• Mental Health
    • Anxiety
      • What is Anxiety?
      • Types of Anxiety Disorders
      • Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety
      • Treatments for Anxiety
      • Anxiety Statistics
      • See More Anxiety Content
      • Find an Anxiety Specialist
    • Depression
      • What is Depression?
      • Types of Depression
      • Signs & Symptoms of Depression
      • Treatments for Depression
      • Depression Statistics
      • Find a Depression Specialist
    • Bipolar Disorder
      • What is Bipolar Disorder?
      • Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II
      • Signs & Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
      • What Are Bipolar Disorder Cycles?
      • Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
      • Find a Bipolar Disorder Specialist
    • ADHD
      • What is ADHD?
      • ADHD Signs & Symptoms
      • ADHD & Depression
      • Find an ADHD Specialist
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
      • Anorexia
      • Bulimia
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
        • PTSD & COVID-19
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Gender Dysphoria
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
  • Mental Health
    • Anxiety
      • What is Anxiety?
      • Types of Anxiety Disorders
      • Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety
      • Treatments for Anxiety
      • Anxiety Statistics
      • See More Anxiety Content
      • Find an Anxiety Specialist
    • Depression
      • What is Depression?
      • Types of Depression
      • Signs & Symptoms of Depression
      • Treatments for Depression
      • Depression Statistics
      • Find a Depression Specialist
    • Bipolar Disorder
      • What is Bipolar Disorder?
      • Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II
      • Signs & Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
      • What Are Bipolar Disorder Cycles?
      • Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
      • Find a Bipolar Disorder Specialist
    • ADHD
      • What is ADHD?
      • ADHD Signs & Symptoms
      • ADHD & Depression
      • Find an ADHD Specialist
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
      • Anorexia
      • Bulimia
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
        • PTSD & COVID-19
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Gender Dysphoria
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
Skip to content

Conscientiousness: Definition, Signs, & Causes

Published: November 24, 2020 Updated: November 24, 2022
Published: 11/24/2020 Updated: 11/24/2022
Headshot of Eric Patterson, LPC
Written by:

Eric Patterson

LPC
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD
  • What Is Conscientiousness?Definition
  • What Are the Benefits of High Levels of Conscientiousness?Benefits
  • What Does It Look Like to Have Low Levels of Conscientiousness?Low Levels
  • What Causes Conscientiousness?Causes
  • Potential Risks of ConscientiousnessRisks
  • Ways to Become More ConscientiousWays to Develop
  • The History of ConscientiousnessHistory
  • Additional ResourcesResources
Headshot of Eric Patterson, LPC
Written by:

Eric Patterson

LPC
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD

In the world of psychology, conscientiousness is a term of particular importance. As a major personality trait, experts are interested in how people with differing levels of conscientiousness interact with others and the world around them. High levels of conscientiousness are linked to increased awareness of their actions and the impacts they have on others.

Become more conscientious by working with a therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

What Is Conscientiousness?

The definitions of conscientiousness will depend on the source of information. Looking at a standard dictionary will yield a result that describes conscientiousness as a trait in people who do their work thoroughly and completely.

Psychology offers at least two views on the word as well. There are five broad domains of personality traits that represent continuums of personality types and include:1

  1. Negative affectivity and emotional stability: How much someone’s mood is impacted by positive and negative events
  2. Detachment and extraversion: How involved or disinterested a person is in social relationships
  3. Antagonism and agreeableness: How well one can interact and get along with others
  4. Psychoticism and lucidity: How grounded or not grounded in reality a person is
  5. Disinhibition and conscientiousness: How thoughtful or reckless a person is with their decision making and actions

In this case, people with strong levels of conscientiousness will be more thoughtful, caring, and considerate of those around them. These people will display behaviors that are the opposite of disinhibited people.

Conscientious people will:1

  • Delay gratification by focusing on long-term goals, rather than immediate wants
  • Carefully consider their actions and decisions while taking the full impact into account
  • Learn from their past mistakes to avoid repeating the same issues
  • Work hard to produce high quality content at home, work, and school

People who display desirable levels of emotional stability, extraversion, agreeableness, lucidity, and conscientiousness are happier, healthier, more adaptive, and resilient than those with higher levels of negative affectivity, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism. With the presence of these qualities, a person will have better coping skills and be able to quickly recover from the damaging influence of trauma and medical illness.1

Other branches of psychology view conscientiousness a bit differently.

