To me, the Big Five personality traits method is a simplified checklist for hurried professionals wanting, or needing to analyze someone quickly. And I think that is a poor method for evaluating a client and his or her needs. Big Five is loaded with key words that have negative connotations and societal judgments.

Take the word “Neuroticism.” It is hot. It is embedded with negative connotations. People I know want to avoid that word. They do not want that word anywhere near them. It is a word that means “nervous breakdown.” Who wants a “nervous breakdown” marring their life’s record?

What about the connotation of the word “Extraversion?” 80% of the world are that, according to most experts. What does the majority feel about the minority classed introvert? Big Five uses the word “Extraversion” solo. From it, introversion is introduced, suggesting that it is an inferior trait social style. Big Five defines introversion as a lessening degree of extraversion. This analysis implies extraversion is the healthy personality type and we introverts know that extraverts want to somehow make us normal, like them. That is society’s majority-ruled decision. Like sheep, all go along with it and introverts end up feeling like misfits.

Through Myers-Briggs’ explanation of introverts, not only did I learn to understand them, how they operate in the real world, how they manage interpersonal relationships, but I also learned how extroverts ticks. Myers-Briggs educated me in well-defined, concise words. I saw how both preferences can get along without judging the other. Big Five’s evaluation method appears to be less clear and has a judgmental bias. It contains no method of harmony between the two types. It uses words that create negativism for the introvert. Its choice of defining words for the extraverted perpetuates the societal connotation that 20% of people are just not as valid as the other 80%’s.

Word labels carry breathtaking impact and a vast number of societal biases. Very few people are immune to this emotional hit. Society’s bias towards you when it hears your label, is impossible to ignore. Big Five’s method of evaluating personalities is overly broad, too simple, and too hot-worded to take seriously. If you do take this test or are evaluated by someone administering it, remember to be aware of how the labels affect your feelings and your self-image. Remember, its words will never be you.

As for word labels, connotations, and biases, you were set up. I told you my age which instantly put an image inside your head. I am sure words like old, frumpy, glasses, set-in her-ways, outdated, grandmother, may have popped into your head. I also told you Myers-Briggs was a superior personality evaluation tool. Did you imagine me college educated, a professional involved in a field like psychology, working in an office overlooking some city skyline, and that I have great benefits and strong retirement plan?

Keep wondering.