Do You Have the “Agreeableness” Personality Trait?

Summary

The script discusses the complex personality trait of agreeableness, contrasting it with neuroticism and extroversion. It highlights the positive and negative aspects associated with different levels of agreeableness, emphasizing the importance of compassion and politeness. The speaker also explores the implications of agreeableness in professional settings, such as salary negotiations and leadership roles, and notes the gender differences in this trait.

Takeaways

• 😐 Agreeableness is a complex personality dimension often confused with neuroticism and extroversion due to its association with being easy or hard to get along with.
• 🤔 The trait of agreeableness is divided into two aspects: compassion and politeness, which are generally perceived as positive but can have negative counterparts.
• 📊 Agreeableness is normally distributed, with positive and negative features at every point on the distribution, challenging the notion of one trait being universally better than another.
• 📝 The Big Five personality test includes questions to gauge agreeableness, such as interest in others' problems and willingness to take advantage of others.
• 👥 Women tend to be more agreeable than men, with significant differences at the extremes of the distribution, affecting societal outcomes like prison rates.
• 💼 Being agreeable can be advantageous in team settings and in giving credit to others, but it may come at the cost of not effectively advocating for one's own interests.
• 💰 Agreeableness is negatively correlated with salary over time, suggesting that those who are less agreeable may be more successful in negotiating higher pay.
• 💁‍♀️ Women may be particularly affected by the downsides of high agreeableness, including lower pay and underestimation of their own value in business settings.
• 🤝 High agreeableness can lead to conflict avoidance and a desire to be liked, which can be a double-edged sword in positions of authority.
• 🔄 The balance between being agreeable and disagreeable is crucial for successful negotiation and career advancement.
• 🧐 Self-perception, especially for those high in negative emotion, can impact negotiation outcomes, with agreeable individuals potentially undervaluing their contributions.

Q & A

What is the personality dimension discussed in the script?

The personality dimension discussed in the script is 'agreeableness'.

Why is agreeableness considered a difficult personality dimension to understand?

Agreeableness is considered difficult to understand because it is hard to dissociate from neuroticism and extroversion, and both agreeable and disagreeable traits can manifest in behaviors that may seem similar to those traits.

What are the two main aspects of agreeableness mentioned in the script?

The two main aspects of agreeableness mentioned are compassion and politeness.

How does the script suggest that agreeableness is related to neuroticism?

The script suggests that when emotions flare in contentious issues, it usually has more to do with trait neuroticism than with disagreeableness per se.

What does the script imply about the distribution of agreeableness traits?

The script implies that agreeableness traits are normally distributed, with both positive and negative features at every point on the distribution.

What is the average difference in agreeableness between men and women according to the script?

Women are more agreeable than men by about half a standard deviation.

How does the script relate agreeableness to salary and career progression?

The script suggests that being agreeable can negatively predict salary over time, as agreeable people may not be as effective at putting forward their own interests, which can impact their earning potential and career advancement.

What is the potential downside of being agreeable in a business setting according to the script?

The potential downside is that agreeable people may not be as good at advocating for their own interests, which can lead to less opportunity for promotion and revenue generation.

How does the script differentiate between the agreeable and disagreeable ends of the trait distribution?

The script differentiates by suggesting that agreeable people are more likely to bargain on behalf of others, while disagreeable people are more focused on their own interests.

What is the script's view on the importance of extremes in the distribution of agreeableness?

The script views the extremes as important because they often matter more than what's in the middle, with all the most agreeable people being women and all the most disagreeable people being men.

How does the script relate agreeableness to conflict avoidance?

The script suggests that agreeable people are conflict avoidant, as they are primarily motivated by maintaining intimate positive relationships.