Remnant Review
I am not a big fan of psychological tests. They may be reasonably accurate, but do they confirm us in our ways or motivate us to change? I think the former.
When we read the results, do we say to ourselves: "Yup. That's me. So what?" or "I've got to change, starting now"? Probably the former. And for those who start to change, will they still be working on their self-makeover in six months? Probably not.
Nevertheless, I reprint this. A subscriber sent it to me. He took Jordan Peterson's test. It's long. If you are interested in taking this, be prepared.
Do you want to find personal answers to these questions?
I thought this test might be interesting to you for your readers. I took this test on Peterson's site. Below are my results. There is a lot of information here that can be helpful to anyone that decides to take the test.
A bit about me for you to consider if you read my results.
Christian (not raised in church came to Christ at age of 27)
Politically Very conservative
Married @ age of 38 (now and only one time)
Age 54
5 children 2 of whom are step
Occupation Insurance sales (Senior market Personal producing general agent)
Same occupation for 30 years (own my own business)
Top 3% of my field for last 15 years might be top 1% I am guessing
3 years of college (had no idea what I wanted to do so fumbled around)
Net worth $4Million
Annual income $500k+
The thing that strikes me the most about this information is in regard to agreeableness.
It seems as though above 50% can be detrimental in many ways. I had kind of understood this but never to this degree. I think the sweet spot is say 38-48 percentile. It seems to me this can be a big factor in success as the individual defines it. To take it a step further if a person is highly (Say 55+) agreeable they need to understand what this means at the very least. Hopefully this person could develop some tactics to mitigate mistakes.
I would ask if you share this please try to keep me anonymous.
The Big Five Aspect Scale
You have just completed assessing yourself with 100 phrases. Our systems have compared your-self-ratings to those of thousands of other people. You are being compared to men and women of all ages. This means that if you are young, your scores on neuroticism will be higher and on agreeableness and conscientiousness will be lower than if you were compared to people of your own age (with the reverse being true for older individuals). For men, their scores on agreeableness will be higher and on neuroticism will be lower than if they were just being compared to men. We decided to make the comparisons simple, so that you know where you stand in comparison to the typical person (with age and sex regarded as irrelevant).
Here are your results: You will see below where you stand in comparison to others in the general population on the major traits and their aspects:
• Agreeableness: Compassion and Politeness
• Conscientiousness: Industriousness and Orderliness
• Extraversion: Enthusiasm and Assertiveness
• Neuroticism: Withdrawal and Volatility
• Openness to Experience: Openness and Intellect
Remember that each personality trait and aspect (and your relative position with respect to them) has advantages and disadvantages. It is for that reason that variation exists in the human population: there is a niche for each personality configuration. Much of what constitutes success in life is therefore the consequence of finding the place in relationships, work and personal commitment that corresponds to your unique personality structure. Good luck with your expanded self-understanding!
Note also that if you find that the descriptions harsher than you might consider appropriate this may mean that you were more self-critical than necessary when completing the questions (remember, the results are based on your own self-report, compared to that of others). This can occur if you were feeling temporarily or chronically unhappy or anxious, or hungry, angry or judgmental when you completed the questions.
Agreeableness: Typical
You are typical or average in agreeableness, which is the primary dimension of Interpersonal interaction in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Agreeableness has two aspects: compassion and politeness, which will be explained separately. Agreeableness is a very complex trait, with marked positive and negative elements all along its distribution. Because of this, higher scores and lower scores need to be explained at the same time.
People high in agreeableness are nice: compliant, nurturing, kind, naively trusting and conciliatory. However, because of their tendency to avoid conflict, they often dissemble and hide what they think. People low in agreeableness are not so nice: stubborn, dominant, harsh, skeptical, competitive and, in the extreme, even predatory. However, they tend to be straightforward, even blunt, so you know where they stand. Your score puts you at the 43rd percentile for agreeableness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more agreeable than 43 of them and less agreeable than 56 of them.
