Trait Definitions

For easy reference, following are definitions of the 16 core personality traits
measured by the KnowYourStaff.com assessments.

People-oriented versus Solitary

Higher General Ability versus Lower General Ability

Even-keeled versus Emotional

Controlling versus Passive

Gregarious versus Subdued

Conscientious versus Unconventional

Fearless versus Cautious

Feeling-oriented versus Thinking-oriented

Distrustful versus Accepting

Conceptual versus Pragmatic

Unrevealing versus Self-disclosing

Unsure versus Self-confident

Change-oriented versus Conservative

Independent versus Team-oriented

Detail-oriented versus Unorganized

Restless versus Easy-going

High Scores (7-10): -warm-hearted, affectionate, emotionally involved; -forms strong social bonds; -enjoys socializing and being with people
Average Scores (5-6): -moderately warm, gregarious, interested in people but not to the extent that excludes non-social interests, a preference for some impersonal activities
Low Scores (1-4): -reserved, cool, detached, aloof; -forms weak or narrow social bonds; -seen as cold and standoffish; -avoids work that involves showing concern for others
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High Scores (7-10): -quick comprehension, fast to learn new tasks; -good verbal, numerical, and analytical skills; -can handle intellectually challenging tasks
Average Scores (5-6): -corresponds to average scores on tests like the SAT; -should be able to discern complex relationships and understand abstract ideas as well as, or possibly better than, the average person
Low Scores (1-4): -more concrete in thinking style; -more modest performance on traditional scholastic tasks
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High Scores (7-10): -high ego strength; -manages emotions well, adaptive; -resilient, even-tempered, can calm self
Average Scores (5-6): -copes with demands of everyday life, tolerating frustrations and disappointments, as well as, but not better than, the average person
Low Scores (1-4): -does not manage emotions well, non-adaptive; -moody, difficulty calming self, not resilient; -lower stress tolerance, feels easily overwhelmed
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High Scores (7-10): -assertive, forceful, competitive, uncompromising; -wants to be in charge; -does not back down from conflicts; -enjoys winning, may have power struggles
Average Scores (5-6): -average in assertiveness; -may assert self in some situations and be more submissive in others
Low Scores (1-4): -deferential, compliant, avoids conflict, unassertive; -prefers for others to be in charge; -may feel powerless in important relationships
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High Scores (7-10): -lively, exuberant, spontaneous, carefree; -animated, talkative, optimistic; -may underestimate difficulties; -drawn to novel and exciting activities
Average Scores (5-6): -does not stand out as being either exuberant or restrained
Low Scores (1-4): -serious, solemn, cautious, reflective; -pessimistic, anticipates difficulties; -fears making mistakes; -concerned about safety and security
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High Scores (7-10): -rule-oriented, dutiful, conforming; -strong internalization of conventional standards of right and wrong; -well-developed conscience based on moral sense
Average Scores (5-6): -has accepted mainstream moral standards reasonably well and considers the moral implications of some situations
Low Scores (1-4): -does not think in terms of moral absolutes; -may be lacking in conformity or conscientiousness; _{(a) moral standards and values may be developing}; _{(b) may be intentionally unconventional or situational}
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High Scores (7-10): -socially bold, thrill-seeking, adventurous, intrepid; -hard to intimidate, thick-skinned, no fear; -recovers quickly from punishment or pain
Average Scores (5-6): -may feel shy and timid in some, but not most, situations; not bold or daring, but not particularly reticent about putting self forward and taking some risks
Low Scores (1-4): -shy, timid, fearful, sensitive to threat; -easily intimidated; -thin-skinned
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High Scores (7-10): -emotionally sensitive; -concerned about emotional, artistic, intuitive aspects of situations; -decisions based more on subjective, emotional criteria rather than objective facts; -empathizes with others' emotional or vulnerable feelings
Average Scores (5-6): -judgments guided both by own emotional reactions (e.g., likes and dislikes) as well as factual information
Low Scores (1-4): -utilitarian, concerned about objective and logical aspects of situations; -may lack empathy for others' feelings
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High Scores (7-10): -vigilant, distrustful, suspicious, skeptical; -anticipates negative motivations in others; -wary, anticipates deceit and mistreatment
Average Scores (5-6): -suspicions likely to be grounded in reality rather than being projections of inner insecurities
Low Scores (1-4): -trusting, unsuspecting, easygoing; -takes others at face value; -anticipates honest and fair treatment; -gives people the benefit of the doubt
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High Scores (7-10): -imaginative, idea-oriented, abstract thinking; -interested in ideas, theory, philosophy; -absorbed in thoughts, forgetful, absent-minded; -thinks of possibilities rather than realities
Average Scores (5-6): -tuned in to both practical realities and the external environment as well as the internal world of ideas
Low Scores (1-4): -grounded, down-to-earth, solution-oriented; -pragmatic interests; -notices and remembers details of surroundings; -common-sense perspective on life
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High Scores (7-10): -private, discreet, non-disclosing; -guarded, calculating, withholds information; -chooses carefully how, when, and with whom to share personal information
Average Scores (5-6): -generally average with regard to self-disclosure and openness
Low Scores (1-4): -forthright, transparent, self-revealing; -open, frank, unpretentious, genuine; -shares personal information freely
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High Scores (7-10): -poor self-image, doubts self, guilt-prone; -apprehensive, self-doubting, worried, insecure; _{(a) may be situational or}; _{(b) may be rooted in low self-confidence}
Average Scores (5-6): -good balance of self-esteem and self-confidence, neither overly defensive or overly confident
Low Scores (1-4): -self-assured, confident, unworried, self-satisfied; -positive self-image, strong defense mechanisms; -may reject blame, may be complacent; -may not recognize shortcomings
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High Scores (7-10): -open to new experience, experimenting, innovative; -oriented towards the future, change, new ways of doing things; -becomes impatient with conventional methods; -sensitive to the misuse of authority; -best in new and emerging industries
Average Scores (5-6): -neither radically-minded nor resistant to accepting traditional beliefs and values
Low Scores (1-4): -traditional, attached to familiar; -oriented toward preserving the status quo; compliant toward authority
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High Scores (7-10): -self-reliant, independent, individualistic; -protects autonomy, does not like to rely on others; -prefers making decisions alone, without help from others; -may prefer to work alone, with minimal supervision
Average Scores (5-6): -accepts assistance from others but is not overly reliant on their physical presence or emotional support
Low Scores (1-4): -group-oriented, reliant on others; -wants supportive relationships; -easily influenced; -prefers teamwork to working alone
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High Scores (7-10): -perfectionistic, self-disciplined; -concern for maintaining socially-approved self-image; -intolerant of disorder, organized, plans ahead; -attentive to details, good follow-through
Average Scores (5-6): -adequate but not excessive planning and organizing ability
Low Scores (1-4): -tolerates disorder, may lack self-discipline; -lax personal standards, does not take pride in performance; -not ambitious or achievement oriented
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High Scores (7-10): -physically tense, pressured, goal-oriented; -excessive energy, jittery, uptight, on edge; -may not be focusing energy effectively
Average Scores (5-6): -neither lethargic nor unusually restless and impatient
Low Scores (1-4): -physically relaxed, placid, composed; -low energy, languid; -physically under-reactive; -possibly lazy
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