Conscientiousness is listed as a “Big Five” personality trait along with:2

  • Agreeableness
  • Extraversion
  • Neuroticism
  • Openness

In this view of traits, neuroticism is a term used to describe how a person sees the world. If they view the world as distressing and unsafe, they will have higher rates of neuroticism and more mental health symptoms (like neurotic anxiety). It can be helpful to work with a therapist to learn how to reduce neurotic tendencies and better manage stress.

Openness relates to how open-minded and open to new ideas a person is. As in the APA model, these five personality characteristics all occur along a continuum. When the traits are operating in balance, a person will note improved higher resilience and fewer unwanted symptoms.

What Are the Benefits of High Levels of Conscientiousness?

High levels of conscientiousness offer a range of benefits that will help the individual at phases of life including home, relationships, work, school, community activities, and others. A person with high conscientiousness levels will likely thrive in many facets of life.

Some of the commonly expected benefits of conscientiousness include being:3

  • Organized
  • Mindful and thoughtful
  • Empathetic
  • Careful
  • Reliable
  • Hard-working
  • Goal oriented

If a person is looking for an individual to show up on time, perform at high levels, and achieve their goals, a conscientious person will be a fine choice. Conscientious people will plan out the future and pace themselves in steady and methodical ways.

Studies show additional benefits of being conscientious including:3

  • Safer drivers: People with high conscientiousness levels are found to be safer drivers than others and involved in fewer accidents.
  • Better salespeople: In a study of sales performance, those with higher consciousness levels regularly achieved a higher volume of sales when compared to lower conscientious counterparts.
  • Longer lives: A study found that children who were labeled as more conscientious when young tended to live longer lives. This link may have been due to their safe driving, their careful consideration, focus on their physical health, and other factors.

Even better, the people around the individual with high levels of conscientiousness will benefit from their actions. A conscientious person is mindful and aware of how their behaviors affect other people, so instead of being careless or reckless, they will make choices that create success for all people.

Can Someone Be Too Conscientious?

No matter the personality trait, balance is always a goal to aim for because any extreme is dangerous. A person who is polarized too far towards conscientiousness will suffer from some unwanted effects of the condition. When a person is too conscientious, they risk experiencing what the APA refers to as rigid perfectionism.

Rigid perfectionism is marked by:1

  • Insisting that everything is flawless
  • A strong need for perfection
  • Intolerance for errors or mistakes
  • Being unable to complete even simple tasks because they are never perfect enough
  • Complete entrenchment in a view or belief
  • Lack of flexibility
  • Believing their way is the only acceptable method

These symptoms are linked to a mental health condition called obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). Regardless of the presence of the diagnosis, people with too much conscientiousness will feel intense stress, anxiety, anger, and frustration. Their relationships will suffer, and they will push away friends, coworkers, and romantic partners.

Can Someone Be Conscientious About Certain Things & Not Others?

In terms of personality, anything is possible, but true conscientiousness is a global influence on the overall person. Because of this, it is unlikely a person is very conscientious at work but not at home.

In this situation, it could be that a factor other than conscientiousness is influencing the person’s attitudes and actions. Typically, a person will display similar levels of conscientiousness no matter the setting.

What Does It Look Like to Have Low Levels of Conscientiousness?

Since conscientiousness and other personality traits fall on a continuum, some people will have low levels of conscientiousness. Low conscientiousness and disinhibition tend to have a negative influence on a person’s life and produce damaging effects on their friends and family.

Low levels of conscientiousness is correlated with impulsivity, poor decision-making skills, and selfishness. Rather than thinking things through and being concerned with others, the person will only seek instant gratification in the moment.3

A person with low levels of conscientiousness could make a major purchase like a new car or a new home on a total whim. They could change careers or move across the country spontaneously, and though these choices could work out, they often lead to debt and disappointment.

Since they are not concerned with others, they could be late and unprepared frequently. These issues could hinder relationships or their performance at work or school.

Become more conscientious by working with a therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

What Causes Conscientiousness?

No one influence completely controls the presentation of conscientiousness. Conscientiousness arises from the combined effect of biological and environmental differences in the individual.

The biological connection is shown in studies that inspect the levels of conscientiousness of both identical and fraternal twins. Additionally, MRI scans show visible brain differences exist in people with high and low levels of conscientiousness with notable variations in the cortex and prefrontal regions.3

Research has placed particular importance on the connection between parental nurturance and conscientiousness. When parents were more involved with their children and provided affection during the early years, the children grew up to have higher levels of conscientiousness.

These biological and early childhood experiences go a long way to shape and dictate a person’s conscientiousness, but the personality trait is not static. Due to the effect of the “maturity principle,” people tend to increase their levels of conscientiousness throughout life, after a slight dip during adolescence. Based on this notion, most people grow more conscientious as they age.3

Are Levels of Conscientiousness Higher in Certain Populations?

