In this article you will read about:
Neuroticism versus Emotional stability
Neuroticism is characterized by frequent mood changes, a tendency to worry about things, easiness of getting irritated and disturbed, and recurrent sadness. A high neuroticism person tends to experience negative emotions easily, are vulnerable, and easily discouraged or irritated when facing obstacles or drawbacks.
Neuroticism is similar but not identical to being neurotic in the Freudian sense (read Neuroses and neuroticism: What’s the difference?). Some psychologists prefer to call neuroticism by the term emotional stability to differentiate it from the term neurotic in a career test.
Emotional stability refers to a person’s ability to remain stable and balanced. Emotional stability is associated with emotional maturity. People who score high in emotional stability (low in neuroticism) on a career test react less emotionally and are less easily upset. These persons are calm, have confidence and deal well with stress. They tend to be emotionally stable, calm, and do not constantly experience negative feelings. The fact that these individuals are free from experiencing negative feelings does not mean that they experience many positive feelings. The latter is a characteristic of the extraversion trait.
Common Neuroticism Traits
Each of the Big Five personality traits comprises six facets or sub-traits. These can be assessed independently of the trait they belong to in a personality test.
The sub-traits of the neuroticism domain are:
Anxiety
Vulnerability
Irritability
Depression
Self-consciousness
Immoderation
High neuroticism characteristics
- Experiences a lot of stress
- Worries about many different things
- Gets upset easily
- Experiences dramatic shifts in mood
- Feels anxious
- Struggles to bounce back after stressful events
Low neuroticism characteristics
- Emotionally stable
- Deals well with stress
- Rarely feels sad or depressed
- Doesn’t worry much
- Is very relaxed
major personality traits |
You make films whether they're dramas or comedies about neurotic people. Flawed people. Interesting personality traits. To make them about calm, stable untroubled people isn't interesting.
Causes of Neuroticism
The exact reason why people tend to be more extroverted or more introverted has been the subject of considerable debate and research in psychology. As with many such debates, the question tends to boil down to two key contributors: nature or nurture.
Genetics
Environmental
People who experience trauma, stress, and adversity are also more likely to develop neurotic personality traits and behaviors, particularly when these events happen early on in life. People who experienced abuse, neglect, or who had parents who were either too involved or not involved enough are believed to be more likely to develop neurotic personalities.
There are studies that investigated the relationship between attachment styles (read John Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment) and personality traits. The findings of one such study indicated that neuroticism was highly significantly and positively related to anxious attachment, absorption, alienation, worry, and reassurance-seeking (read Exploring the Role of Neuroticism and Insecure Attachment in Health Anxiety, Safety-Seeking Behavior Engagement, and Medical Services Utilization: A Study Based on an Extended Interpersonal Model of Health Anxiety).
Neuroticism and other Big Five Traits
Careers and Neuroticism trait
A person who has a high level of emotional stability is preferred in most professions because they have more control over their emotions at work. Employees with low emotional stability may be more easily distracted from their work, by deadlines, personal situations, and pressure.
Best jobs in case of high levels of Neuroticism
- Writer
- Artist
- Accountant
- Florist
- Yoga Instructor
- Freelance Designer
Best jobs in case of low levels of Neuroticism
Those who are experience less stress and worry tend to do a good well in crises. They thrive in environments that offer new experiences and utilize their stable, composed temperament.
Potential job ideas for those who rank lower in this area are:
- Police Officer
- Surgeon
- Fire Fighter
- Lawyer
- Diplomat
- Social Worker
- Psychiatrist
Neuroticism Famous Persons
The following personalities exhibit a high level of Neuroticism:
- Vincent van Gogh – Often discussed for his emotional volatility and mental health struggles.
- Edgar Allan Poe – Known for his melancholic and often macabre works, reflecting a potentially neurotic personality.
- Virginia Woolf – Her writings and personal letters suggest a struggle with mood swings and mental health.
- Frida Kahlo – Experienced significant physical and emotional pain, reflected in her art.
- Howard Hughes – Billionaire with a later life marked by severe phobias and compulsive behaviors.
- Sylvia Plath – Her writings often reflect deep emotional turmoil and struggles with depression.
- Kurt Cobain – Frontman of Nirvana, known for his struggles with depression and substance abuse.
- Marilyn Monroe – Iconic actress known for her turbulent personal life and struggles with mood swings.
- Ernest Hemingway – Renowned writer who battled with depression and other mental health issues.
- Judy Garland – Famed actress and singer known for her struggles with mental health and addiction.
Neuroticism Book Recommendations
Continue expanding your knowledge on the subject of neuroticism and emotional stability by reading the books we have selected for you:
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Your Thoughts about Neuroticism
It’s highly recommended that you jot down any ideas or reflections that come to mind regarding Neuroticism, including related behaviours, emotions, situations, or other associations you may make. This way, you can refer back to them on your Dashboard or Reflect pop-ups, compare them with your current behaviours, and make any necessary adjustments to keep evolving. Learn more about this feature and how it can benefit you.
References
- John, O. P., & Srivastava, S. (1999). The Big-Five trait taxonomy: History, measurement, and theoretical perspectives. In L. A. Pervin & O. P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (Vol. 2, pp. 102–138). New York: Guilford Press.
- Rachel L.C. Mitchell, Veena Kumari, Hans Eysenck’s interface between the brain and personality: Modern evidence on the cognitive neuroscience of personality, Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 103, 2016, Pages 74-81, ISSN 0191-8869, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.009.
- Barlow, D. H., Ellard, K. K., Sauer-Zavala, S., Bullis, J. R., & Carl, J. R. (2014). The origins of neuroticism. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 9(5), 481-496.
- F. Anagnostopoulos & T. Botsev (2016). Exploring the Role of Neuroticism and Insecure Attachment in Health Anxiety, Safety-Seeking Behavior Engagement, and Medical Services Utilization: A Study Based on an Extended Interpersonal Model of Health Anxiety, Behavioural Sciences, Vol. 6, issue 2.
