Psychology Essay: Five-Factor Model, Coping, and Student Wellbeing

This essay delves into the realm of personality psychology, focusing on the Five-Factor Model (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) and its relationship to proactive coping strategies among university students. The essay examines how individual personality tr...Read More

PSYCHOLOGY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Psychology is the study of human behaviour and mind. Every person has different
personality, which is characterised on the basis of their traits, behaviour, mind, thoughts,
feelings, etc. Present study will discuss five factor model of personality. Further, it will critically
evaluate by taking support of humanistic, cognitive approaches that how personality relates to
proactive coping amongst university students.
MAIN BODY
As per the views of Straud, McNaughton-Cassill and Fuhrman, (2015) Personality
psychology is the study of understanding human nature. This describes clear difference between
two individuals and their thinking ability. Five force model is considered as essential aspect that
helps in identifying differences between people. Personality can be observed easily but it is hard
to pin down. Personality creates variation in all human being. This theory explains five major
factors; on the basis of which difference in personality can be identified. These components aid
in understanding traits and behaviour of different individuals. Openness to experience,
conscientiousness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion are main components that
assist in identifying difference in personality of individuals.
Briefer, Oxley and McElligott, (2015) argued that Coping is the process of reacting to
particular situation. Proactive coping is problem focused, people those who have extrovert
personalities always pay attention on problems and find suitable solutions to deal with these
issues. Both these things can be measured by looking upon the personality of individual. Skills,
traits, nature help in measuring proactive coping behaviour of people. proactive coping is the
way to deal with stressors. Straud, McNaughton-Cassill and Fuhrman, (2015) stated that
personality is quality of person that forms their character. Personality can be defined as specific
behaviour of person and their emotional pattern that makes the person different from other
people. As per the views of Zhou and et.al, (2017) there are many approaches that are helpful in
measuring personality of people. Biological, cognitive learning patterns, humanistic are
common approaches that explain the difference in behaviour of different people.
According to Wang and et.al, (2017) trait theory of personality explains that persona of
each individual can be determined by looking at their temperament and behaviour. Some people
behave confident and friendly. On other hand, there are many people who are introvert and do
not find it comfortable to talk to others so easily. Trait theory assumes that qualities of human
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being can be easily described by using single adjectives. However, Northouse, (2018) stated that
openness to experience in five factor theory is the major personality dimension that describes
willingness of human being to try new activities. People those who are open can take risk and
they have unconventional ideas. Such individual’s take risk as opportunity and find ways to
overcome these problems. According to Straud, McNaughton-Cassill and Fuhrman, (2015)
personality and coping have modest relationship. Personality of individual influence exposure to
stressor. Agreeableness character of individual do not prefer to make conflicts thus; such type of
people have less social stress. This type if personas are kind and can trust on others easily. On
other hand, people those who have high level of openness they always accept challenges and
give positive reaction towards stressors. Northouse, (2018) stated that extraversion is a factor
that is highly related with personality of person. People with such trait are more sensitive
towards reward and have sociability skill. These learners take each task as challenge and put
energy that is required to get positive result. Their social behaviour supports them in dealing with
challenges and achieving their goal (Five-factor model of personality, 2018).
As per the view of Huang and et.al, (2014) people those who have agreeableness trait
have concerns for others. Such individuals have strong social network and this agreeableness
predict social support coping. Openness aids in taking initiatives and be more creative. Such
people find unique ideas to deal with complex situations and completing the task. Huang and
et.al, (2014) stated that there is cross sectional correlation between proactive coping and
personality. Transactional model of coping and stress is considered as one of the efficient model
that emphasis that stress is the process; it is not an end state. It depends upon environment of
individual whether person is able to cope up with surroundings or not (Personality, Coping and
Stress Among University Students, 2015). Persons those who have openness to experience are
more open towards unfamiliar cultures and they can get adjusted in any kind of unfamiliar
culture. On other hand people those who have low level of openness, they feel comfortable in
their own culture only.
As per the views of Zhou and et.al, (2017). human being with introvert personality have
less knowledge about their surroundings. Openness traits make individual very creative and they
feel so happy to think about unique and abstract concepts. Introvert people resist new ideas and
they are not very imaginative. Huang and et.al, (2014) argued that conscientiousness is
considered as essential factor that create difference in personality in people. There are many
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human beings who have high level of thoughtfulness and have goal oriented behaviour. They
think for others and ensure that their behaviour do not affect others. These persons finish
important tasks first and pay more attention to details and specifications. There are many
university students who are very serious for their career. They pay close attention towards
studies so that they can reach to their goal. On other hand, some students like to spend more time
on enjoyment, they do not focus on studies. Such human beings fail to complete allotted work
within stipulated period of time.