Agreeableness
43rd percentile
People with typical levels of agreeableness are seen by others as somewhat cooperative, warm and considerate. They look for and even sometimes see the best in others, and are reasonably interpersonally tolerant (an attitude that is much valued by agreeable people). They are no more sensitive than average to seeing someone’s feelings get hurt and, although sometimes concerned about the emotional state of others, don’t always prefer peace and harmony to conflict. They strike a good balance between submissiveness and dominance.
People with average levels of agreeableness are somewhat forgiving, accepting, flexible, gentle and patient. They sometimes feel pity for those who are excluded, punished or defeated. However, they are less likely than highly agreeable people to be taken advantage of by disagreeable people or those with criminal or predatory intent. They can be skeptical. They believe in cooperation, but also feel that competition, with its losers and winners, has its valid place. They are less likely to lose arguments (and will not typically avoid discussion) with less agreeable people. They can be quite good at bargaining for themselves, and at negotiating for more recognition or power. They are likely to have somewhat higher salaries and earn more money, in consequence. This may mean they are less likely to suffer from resentment or to harbour invisible anger, although this tendency may be increased, if they are high in neuroticism. In addition, because of their tendency to engage in conflict, when necessary, typically agreeable people are less prone to sacrifice medium- to long-term stability and function for the sake of short-term peace. This can mean that problems that should be solved in the present are often solved, and do not accumulate counterproductively across time.
Women are higher in agreeableness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 61.5. For men it is 38.5. The fact that men are lower in agreeableness than women helps explain their much higher rates of criminal incarceration (90% male). The primary difference between criminals and non-criminals is disagreeableness. If the typical criminal is more disagreeable than 98% of people in the general population, then almost all those criminals will be male. This difference in agreeableness between men and women is largest in countries such as Norway and Sweden, where the most has been done to ensure equality of outcome between the sexes. This provides strong evidence that biological factors rather than environment and learning account for the dissimilarity.
Agreeableness, per se, is not strongly associated with political liberalism or conservatism, but this is because the aspects of agreeableness predict such political belief in opposite ways, and cancel each other out. Liberals are higher in aspect compassion, and conservatives in aspect politeness. However, alliance with the category of belief that has come to be known as politically correct is strongly predicted by agreeableness (particularly compassion). What this appears to mean is that agreeable people strongly identify with those they deem oppressed, seeing them, essentially, as exploited infants, and demonize those they see as oppressors, seeing them as cruel, heartless predators.
There are large differences between men and women in terms of spontaneous interest, and these also appear associated with agreeableness. Agreeable people, caring as they do for others, are more likely to enter professions associated with people, such as teaching and nursing, which are dominated by women. This is true even in the Scandinavian countries, where attempts to produce gender-equal societies has reached a maximum. Disagreeable people, by contrast, appear to prefer systematizing over empathizing, and are more interested in things – machines and technology. In consequence, professions such as engineering and trades associated with construction and machinery tend to be dominated by relatively disagreeable men.
Agreeableness has two aspects: compassion and politeness.
Compassion: Moderately High
You are moderately high in compassion, which is one aspect of Agreeableness. Your score puts you at the 72nd percentile for compassion. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more compassionate than 72 of them and less compassionate than 27 of them. Moderately compassionate people are interested in the problems of other people, and other living things. They are concerned about helping other people avoid negative emotion. They make time and do kind things for others, even when doing so may interfere with fulfilling their own needs and interests. They have a noticeably soft side. Other people consider them sympathetic and nice, and will turn to them often for a listening ear. They are empathetic and caring. However, because they are so other-oriented, they may find it difficult to negotiate on their own behalf, and may not get what they deserve (for their hard work, for example). This may lead to feelings of resentment.
Compassion
72nd percentile
Those who are liberal, politically, score somewhat higher in compassion than conservatives.
