Learning from WorkPlace Big Five
As I wrapped up my certificates on a personality trait assessment, Workplace Big Five, I started reading The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump: A Psychological Reckoning, a book recommended by a colleague.
The author Dan P. McAdams used the Big Five to rate Trump.
The Big Five.
- Extraversion (sometimes labeled surgency): gregariousness, social dominance, enthusiasm, reward-seeking behavior
- Neuroticism: anxiety, emotional instability, depressive tendencies, negative emotions
- Openness: curiosity, unconventionality, imagination, receptivity to new ideas
- Conscientiousness: industriousness, discipline, rule abidance, organization
- Agreeableness: warmth, care for others, altruism, compassion, modesty
“Trump distinguishes himself dramatically on two of the five dimensions (high extraversion and low agreeableness)”
The author concluded that Trump is a vortex in a vortex. “Think of the vortex as a void, or think of it as a black hole. Either way, there is no way out. In the first instance, we go round and round forever. In the second, we are sucked inexorably into oblivion.”
It’s an interesting read about how real environments and make-believe worlds impact personality traits from a psychological perspective. I appreciate the Author’s effort and case studies.
At the same time, the idea “no way out” is not appealing. One person can’t create a vortex for all. I believe we all have a role in our existence. What we put into the universe makes a difference to each other and the whole system. It’s about the influence we create with our energy as a whole.