What is agreeableness?

Agreeableness is one of the five traits in the Big Five model of personality. It’s about how much you put other people’s comfort first. We call it care for others.

Is it bad to be high or low in agreeableness?

No. It’s a tendency, not a verdict, and each end gives something and can cost something. Someone higher in it often puts others’ comfort first and lets small things go. Someone lower often says what they think, even when it isn’t what people want to hear.

What does research link agreeableness to?

Following 205 students through their first year at university, researchers found the more agreeable ones tended to be picked as a friend by more people. Source: Selfhout et al. (2010), Journal of Personality.

Can agreeableness change?

Traits tend to move slowly. On average, it barely changes through young adulthood. The one change researchers found came in old age. Source: Roberts, Walton & Viechtbauer (2006), Psychological Bulletin. Scores can also move a little from one day to the next, so a quiz shows how you answered now.

Care for others

Researchers call it agreeableness.

How much you put other people’s comfort first.

Puts own view firstPuts others’ comfort first

Very lowLowIn the middleHighVery high

Types with Care for others as a strong trait

From one end to the other

Higher

Keeping the peace first and asking later.

With people: Puts others’ comfort first and lets small things go.
At school or work: Helps out, avoids clashes and keeps the team getting along.
When things get hard: Worries about upsetting anyone, even while upset.

Gives: People feel looked after around you.
Can cost: People may not always know what you need.

Lower

Saying what you think, even when it lands hard.

With people: Says what they think, even when it isn’t what people want to hear.
At school or work: Pushes back on bad ideas and holds firm in a disagreement.
When things get hard: Gets blunt, and focuses on fixing it over feelings.

Gives: People know where they stand with you.
Can cost: Some people will want more softening than you give.

In the middleCaring how people feel while still holding your own view.

What research links it to

Following 205 students through their first year at university, researchers found the more agreeable ones tended to be picked as a friend by more people.
Selfhout et al. (2010), Journal of Personality
In 19 samples (3,848 people), partners of more agreeable people tended to be more satisfied with the relationship.
Malouff, Thorsteinsson, Schutte, Bhullar & Rooke (2010), Journal of Research in Personality
Across 87 samples of people at work, more agreeable people tended to do more of the helpful extras that go beyond the job itself.
Chiaburu, Oh, Berry, Li & Gardner (2011), Journal of Applied Psychology
In a study of teenagers’ everyday conflicts, agreeableness was the trait of the five most closely tied to how they handled a disagreement and how it turned out.
Jensen-Campbell & Graziano (2001), Journal of Personality

How it changes over time

On average, it barely changes through young adulthood. The one change researchers found came in old age.

Roberts, Walton & Viechtbauer (2006), Psychological Bulletin

Questions people ask

What is agreeableness?: Agreeableness is one of the five traits in the Big Five model of personality. It’s about how much you put other people’s comfort first. We call it care for others.
Is it bad to be high or low in agreeableness?: No. It’s a tendency, not a verdict, and each end gives something and can cost something. Someone higher in it often puts others’ comfort first and lets small things go. Someone lower often says what they think, even when it isn’t what people want to hear.
What does research link agreeableness to?: Following 205 students through their first year at university, researchers found the more agreeable ones tended to be picked as a friend by more people. Source: Selfhout et al. (2010), Journal of Personality.
Can agreeableness change?: Traits tend to move slowly. On average, it barely changes through young adulthood. The one change researchers found came in old age. Source: Roberts, Walton & Viechtbauer (2006), Psychological Bulletin. Scores can also move a little from one day to the next, so a quiz shows how you answered now.