Women are also higher in compassion than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 61. For men it is 39. You are low in politeness, which is one aspect of Agreeableness. Your score puts you at the 16th percentile for politeness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be less polite than 83 of them and more polite than 16 of them.
People who are low in politeness are not deferential to authority – nor are they obedient. They can be respectful, but only to people who clearly deserve and demand it, and they are markedly willing to push back when challenged. They are not particularly uncomfortable confronting other people. People low in politeness are not motivated to avoid conflict, or to steer clear of conflict or fights. They may find themselves quite frequently in trouble with authority. Their skepticism may make it difficult for them to find a place in the middle or lower in hierarchies of power and dominance. They tend strongly to be dominant, rather than submissive (particularly if they are also low in neuroticism).
Politeness
16th percentile
Those who are liberal, politically, score somewhat lower in politeness than conservatives (the opposite pattern is seen with compassion). Women are higher in politeness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 59. For men it is 41.
Conscientiousness: High
You are high in conscientiousness, which is the primary dimension of dutiful achievement in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Conscientiousness is a measure of obligation, attention to detail, hard work, persistence, cleanliness, efficiency and adherence to rules, standards and processes. Conscientious people implement their plans and establish and maintain order.
Your score puts you at the 83rd percentile for conscientiousness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more conscientious than 83 of them and less conscientious than 16 of them.
People high in conscientiousness are dutiful. They slog away until the work is done. They work hard and dislike wasting time. They are unlikely to procrastinate (particularly if they are also below average in neuroticism). If a highly conscientious person promises to do something, he or she will probably do it, even in troubled circumstances, without excuses. They are decisive, neat, organized, future-oriented, reliable and not easily distracted.
Conscientiousness
83rd percentile
Highly conscientious people are likely to obtain higher grades in academic settings (particularly if they are also intelligent), and make good administrators and managers. They need to have everything in its proper place, and tend to be concerned detail. They want to do things by the book. Highly conscientious people can be prone to guilt (although they are likely to organize their lives so that they have little to feel guilty about). Highly conscientious people are also susceptible to shame, self-disgust and self-contempt.
Individuals who are highly conscientious can react badly to failure (particularly if they are also above average in neuroticism). They are judgemental and easily disgusted by their own moral transgressions, as well as those of others. They suffer shame and guilt when unemployed or otherwise unoccupied, even when that occurs through no fault of their own. Highly conscientious people are also fundamentally committed to personal responsibility. They tend to be convinced that those who work hard should and will be rewarded, and that those who don’t deserve their failure. They are more concerned than average with hygiene, moral purity and achievement. They can tend towards micro-management and control. Highly conscientious people are more likely to be political conservatives, rather than liberal (particularly if they are also low in openness).
Women are very slightly more conscientious than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 51.5. For men it is 49.5.
Conscientiousness has two aspects: industriousness and orderliness.
Industriousness: High
You are high in industriousness, which is one aspect of conscientiousness. Your score puts you at the 77th percentile for industriousness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more industrious than 77 of them and less industrious than 22 of them.
Highly industrious people are likely to be successful in school and in administrative and managerial positions (particularly if they are intelligent). They value work highly and typically want to be doing something useful. They are dutiful, and tend not to put things off. They do not often mess things up. They always finish what they start, and they do it on schedule. They are frequently figuring out how to accomplish more in less time, with fewer resources. They have focus.
Industriousness
77th percentile
Highly industrious people are also likely to judge shirkers or people who are incompetent quite harshly, and to want them out of the way. They are likely to believe that people fail because they don’t apply themselves or work hard enough. They feel guilty, rapidly, if they do not do their duty. However, because they typically stay on or ahead of schedule and accept their responsibilities, they rarely experience actual guilt. Those who are liberal and those who are conservatives appear equally industrious.
Men are slightly more industrious than women. The mean percentile for men in a general population (women and men) is 51.5. For women it is 49.5. You are high in orderliness, which is one aspect of conscientiousness. Your score puts you at the 80th percentile for orderliness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more orderly than 80 of them and less orderly than 19 of them.