According to Briefer, Oxley and McElligott, (2015) extraversion is the major aspect that
helps in characterization of personalities of different people. They life to attend social gathering
and participate in such events with energy (Five-factor model of personality, 2018). Individuals
those who have high score in extraversion like to coordinate with others and love to express their
feelings. Human being those who are introvert have reserved behaviour. They feel uncomfortable
when they are in unfamiliar environment. Such people prefer solitude. They do not like to be the
centre of attention. On other hand, individuals who have high score in extraversion, find it easy
to make new friends. Mróz and Kaleta, (2016) argued that agreeableness is the most essential
factor that aids in determining difference between people and their personalities. People with
high agreeableness tendency are more cooperative whereas less agreeableness persons are
competitive. Less agreeable individuals manipulate things in order to achieve their targets. Such
type of persons does not care for others; they just want to achieve their goal in any situation. In
contrary, high agreeable human beings care for others and keep empathy for other individuals.
They always are ready to assist others whenever they require help (Proactive Coping and its
Relation to the Five-Factor Model of Personality, 2010).
Gordon, Zainuddin and Magee, (2016) stated that neuroticism is the factor that
determines difference in personalities. This element is related with emotion, moodiness,
instability. People those who have high level of neuroticism trait majorly deals with mood
swings, anxiety, etc. On other hand, individuals who have low level of neuroticism can easily
deal with stress. Such people are stable and always feel relaxed.
As per the view of Stroud and et.al, (2015) over the past 10 years five factor models has
been proved as valuable paradigm. This theory has given amazing way to understand
characterised of different people. In many studies intrinsic maturation has been shown as
evidence to personality changes. People those who belong to different culture, age have different
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characterise and different way to lie their life. Level of neuroticism, openness gets decreased
with the increasing age whereas agreeableness and conscientiousness get increased with age.
Scheepers and et.al, (2016) argued that coping can be defined as cognitive and behavioural
efforts of person. Extraversion and neuroticism are considered as predictive of proactive coping.
There is strong relationship between proactive coping and personality of individual. Proactive
coping is the traditional view that is challenge- focused (Personality, Coping and Stress Among
University Students, 2015). People those who take risk as challenge they find more opportunities
to grow well in their career. Extroversion learners like to get new experience and they like to
make new friends. This friendliness helps them in getting adjusted into new environment and
gain new experience. Proactive coping emphasizes on how individual give response to threats.
Whenever new stressor occurs then some people react negative and some take it as opportunity.
They feel so existed to deal with such unique situations and implements innovative ideas to
resolve such problems.
Scheepers and et.al, (2016) stated that Proactive coping are the situations that helps in
determining personality of the person. If individual adopts problem focused strategy that means
person has high level of openness and individual is extroversion. This personality of individual
determines that whether individual is able to resolve problems effectively.
As per the view of Mróz and Kaleta, (2016) proactive coping aim to build personality of
individual and make them more potential. This is helpful in personal growth of an individual.
For example, if adult is going for interview and have introversion trait then person will not be
able to express their skill whereas if individual has expressive nature then person will be able to
impress interviewer. Thus, this skill always supports the people in gaining success (Proactive
Coping and its Relation to the Five-Factor Model of Personality, 2010).
According to Huang and et.al, (2014) personality psychology is helpful is understanding
nature and views of different human being. Coping helps in responding towards particular
stressor that determine difference among different people. Huang and et.al, (2014) argued that in
the recent time career building has become the serious concern for the university students.
Career is considered as exciting experience for the people those who study in university. But
this career building is more stressful for students as compare to excitement. There are many
studies which describe students those who are in college suffer from depression, anxiety. They
face huge stress related to their studies (Personality, Coping and Stress Among University
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Students, 2015). There are many stressors in their life such as leaving home for completing their
higher education, writing academic papers, examination, results etc. All these things have created
trouble in the life of adult.
Briefer, Oxley and McElligott, (2015) argued that cognitive approach explains that
mental process of individual influence their behaviour. It is the scientific method that impact on
individual activities. On other hand Humanistic approach is considered as positive therapy that
concentrates on nature of individual. This theory concentrates on individuals’ wisdom, growth,
healing that influence their behaviour.
