The Conscientious Investor
IN THE LATE 1970S, a research team out of Maryland’s National Institutes of Health released the Five Factor Model of personality, theorizing that most human character traits can be described using five dimensions: Agreeableness, conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Openness, and Extraversion. Nearly 50 years later, tests that assess these ‘Big Five’ personality traits are considered reliable and are widely used by psychologists around the world.
More recent research indicates that of the Big Five traits, conscientiousness may be the best predictor of success. In a variety of studies, people who test high in Conscientiousness have higher incomes and job satisfaction, and research indicates that this trait is an important factor for finding and retaining employment. The benefits extend beyond the workplace: Highly conscientious people commit fewer crimes, have fewer strokes, lower blood pressure and a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.
Among their habits, conscientious people tend to be highly organized, self-disciplined, and plan ahead. They have also been shown to be good at setting and working towards goals and to be persistent amid setbacks. Taken together, the evidence indicates that conscientious people