Highly orderly people tend to be disturbed and disgusted by mess and chaos. They keep everything tidy and organized. They tend to think in more black and white terms: things are good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable, with little room for grey areas. They make, like and stick to schedules. They want everything where it should be – and want to make sure it stays where it belongs. They are detail-oriented. They are rule-abiding, and tend to insist that rules are observed. They can be judgmental towards themselves and others if and when rules are broken or procedures ignored. They do not like to be without routine and predictability. They can be good at ensuring that complex sensitive processes are managed properly and carefully.
Orderliness
80th percentile
Excessive orderliness can also constrain creativity (even among those high in openness) as creative endeavours often require mess, disruption and intervening periods of chaos.
Those who are highly orderly are also more likely to be political conservatives. Orderliness is the second-best predictor of conservatism, after openness to experience.
Women are more orderly than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 54.5. For men it is 45.5. This may account for some of the trouble in relation to housework between women and men. Since women are, on average, more orderly, household disorder will trigger disgust and discomfort in them faster. This may happen with sufficient frequency so they end up doing a disproportionate share of such work (even though if they waited a bit longer their less orderly partners, often men, might end up equally troubled and motivated to fix the problem). Orderly people are more likely to have items such as event calendars, drawer organizers, laundry baskets, irons and ironing boards in their immediate environments.
You are high in extraversion, which is the primary dimension of positive emotion in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Extraversion is a measure of general sensitivity to positive emotions such as hope, joy, anticipation and approach, particularly in social situations. Your score puts you at the 88th percentile for extraversion. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more extraverted than 88 of them and less extraverted than 11 of them.
People with high levels of extraversion are comparatively enthusiastic, talkative, assertive in social situations, and gregarious. They are typically energized by social contact, and crave it. They take great pleasure in planning parties, telling jokes, making people laugh, and taking part in community activities. They are likely to have positive memories of the past, high levels of current self-esteem (particularly if they are low in neuroticism), and to feel positive and optimistic about the future.
Extraversion
88th percentile
People who are highly extraverted have a difficult time keeping things to themselves, and tend to tell everyone everything. They are self-disclosing (particularly if also high in neuroticism) and they warm up quickly to other people. They tend to speak first and most often in meetings. They can be captivating and convincing. They will often be the first to act.
People who are high in extraversion make enthusiastic employees, and are well-suited to jobs involving sales, persuasion, work in groups and public speaking (particularly, once again, if they are low in neuroticism). They are not as suited to occupations that require a lot of isolated work (such as computer programming or accounting).
People high in extraversion can also be impulsive, particularly when it comes to having fun in social situations. They are more likely than average to sacrifice the future to the present, when something social or group-oriented beckons. It is somewhat difficult for them to be alone and to study and work. They can be easily distracted by opportunities to chat, joke and socialize. This is particularly the case if they are also low in conscientiousness. When individuals are extraverted and conscientious, they are more productive than if they are introverted and conscientious. However, when they are introverted and unconscientious, they are more productive than they are when they are extroverted and unconscientious.
People high in extraversion are more dominant in social situations, particularly if they are also low in agreeableness. Less agreeable extraverts tend to be self-centered – something that can be made worse if they are also low in conscientiousness.
Those who are politically liberal are slightly less extraverted than conservatives.
Women are slightly more extraverted than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 52. For men it is 48. Extraversion has two aspects: Enthusiasm and Assertiveness.
You are high in enthusiasm, which is one aspect of extraversion. Your score puts you at the 79th percentile for enthusiasm. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more enthusiastic than 79 of them and less enthusiastic than 20 of them.
Individuals who are high in enthusiasm are excitable, happy and easy to get to know. They will talk rapidly about everything, particularly other people. They laugh or giggle much more than average. They want to be around people, and they love parties. They don’t keep people at a distance, and keep little private. They are positive and optimistic. They warm up quickly to other people. They like – and sometimes crave – stimulation, excitement, activity and fun. Enthusiastic people are gregarious, encouraging and people-loving, and they are positive about what might happen next.
