Paul T. Costa Jr.

Paul T. Costa Jr. is an influential psychologist best known for his work on personality theories, particularly the Five-Factor Model (also known as the Big Five Personality Traits). This model identifies five key traits that describe human personality: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Costa, along with his colleague Robert McCrae, developed assessments that help measure these traits and understand how they influence behavior and relationships. His research has had a significant impact on psychology, offering a framework used in various fields, including mental health, education, and employment, to understand personality and predict individual differences.