Costa and McCrae

Costa and McCrae are psychologists known for developing the Five Factor Model of personality, often referred to as the Big Five. This model identifies five core traits that describe human personality: openness (creativity and curiosity), conscientiousness (organization and dependability), extraversion (sociability and enthusiasm), agreeableness (compassion and cooperation), and neuroticism (emotional stability and anxiety). Their research emphasizes that these traits exist on a continuum, meaning individuals may exhibit varying degrees of each trait. The model is widely used in psychology to better understand personality and predict behavior in various contexts, such as work and relationships.