Enthusiasm
79th percentile
Enthusiasm is not strongly associated with political preference, either conservative or liberal.
Women are higher in enthusiasm than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 55. For men it is 45. You are high in assertiveness, which is one aspect of extraversion. Your score puts you at the 88th percentile for assertiveness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more assertive than 88 of them and less assertive than 11 of them.
Highly assertive people are “take charge” types. They put their own opinions forward strongly, and tend to dominate and control social situations. Assertive people can be influential and captivating. They have the communication style that is often associated with leadership. This is good when they are knowledgeable, competent and able, but not so good when they aren’t. Assertive people are people of action. They don’t generally wait for others to lead the way. They can be more impulsive than average, and can act without thinking.
Assertiveness
88th percentile
Liberals tend to be slightly less assertive than conservatives.
Women are slightly less assertive than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 48. For men it is 52.
Neuroticism: Typical or Average
You have typical levels of neuroticism, which is the primary dimension of negative emotion in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Neuroticism is a measure of general sensitivity to negative emotions such as pain, sadness, irritable or defensive anger, fear and anxiety. Your score puts you at the 50th percentile for neuroticism. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in neuroticism than 50 of them and lower in neuroticism than 49 of them.
People with typical or average levels of neuroticism have a balanced view of the happiness and sadness of the past, present and future. Sometimes they are unhappy, anxious and irritable, particularly when facing a genuine problem, but they generally cope well and don’t worry too much.
Neuroticism
50th percentile
They have normal levels of self-esteem, particularly when they are also average or above average in extraversion. They are not particularly at risk for developing anxiety disorders and depression.
People with average or typical levels of neuroticism are able to experience the consequences of success and to be appropriately satisfied in relationships and career. Average levels of neuroticism are associated with no more than average concern about mental and physical health, a typical number of physician and emergency room visits, and an expected degree of absenteeism at work and at school (unless accompanied by very low levels of conscientiousness).
People with average levels of neuroticism appear to neither seek risk out, nor avoid it. They are interested in security, but can also handle recreational, career, financial and social situations where the possibility of loss is higher. Such people appear to be concerned both with maintaining their current status, as well as enhancing it. This is a reasonable strategy in genuinely dangerous or uncertain times and better times alike. Neuroticism is not a powerful predictor of political belief, either conservative or liberal.
Females tend to be higher in neuroticism than males. The typical woman is higher in neuroticism than 60% of the general population of men and women combined. In part, this may be why women report more unhappiness in their relationships, at work, in school and with their health than men, on average, and why women initiate 70% of all divorces. This difference in neuroticism between men and women appears to emerge at puberty. It is largest in countries such as Norway and Sweden, where the most has been done to ensure equality of outcome between the sexes. This provides strong evidence that biological factors rather than environment and learning account for the dissimilarity.
Trait neuroticism is made up of the aspects withdrawal and volatility.
Withdrawal: Typical or Average
You are typical or average in withdrawal, which is one aspect of neuroticism. Your score puts you at the 41st percentile for withdrawal. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in withdrawal than 41 of them and lower in withdrawal than 58 of them. Individuals average in withdrawal may occasionally suffer from anticipatory anxiety, but are generally not impeded by it. They can handle new, uncertain, unexpected, threatening or complex situations quite well. They are not more likely to avoid or withdraw in the face of the unknown and unexpected.
People with average levels of withdrawal sometimes feel sad, lonesome, disappointed and grief-stricken, but not too deeply, and not for too long. They experience normal levels of doubt and worry, embarrassment, self-consciousness and discouragement in the face of threat and punishment. They are reasonably but not excessively sensitive to social rejection, and don’t feel hurt too easily. Even when hurt, frightened, or anxious, they can recover in a reasonable amount of time. People with typical levels of withdrawal are not particularly concerned that something bad is going to happen. Technically, withdrawal has been associated with activity in the brain systems that regulate passive avoidance.
