What is conscientiousness?

Conscientiousness is one of the five traits in the Big Five model of personality. It’s about how much you like things planned, tidy and finished. We call it order.

Is it bad to be high or low in conscientiousness?

No. It’s a tendency, not a verdict, and each end gives something and can cost something. Someone higher in it often turns up on time and remembers what they promised. Someone lower often goes with the flow and doesn’t mind a change of plan.

What does research link conscientiousness to?

Across 138 samples (70,926 students), it was linked to better grades, about as strongly as intelligence. Source: Poropat (2009), Psychological Bulletin.

Can conscientiousness change?

Traits tend to move slowly. On average, people become more conscientious through their 20s and 30s. 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.

Order

Researchers call it conscientiousness.

How much you like things planned, tidy and finished.

Goes with the flowPlans and finishes

Very lowLowIn the middleHighVery high

Types with Order as a strong trait

From one end to the other

Higher

Finishing what you start, and noticing the thing left out of place.

With people: Turns up on time and remembers what they promised.
At school or work: Plans ahead, keeps lists and finishes before the deadline.
When things get hard: Makes a plan, or tidies something.

Gives: Things get done when you’re around.
Can cost: You can end up doing the jobs nobody else noticed.

Lower

Dealing with things as they come instead of planning ahead.

With people: Goes with the flow and doesn’t mind a change of plan.
At school or work: Works in bursts, often close to the deadline, and adapts fast.
When things get hard: Takes it as it comes, and lets some things slide.

Gives: A change of plan doesn’t throw you.
Can cost: Small jobs can grow into big ones before you notice.

In the middleKeeping order where it matters to you and letting the rest slide.

What research links it to

Across 138 samples (70,926 students), it was linked to better grades, about as strongly as intelligence.
Poropat (2009), Psychological Bulletin
In 117 studies of people at work, it went with better job performance in all five kinds of jobs studied.
Barrick & Mount (1991), Personnel Psychology
Across 165 samples, more conscientious people tended to cope with stress by working on the problem and looking at it in a new light.
Connor-Smith & Flachsbart (2007), Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Across 194 studies, more conscientious people tended to have healthier everyday habits, like how they eat and stay active, and to take fewer risks with their health.
Bogg & Roberts (2004), Psychological Bulletin
Across 113 studies (93,668 people), more conscientious people tended to feel a little less lonely.
Buecker, Maes, Denissen & Luhmann (2020), European Journal of Personality

How it changes over time

On average, people become more conscientious through their 20s and 30s.

Roberts, Walton & Viechtbauer (2006), Psychological Bulletin

Questions people ask

What is conscientiousness?: Conscientiousness is one of the five traits in the Big Five model of personality. It’s about how much you like things planned, tidy and finished. We call it order.
Is it bad to be high or low in conscientiousness?: No. It’s a tendency, not a verdict, and each end gives something and can cost something. Someone higher in it often turns up on time and remembers what they promised. Someone lower often goes with the flow and doesn’t mind a change of plan.
What does research link conscientiousness to?: Across 138 samples (70,926 students), it was linked to better grades, about as strongly as intelligence. Source: Poropat (2009), Psychological Bulletin.
Can conscientiousness change?: Traits tend to move slowly. On average, people become more conscientious through their 20s and 30s. 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.