As per the view of Huang and et.al, (2014) psychotherapy is the method to improve
wellbeing and mental status of individual. There are many people those who suffer with many
mental problems, this therapy supports such individuals in dealing with issues. This therapy
offers non judgemental environment to the disable people so that they can feel comfortable and
start talking to others. Humanistic approach emphasis on active nature of person, their values and
how these things influence their behaviour.
As per the view of Huang and et.al, (2014) there are many students for those English is
not their mother language, but in university English is use for communication, this is also a
stressor for the people those mother language is not English. These stressors impact negative of
these students and they suffer from anxiety, depression. Neuroticism and psychoticism are inter-
connected aspects; both these things are closely related with coping style of individual.
Huang and et.al, (2014) argued that there is significant relationship between personality
of university student and psychological stressors. Some of the students take exams as challenge;
they do not take it as stressor. They work hard and give their exams with relax mind. On other
hand other learners take exam as risk and they take too much stress. Sometimes this stress impact
on their health as well. Whether person is taking stressor as stress or not, it completely depends
upon their personality. If individual have agreeable personality then they do not take too much
stress, they always behave friendly and give their best in exams. On other hand, if the individual
has neuroticism personality then learner takes too much tension for their career. Such kind of
people do not interact in society, they just concentrate on their career making to great extent.
As per the view of Briefer, Oxley and McElligott, (2015) people those who like to spend
their time in society get destructed from their actual aim. Many times leaving in society and
behaving friendly is not helpful to cope up with their stress. Many times family members,
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friends provide emotional support of these students so that they can resolve their stress and can
get positive results. Huang and et.al, (2014) declared that psychological stress is not related with
their personality, it is highly depending upon the coping strategies that is used by students to
cope up with such kinds of situations.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it can be concluded that proactive coping is the strategies that helps
the person in responding to particular threats. There is strong relationship between personality
and proactive coping. Each individual reacts different in various situation as per their
personality, nature and behaviour. Extraversion approach or nature of individual helps them in
giving positive response to each stressor and resolve their problems in efficient manner. This
skill of the person gives them energy to deal with hard situations and resolve their problems.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Briefer, E. F., Oxley, J. A. and McElligott, A. G., 2015. Autonomic nervous system reactivity in
a free-ranging mammal: effects of dominance rank and personality. Animal behavior.
110. pp.121-132.
Gordon, R., Zainuddin, N. and Magee, C., 2016. Unlocking the potential of branding in social
marketing services: utilising brand personality and brand personality appeal. Journal of
Services Marketing. 30(1). pp.48-62.
Huang, J. L. and et.al., 2014. Personality and adaptive performance at work: A meta-analytic
investigation. Journal of Applied Psychology. 99(1). pp.162.
Mróz, J. and Kaleta, K., 2016. Relationships between personality, emotional labor, work
engagement and job satisfaction in service professions. International journal of
occupational medicine and environmental health. 29(5). pp.767-782.
Northouse, P. G., 2018. Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
Scheepers, R. A. and et.al., 2016. How personality traits affect clinician-supervisors’ work
engagement and subsequently their teaching performance in residency training. Medical
teacher. 38(11). pp.1105-1111.
Straud, C., McNaughton-Cassill, M. and Fuhrman, R., 2015. The role of the Five Factor Model
of personality with proactive coping and preventative coping among college students.
Personality and Individual Differences. 83. pp.60-64.
Stroud, C. H. and et.al., 2015. Personality, spirituality, suicide, and self-injury proneness among
lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. 18(9). pp.777-788.
Wang, Z. and et.al., 2017. Explaining benefits of employee proactive personality: The role of
engagement, team proactivity composition and perceived organizational support. Journal
of Vocational Behavior. 101. pp.90-103.
Zhou, Y. and et.al., 2017. Big five personality and adolescent Internet addiction: The mediating
role of coping style. Addictive Behaviors. 64. pp.42-48.
Online
Five-factor model of personality. 2018. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.britannica.com/science/five-factor-model-of-personality>
Personality, Coping and Stress Among University Students. 2015. [Online]. Available through <
http://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.s.2015040301.16.pdf>
Proactive Coping and its Relation to the Five-Factor Model of Personality. 2010. [Online].
Available through: <
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259503404_Proactive_Coping_and_its_Relatio
n_to_the_Five-Factor_Model_of_Personality>
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