Withdrawal
41st percentile
Those who are liberal, politically, are slightly higher in withdrawal than conservatives.
Women are higher in withdrawal than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 60. For men it is 40. Volatility: Typical or Average
You are typical or average in volatility, which is one aspect of neuroticism. Your puts you at the 58th percentile for volatility. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be more volatile than 58 of them and less volatile than 41 of them.
Individuals average in volatility tend to not to vary abnormally in their mood. They are not particularly irritable, and feel no more than typical levels of disappointment, frustration, pain and social isolation. They express their frustration, disappointment and irritability reasonably and not excessively often. Even when stirred up and upset or angry or irritated, they calm down relatively quickly. They are no more argumentative than average and infrequently lose their composure.
If provoked in a dispute, a person of average volatility may react in kind (particularly if also low in agreeableness). However, such people generally remain calm and unperturbed, even when stressed. Volatile people tend to get upset if something bad does happen, while people high in withdrawal (the other aspect of neuroticism) tend to be concerned that something bad might happen. Technically, volatility has been associated with activity in the brain systems that regulate fight, flight or freeze.
Volatility
58th percentile
Volatility is not strongly related to political preference, either liberal or conservative.
Women are higher in volatility than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 57.5. For men it is 42.5.
Openness to Experience: Typical or Average
You are typical or average in openness to experience, which is the primary dimension of creativity, artistic interest and intelligence (particularly verbal intelligence) in the Big Five personality trait scientific model. Openness to experience is a measure of interest in novelty, art, literature, abstract thinking, philosophy as well as sensitivity to aesthetic emotions and beauty.
Your score puts you at the 57th percentile for openness to experience. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in openness to experience than 57 of them and lower in openness to experience than 42 of them.
People with typical levels of openness to experience are as smart and creative as others, on average. They are not generally characterized as exploratory or visionary, but have their moments of insight and realization. They are sometimes interested in learning for its own sake and show some interest in acquiring new abilities and skills. They are not overwhelmingly curious, and are not strikingly interested in abstract thinking, philosophy, or the meaning of belief systems and ideologies. They will attend cultural events such as movies, concerts, dance recitals, plays, poetry readings, gallery openings and art shows, but do not find themselves compelled to do so. They sometimes enjoy writing and will occasionally enjoy encountering and trying to solve a complex problem, or explore abstract ideas.
Openness to Experience
57th percentile
They tend to read an average amount – but more mainstream material. They have a normal range of interests, and a reasonable vocabulary. They can think and learn reasonably quickly. They sometimes find themselves formulating new ideas, and are articulate enough to get their thoughts across (particularly if average or above in extraversion). People average in openness now and then see old things in new ways, but are also satisfied with the tried-and-true. They can solve day-to-day problems well, and sometimes seek out a more difficult challenge.
People who are average or typical in openness to experience can adapt reasonably well to situations or occupations that are routinized and predictable. They have little trouble fitting in at the bottom of hierarchies. They can be better suited than those who are more open to entry-level, repetitive, rote positions, because they aren’t compelled to think up new ways to do things. They are not uncreative thinkers, but are less commonly known as creative or revolutionary. They rarely shake things up, particularly if they are also agreeable and less assertive.
Individuals average in openness to experience may be entrepreneurial in spirit, but they also appreciate conventional employment. They have no more than average interest in creating new ventures, whether for profit, curiosity, or personal transformation. At least moderately high levels of openness to experience appear necessary to the formation and leadership of business and other forms of complex organization, although conscientiousness appears required for the attention to detail and process management that such organizations also always need.
