relax around them. They rarely express their frustration, disappointment and irritability and appear reasonable when they do so. Even on the rare occasions they become stirred up, upset, angry or irritated, they calm down quickly. They are much less argumentative than average and rarely lose their composure.

If thoroughly provoked in a dispute, a person of low volatility may react in kind (particularly if also low in agreeableness). However, such people remain calm and unperturbed, even when stressed. Volatile people tend to get upset if something bad does happen, while people high in withdrawal (the other aspect of neuroticism) tend to be concerned that something bad might happen. Technically, volatility has been associated with activity in the brain systems that regulate fight, flight or freeze.

VOLATILITY
21st percentile

You are less volatile than 78 of 100 people
Volatility is not strongly related to political preference, either liberal or conservative.

Women are higher in volatility than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 57.5. For men it is 42.5.

Openness to Experience: Exceptionally High

You are exceptionally high in openness to experience, which is the primary dimension of creativity, artistic interest and intelligence (particularly verbal intelligence) in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Openness to experience is a measure of interest in novelty, art, literature, abstract thinking, philosophy as well as sensitivity to aesthetic emotions and beauty.

Your score puts you at the 97th percentile for openness to experience. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in openness to experience than 97 of them and lower in openness to experience than 2 of them.

People with exceptionally high levels of openness to experience are almost always characterized by others as extremely smart, creative, exploratory, intelligent and visionary. They are extremely interested in learning, and are constantly acquiring new abilities and skills. They are extremely curious and exploratory. They are exceptionally interested in abstract thinking, philosophy, and the meaning of belief systems and ideologies. They live for cultural events such as movies, concerts, dance recitals, plays, poetry readings, gallery openings and art shows. They are very likely to enjoy writing (or even to be driven to write). They enjoy complex, abstract ideas and deeply love to confront and solve complex, abstract and multi-dimensional problems.

OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE
97th percentile

You are higher in openness to experience than 97 of 100 people
They are almost always prolific readers, and are interested in a vast range of topics. They have an exceptionally broad and deep vocabulary. They can think and learn remarkably quickly. They are unusually proficient at formulating new ideas, and can be exceptionally articulate (particularly if average or above in extraversion). People exceptionally high in openness can see old things in remarkable ways. They can think outside of the box. When they hear or come up with an idea, many other ideas are usually triggered. They can formulate any single problem in an exceptionally diverse range of ways, and can generate a tremendously large number of problem-solving solutions. They will constantly seek change, often to make things better, but also just for the sake of change.

People who are exceptionally high in openness to experience are poorly adapted to and do not do well in situations or occupations that are routinized and predictable. They fit badly at the bottom of hierarchies. They are unusually ill-suited to entry-level, repetitive, rote positions, because they are always thinking up new ways to do things, and such ideas are seldom welcome from someone at the bottom. They are extremely radical thinkers. They shake things up, particularly if they are also disagreeable and assertive. They are likely to be revolutionary rebels (particularly if average or below in conscientiousness).

Individuals exceptionally high in openness to experience are entrepreneurial in spirit, as well as smart and creative. They can be overwhelmingly interested in creating new ventures, sometimes for profit, sometimes for curiosity, and sometimes for personal transformation. Exceptionally high levels of openness to experience appear necessary to the formation and leadership of business and other forms of complex organization, although conscientiousness appears required for the attention to detail and process management that such organizations also always need.

Because people who are exceptionally high in openness to experience are interested in absolutely everything, they can find it hard to settle on a single path in life, to specialize to a necessary degree, and to create an integrated identity. This is particularly dangerous if they are above average in neuroticism and/or below average in conscientiousness. People characterized by the combination of high openness to experience and high neuroticism constantly undermine their own convictions and beliefs by incessant questioning and make themselves lost and anxious. Open, unconscientious people tend to be “under-achievers” (particularly if also above average in neuroticism). Such people appear to have the capability to succeed, can learn quickly, and are creative, but they seldom implement their ideas.

Openness to experience is the dimension that best predicts political allegiance (with conscientiousness, particularly the aspect of orderliness, coming in at second place). Those who are liberal, politically, are very much more likely to be high in openness to experience than conservatives.

Women and men differ very little in openness to experience at the trait level, although there are differences in the aspect levels.

Trait openness to experience is made up of the aspects of intellect and openness.

Intellect: Exceptionally High

Note: Do not confuse the personality aspect of Intellect with IQ. Intellect is a measure of interest in abstract ideas, essentially, while IQ is a measure of processing speed, verbal ability, working memory, and problem solving capacity, and is better measured with a formal IQ test. It is perfectly possible to have a high IQ and a low score on the personality trait of Intellect (or the reverse).

You are exceptionally high in intellect, which is one aspect of openness to experience. Your score puts you at the 97th percentile for intellect. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in intellect than 97 of them and lower in intellect than 2 of them.

People exceptionally high in intellect are obsessed by engaging with ideas and abstract concepts. They require exposure to novel information, particularly when it is complex and sophisticated. They are extremely curious and exploratory, and actively need to find, tackle and solve challenging problems. They will constantly seek out and initiate issue-oriented discussions, and tend to compulsively read, think about and discuss idea-centered books (generally non-fiction). They are notably articulate, and can formulate ideas very clearly and exceptionally quickly (particularly if average or higher in extraversion). They have a much broader and wider vocabulary, and continually require themselves to learn new things. People exceptionally high in intellect will continually find and generate novel, creative concepts and voluntarily search for and adapt exceptionally well to new experience and situations.

INTELLECT
97th percentile

You are higher in intellect than 97 of 100 people
People exceptionally high in intellect find complex, rapidly changing occupations asbolutely necessary and will excel at them (particularly if they are also high in conscientiousness and low in neuroticism). However, they are not at all suited to stable, straightforward and more traditional occupations, where the rules don’t change, and will experience continual periods of boredom and intolerable levels of frustration in such positions. They are much more suited to entrepreneurial/creative enterprises (particularly if also high in the openness aspect of Opennes to Experience).

Liberals are higher in intellect than conservatives (although the biggest difference between the two is openness to experience at the trait level).

Women are lower than men in intellect (although not in IQ). This is probably a difference in interest: people high in intellect, compared to openness, are more likely to prefer the sciences to the arts. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 45. For men it is 55.

Openness: Very High

You are very high in openness, which is one aspect of openness to experience. Your score puts you at the 90th percentile for openness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in openness than 90 of them and lower in openness than 9 of them.

The closest synonym for openness (rather than openness to experience, which encompasses openness and intellect) is creativity. Very open, creative people love beauty. They require an outlet for their creative ability, or they cannot thrive. They need to be surrounded by art or beautiful crafts. They are strikingly sensitive to color and architectural form. They very much like to collect things, now and then to the point of obsession. They are very imaginative, and love to daydream and reflect on things. They are uncommonly affected by music, often of many genres, and may be musical or artistic themselves (both of these are rare in the general population). They can get unusually immersed in a book, or a movie, or in their own thoughts, and become oblivious to the outside world. They respond very strongly to beauty, creativity and art.

OPENNESS
90th percentile

You are higher in openness than 90 of 100 people
Very open, creative people can be impractical and flighty, however (particularly if low in conscientiousness). It can be extremely difficult to transform creativity into money, or into a career. High levels of openness are, furthermore, necessary for entrepreneurial success, and often prove useful at the top of hierarchies, even in very conservative occupations such as banking, accounting and law, which need creative people in leadership positions to provide new vision and direction.

Liberals are higher in openness than conservatives (although the biggest difference between the two is openness to experience, at the trait level).

Women are higher in openness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 56.5. For men it is 44.5.

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