Compare and contrast personality with personal values, and identify values categories in Schwartz’s values circumplex that likely relate to one or more personality dimensions in the five-factor personality model.

This question has two parts. The first part (compare/contrast) involves defining both concepts and then pointing out similarities and differences. Personality is the relatively enduring pattern of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that characterize a person, along with the psychological processes behind those characteristics. Values are stable, evaluative beliefs that guide our preferences for outcomes or courses of action in a variety of situations. Both concepts are characteristics of individuals, are relatively abstract, and have many dimensions (specific personality traits and specific individual values). The main difference between these two concepts is that personality is descriptive whereas values are evaluative. Personality refers (descriptively) to behavioral tendencies. Values refer to what people “ought” to do; they indicate that some things have more valence (good/bad) than other things. A second distinction is that specific values conflict with other specific values, whereas personality traits have much less conflict with each other. A third distinction is that personality is more strongly influenced by heredity than are personal values. Heredity has some influence on our values, but socialization and life experience play a stronger role compared to the effect on personality.

The second part of this question asks student to identify specific Schwartz’s values categories with personality dimensions. This is possible because personality and values are associated with each other. Several studies have reported correlations between Schwartz’s list of values and the Big Five personality dimensions. None of this detail is provided in the textbook, but students can try to associate personality traits with personal values through their definitions.

The table below summarizes a meta-analysis of of studies relating the Big Five personality dimensions with personal values:





This table indicates the following:

Openness to experience -- generally the strongest association with specific values, particularly higher selfdirection, universalism, and stimulation, and lower conformity and tradition.

Agreeableness -- seems to have the 2nd highest link to specific values. these values include higher benevolence, tradition, and universalism, as well as lower power and security.

Conscientiousness -- This personality dimension has some connection to personal values, notably conformity, achievement, and security.

Extraversion -- This Big Five personality dimension is correlated significantly (all positively) with stimulation, achievement, and power.


Emotional Stability (low neuroticism) -- This personality dimension is reported to have the weakest association with any of Schwartz’s values. The three values that minimally relate are stimulation, conformity, and (barely) security.

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