People typical in openness to experience have an average range of interests. This makes it relatively easy for them to settle on a single path in life, to specialize to a necessary degree, and to create an integrated identity (unless they are very high or above in neuroticism and/or very low or below in conscientiousness). People characterized by the combination of moderately high openness to experience and very high or above levels of neuroticism can undermine their own convictions and beliefs by questioning and making themselves lost and anxious. Open, unconscientious people tend to be “under-achievers” (particularly if also above average in neuroticism). Such people appear to have the capability to succeed, can learn quickly, and are creative, but they can have some trouble implementing their ideas.
Openness to experience is the dimension that best predicts political allegiance (with conscientiousness, particularly the aspect of orderliness, coming in at second place). Those who are liberal, politically, are very much more likely to be high in openness to experience than conservatives. Women and men differ very little in openness to experience at the trait level, although there are differences in the aspect levels. Trait openness to experience is made up of the aspects of intellect and openness.
Intellect: Moderately High
Note: Do not confuse the personality aspect of Intellect with IQ. Intellect is a measure of interest in abstract ideas, essentially, while IQ is a measure of processing speed, verbal ability, working memory, and problem solving capacity, and is better measured with a formal IQ test. It is perfectly possible to have a high IQ and a low score on the personality trait of Intellect (or the reverse).
You are moderately high in intellect, which is one aspect of openness to experience. Your score puts you at the 67th percentile for intellect. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in intellect than 67 of them and lower in intellect than 32 of them.
People moderately high in intellect tend to be quite interested in ideas and abstract concepts. They often enjoy being confronted with novel information, even when it is complex. They tend to be more curious and exploratory than average, and frequently like to tackle and solve problems. They will actively engage in issue-oriented discussions, and tend to read idea-centered books (most frequently non-fiction). They tend to be quite articulate and can formulate ideas reasonably clearly and quickly (particularly if average or higher in extraversion). They have a wider vocabulary, and like to learn new things. People moderately high in intellect will seek out and generate novel, creative concepts and actively find and adapt well to new experience and situations.
Intellect
67th percentile
People moderately high in intellect tend to find complex, rapidly changing occupations to their liking and are likely to do well at them (particularly if they are also high in conscientiousness and low in neuroticism). However, they are less well-suited to stable, straightforward and more traditional occupations, where the rules don't change, and are likely to experience frequent periods of boredom in such positions. Liberals are higher in intellect than conservatives (although the biggest difference between the two is openness to experience at the trait level). Women are lower than men in intellect (although not in IQ). This is probably a difference in interest: people high in intellect, compared to openness, are more likely to prefer the sciences to the arts. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 45. For men it is 55.
Openness: Typical or Average
You are average in openness, which is one aspect of openness to experience. Your score puts you at the 44th percentile for openness. If you were one of 100 people in a room, you would be higher in openness than 44 of them and lower in openness than 55 of them.
The closest synonym for openness (rather than openness to experience, which encompasses openness and intellect) is creativity. People who are average in openness or creativity find beauty reasonably important. They may enjoy an outlet for their creative ability, but will not wither away without it. They can appreciate art or beautiful crafts. They are somewhat sensitive to color and architectural form. They sometimes enjoy collecting, but it is rare for them to pursue it passionately. They are reasonably imaginative, and may daydream and reflect on occasion. They tend to enjoy music, often of the more conventional popular forms, and may be somewhat musical or artistic themselves (both of these are rare in the general population). They do not generally become so immersed in a book, or a movie, or in their own thoughts, that they lose touch with the outside world. They are interested in but by no means obsessed with beauty, creativity and art.
Openness
44th percentile
People of typical or average openness tend to be quite stable and reasonably conventional (particularly if they are also average or above in conscientiousness). At least moderate levels of openness tend to be necessary for entrepreneurial success, and prove comparatively useful at the top of hierarchies, even in very conservative occupations such as banking, accounting and law, which need creative people in leadership positions to provide new vision and direction.
Liberals are higher in openness than conservatives (although the biggest difference between the two is openness to experience, at the trait level). Women are higher in openness than men. The mean percentile for women in a general population (women and men) is 56.5. For men it is 44.5.
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