The Big Five - Personality Dimensions

Researchers and psychologists have come to the conclusion over the last sixty-two years that people have five core personality traits which are called “The Big Five”.  These traits are common in every human, but vary on the ranges per human.  For instance, one person may be extroverted some, agreeable some, but very open in nature.   These five personality traits tend to sum up a person as a whole – the list below is describing each at the extreme level: 

1.       Extraversion – this is when a person is assertive, outgoing, talkative, and amicable (what I would call a social butterfly).

2.       Agreeableness – exhibits prosocial tendencies such as empathy, affection, kindness toward others, trust, altruistic behavior (good deed doer). 

3.       Conscientiousness – being very thoughtful, goal oriented, organized, pays careful attention to detail, has impulse control (what many would call ocd or anal in our society – at the extreme level anyway). 

4.       Neuroticism – not very emotionally stable in that these types of people can often cry at small things, be very moody, have high levels of anxiety, be irrational, irritable, and prone to depression. 

5.       Openness – shows imagination, many interests, and insight into everyday problems. 

Personality is extremely complex and many people show some of these traits simultaneously.  For instance, people who are conscientious also tend to be agreeable and people who are extraverted also tend to be open.   These big five personality dimensions are a very broad range of personality traits in a person.  A single person may have all at extreme levels, all at low levels, only one of the traits at a low or high level, etc… .   Usually it is the situation a person is in that determines the personality traits to show.  Another example would be in general, I tend to have all at mid level, but if I am late on an assignment, hungry, tired, and people are bugging me in the house, well… I tend to be more neurotic. 

Maybe you can help me on this, but where do the people who are players, who are very shy and backward, and who are antisocial fit in to this big five?

References:

Cherry,  Kendra. "The Big Five Personality Dimensions - Overview of the Big Five Personality       Dimensions." Psychology - Complete Guide to Psychology for Students, Educators & Enthusiasts.    N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2011.                 <http://psychology.about.com/od/personalitydevelopment/a/bigfive.htm>.