I was formally introduced to the Big Five traits when I was in my first year. Back then, the idea was so like psychology, and I felt like such a legitimate psychology major that I didn't really think much about what the existence of the test really entailed. Now I can think better about it, think more clearly about it.
The Big Five are comprised of the following: Openness (to Experience), Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. In my first year, we were tasked to take a personality test and report our grade per facet. I remember getting Low in Openness, Very High in Conscientiousness, Moderate Extraversion, High Agreeableness, and Low Neuroticism. I was amenable to some of these results, but I thought the others were inaccurate and used incorrect or unreliable indicators for the facets. I'm actually a huge worrier, for example, but I just try to keep it in check, which is why manifestations don't really apply to me. Despite keeping it in check though, I am almost always in a state of worry over one thing or another, but the way it's being measured will never reveal such about me.
Some problems I had with the test were not really the "fault" of the test, per se, either. It was more to do with how I compartmentalize (as I've written about before) my life. I scored very high in Conscientiousness, but if you ask any of the people I live with, they will swear on their life that I'm one of the most disorganized people ever. I misplace earrings, I forget where I put money, I ask where my glasses are when they're on my head, I plop my things down on any available surface when I get home, and I pretty depend on our househelp for a lot of things. But when it comes to school work, org work, or official business, I'm very obsessive-compulsive; I'm a perfectionist. I am currently the publicity head of our organization, and I spend hours making publicity materials look their best and look beautiful. I make reviewers for my subjects, I dislike getting low grades (as I've also said before) - and this is the side of me that usually gets measured in personality tests, or at least, this is the side I think of first when I'm asked about organization.
I suppose that's one more weakness of personality tests in general - they assume that a person is self-aware enough that they can answer a test about themselves accurately, not taking into account that some people might be deluding themselves into thinking they act one way, when they're really acting in another. I've met some people like this, and I wonder if they are able to answer such inventories effectively.
In any case, I've decided to take the test again just to see how I fare now. I got these results: Moderate Openness, Moderate Conscientiousness, High in Extraversion, Low in Agreeableness, and Average Neuroticism. So I'm generally friendly, I put my interests over others', and I'm okay with everything else. I suppose this is good? I've changed a bit since first year. I'm more outgoing, less blindly absorbing things (low A), a little more prone to worrying, but a little less uptight about my tasks. It's true - the year I've spent in our org's execute committee has taught me to be adaptable, to be steadfast in my principles and beliefs, and be more outgoing and friendly so I can meet new people. I'm glad with my results. :)
