Final answer:
The Big Five personality factors identified in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study by McCrae and Costa are Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. These factors have biological underpinnings, are stable across the lifespan, and are influenced by cultural contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Baltimore longitudinal study by McCrae and Costa, the Big Five personality factors include: Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. These five factors are a core aspect of the Five Factor Model of personality and have been shown to be relatively stable over the lifespan and exist across various cultures and ethnicities. The mnemonic OCEAN can help remember these factors.
Each personality trait lies along a continuum where most individuals fall somewhere between the two extremes. Research indicates that conscientiousness and agreeableness tend to increase with age, while neuroticism and extroversion may decrease slightly. The Big Five are considered to have biological and genetic components and have been linked with certain outcomes like academic success and tendencies towards activities, such as risky sports.
Understanding the Big Five is important not only for personal knowledge but also for appreciating the impact of cultural influences on personality. Studies have found variations in the expression of these personality traits across different cultures, which demonstrates the necessity to take into account cultural contexts when evaluating personality.