Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness

Are You Conscientious?

Conscientiousness is not just about getting to church on time in a freshly ironed suit. It's a fundamental personality trait—one of the Big Five—that influences whether people set and keep long-range goals, deliberate over choices, behave impulsively, or take obligations to others seriously. Conscientiousness is a key ingredient for success; people high in this trait are disciplined, high-achieving, and dependable. Yet the off-the-charts conscientious may court perfectionism because sights are set too high. The extremely conscientious are less spontaneous, less flexible, and more stubborn. The other Big Five personality traits include extraversion, agreeableness, openness, and neuroticism.

The Conscientious Personality

The Conscientious Personality

The conscientious person is a good scout, boy or girl. This person is always prepared, reliable, attends to tasks without delay, is careful and attentive, prefers order and a schedule. On the flip side, the less conscientious person prefers disorder and may well avoid tasks that demand action. People with a conscientious personality do well in professions that require attention to detail and goal-directed behavior—for example, medical physicians and airline pilots. We can all gain from conscientious behaviors, as the conscientious among us enjoy good health and well-being, plus loads of productivity. 

The Upsides of Being Average

You are probably less special than you think, and that’s okay.

By Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic Ph.D.

The Dark Side of Conscientiousness: Life Satisfaction in the Face of Unemployment

Can being highly conscientious ever be a liability?

By Timothy A Pychyl Ph.D.

Would Tolstoy Pass The Marshmallow Test?

The work of Walter Mischel reveals hard truths about self control—and its limits.

By Kaja Perina

5 Psychological Lessons from Marathon Running

The psychology of pushing your limits.

By Glenn Geher Ph.D.

A Hard Science

Researchers err when they attribute more power to genes than to culture.

By Glenn C. Altschuler Ph.D.

SEE ALSO

Recent Posts on Conscientiousness

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By Cami Rosso on October 22, 2018 in The Future Brain

Neuroscientists discover that the human brain does not stop functioning for up to five minutes after the heart stops pumping oxygenated blood.

How Much Should I Talk to My Kid about Political Issues?

By Bobbi Wegner Psy.D. on October 12, 2018 in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

Should I talk to my kid about difficult news events? A short conversation can make a huge impact.

Beautifully Insecure

By Erin Leonard Ph.D. on October 06, 2018 in Peaceful Parenting

When I'm with a client who is beating themselves up for a mistake and wonders how to make it right or do things differently, I consider them to be insecure in a healthy way.

Don’t Say Anything About Your Partner...

By Linda and Charlie Bloom on October 04, 2018 in Stronger at the Broken Places

She didn’t feel that her partner made decisions with her, but more often than not decided things on his own.

Toddlers Want to Help and We Should Let Them

By Peter Gray Ph.D. on September 25, 2018 in Freedom to Learn

Researchers have found that very young children innately want to help, and they will continue helping into adulthood.

Are There Really Four Personality Types?

By Matthew Hutson on September 17, 2018 in Psyched!

Before you start calling yourself a Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, or Charlotte, let’s see what researchers really found.

The Two Types Of Sensitivity

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Imagine, for a moment, that a person's identity or sense of self has a structure inside of their chest. One is a wooden box and the other is glass.

Popeye: he wuz who he wuz

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By Deborah Vlock Ph.D. on September 13, 2018 in What to Expect When You Get the Unexpected

Tired of beating yourself up over bailing out of commitments? It's OK to say no from the get-go.

It's Cool to Be a Kind Kid

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How to raise compassionate, connected children.

Hard-Working and Conscientious? Watch Out for the Dark Side

By Susan Biali M.D. on September 07, 2018 in Prescriptions for Life

If you're conscientious, you're probably hard-working, responsible, and reliable—all good qualities, as long you don't let them destroy your life and health.

Want to Build Grit? Find Your Passion

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Grit requires not just consistent hard work but a sense of purpose to inspire your efforts. Grit researcher Angela Duckworth shares her insights.

What a Flooring Contractor Taught Me About Shame-Busting

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Tired of feeling weighed down by secrets you keep because "what would others say"? Free yourself by rejecting the stigma that keeps you quiet.

Dawn Raffel: Altruism and Self-Interest

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From Disorder to Discovery

By Abigail Fagan on August 28, 2018 in Brainstorm

A conversation with neuroscientist and Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel.

Is Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder a Problem?

By Albert Rothenberg, M.D. on August 23, 2018 in Creative Explorations

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is fairly common in Western culture. Symptoms are exaggerations of adaptive personality features even in highly successful people.

Nuclear Abolition: Armageddon to Transformation

By David P. Barash Ph.D. on August 21, 2018 in Peace and War

Nuclear weapons are the most important issue of our time, and indeed, of any time.

What Your Sexual Fantasies Reveal About Your Personality

By Justin J Lehmiller Ph.D. on August 21, 2018 in The Myths of Sex

The Big Five traits of openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism all tell us something about which sex fantasies we're likely to have.

Effective School Leadership and Social Justice

By Jenny Grant Rankin Ph.D. on August 20, 2018 in Much More Than Common Core

An interview with Gary D. Soto reveals keys to equity and school reform.

Is Lying Inevitable?

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Is it just as easy to lie as to tell the truth for some or all of us?

How Do Personality Traits Change from 16 to 66?

By Christopher Bergland on August 18, 2018 in The Athlete's Way

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4 Lessons Aretha Franklin Taught Us

By Kristen Lee Ed.D., LICSW on August 17, 2018 in Rethink Your Way to the Good Life

Touched by the life and legacy of Aretha? Here are four powerful lessons to uphold as a tribute to the Queen of Soul.

Darwin's Personality

By Glenn Geher Ph.D. on August 08, 2018 in Darwin's Subterranean World

To advance the theory of natural selection, Darwin needed more than intelligence. Here is an analysis of his personality.

Brain-Computer Interfaces and Neuroscience

By Cami Rosso on August 03, 2018 in The Future Brain

Can technology read your mind? Divya Chander has a surprising answer.

Is There Anything You Can't Forgive?

By Gina Barreca Ph.D. on August 02, 2018 in Snow White Doesn't Live Here Anymore

The phrases “alternative facts” and “fake news’” are the political equivalent of “I love her but I’m not in love with her,” and “I'd never cheat on you: I'm too busy!"

Not a Culture War but a Patriotic Defense Against all Cults

By Jeremy E Sherman Ph.D. on July 31, 2018 in Ambigamy

Cults – people playing infallible, invincible, unassailable gods—are a threat to any country. It is our unifying patriotic duty to resist them from any corner.

Marital Stability and Our Personal Baggage

By Rob Pascale and Lou Primavera Ph.D. on July 16, 2018 in So Happy Together

Each partner brings along personal baggage to their relationship. Our personalities, the characteristics that make us unique individuals, are one form of baggage.

Language Is Key to Easing the Stigma of Mental Illness

By Carolyn Reinach Wolf on July 09, 2018 in From the Desk of the Mental Health Lawyer

Inappropriate comments about mental-health conditions and care add to the stigma for individuals and families struggling with mental illness, and deters people from seeking help.

"Just Be Kind" Is More Complicated than It Sounds

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A conversation with someone who argues that being kind is the no-compromise answer.

Finding Purpose in the Randomness of Cancer

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The need to identify causes and solutions in order to feel in control is a double-edged sword, fraught with potential for guilt and self-blame.

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Some people are good with directions, while others easily get lost. These individual differences are due to a complex array of cognitive, emotional, and personality factors.

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