In addition to the biological and environmental impacts, other facets can influence the degree of conscientiousness a person experiences. These factors can include where a person lives, their nationality, employment, and relationship status.

In terms of global region, people in Africa scored higher levels of conscientiousness than people from any other region.4 In this study, people from East Asia noted lower scores on measures of the trait.

People who live in cities and other more densely-populated areas seem to have higher scores on conscientiousness measures as well. Although it can be challenging to know why this connection presents, it could have to do with the increased competition for relationships, housing, and work that encourages increased mindfulness, awareness, and future orientation.4

Some other populations that tend to experience noteworthy levels of conscientiousness include people:

  • With recent job loss: Losing a job or being unemployed is strongly linked with lower levels of conscientiousness.
  • Experiencing new medical issues: When people become sick medically, their conscientiousness rises to carefully navigate their new situations..
  • Starting a demanding role: Getting a new job, getting married, or having a child can increase conscientiousness as the person adapts to their new role.
  • Leaving a negative relationship: As people emerge from a dysfunctional relationship, their conscientiousness seems to increase as a way to manage new challenges away from their partner.

Potential Risks of Conscientiousness

Some may believe that a person can never be too conscientious, but they would be incorrect. Many risks emerge when this personality trait is taken to an extreme that impact all phases of a person’s life.

Too much conscientiousness is linked to:1,3

Failure to Act

When people are conscientious, they will take their time to make important decisions. When people are too conscientious, they may struggle to make any decision because they are constantly weighing their options. Because of this, they may miss the opportunity to experience positive life events.

Demanding Relationships

Conscientious people will expect a lot from themselves, but they will have high expectations for others as well. Whether coworkers, family members, friends, or romantic partners, these people will be judged harshly by those who are overly conscientious, which can drive a wedge in the relationship.

High Stress

Focusing on perfection, living up to unrealistic expectations, and being frustrated by failure equates to high levels of stress for the conscientious individual. High stress culminated over time will result in numerous negative impacts on the person’s mental and physical health.

Burnout

Being demanding, rigid, stressed, and preoccupied with every detail will eventually wear down a person’s resources. This high level of energy and investment is too challenging to maintain long-term. Without healthy coping skills and alternative reserves, the people will experience burnout, a state that makes functioning well in any area of life nearly impossible.

On the outside, a person with overly high levels of conscientiousness will appear successful and happy. In reality, they will be wildly unhappy, constantly frustrated, and lonely as no one can ever live up to their impractical expectations.

6 Ways to Become More Conscientious

Usually personality traits seem to be more static, rigid, and unchanging, but conscientiousness is an exception. When a person sets a goal and follows through with practical measures to increase their levels of conscientiousness, they can succeed to boost the quality to a more desirable level.

Some effective ways to become more conscientious include:2

1. Finding Your Baseline Level of Conscientiousness

In the quest of self-improvement, too many people launch into a new goal without having any idea of where they are beginning. Without knowing where you are, there is no way to get directions to where you want to be.

Gather information about your baseline by taking an honest look at your life to study your trends. Do you seem to lean more towards impulsivity or planned, recklessness or perfectionism, thoughtless or thoughtfulness?
During the process, consult loved ones and trusted supports to understand their perceptions of your personality. You may find you have a long way to go, or you could be closer to your goal than you expect.

2. Turning Big Plans into Small Goals

Of course people would like to achieve an ideal level of conscientiousness, but getting there is challenging.

Rather than focusing on the larger, abstract concept of conscientiousness, define a few areas to target like:

  • Being on time
  • Stopping to think before making decisions
  • Improving quality of work
  • Considering other points of view

Start by tackling just one of these areas before moving on to the next goal. Slowly, a person can grow their conscientious skills and improve the trait.

3. Staying Engaged in Your Relationships

A significant part of conscientiousness is socialization, so people should always strive for maintaining or increasing their relationships. When people build strong relationships based on mutual trust, consideration, and respect, conscientiousness will grow.

To check on the quality of your relationships, practice open communication with your loved ones to understand how they are viewing your role in the relationship. If they feel that you are being kind, fair, and considerate, you are on the right track.

4. Utilizing Alarms & Reminders

Some conscientious people seem to have built-in clocks and alarms that remind them of what they need to do and when they need to do it. Others need to work really hard to develop this as a skill.

New technology is a wonderful way to increase conscientiousness. With alarms, reminders, timers, and various apps, a person can use their computer, phone, or digital voice assistant in ways that builds their conscientiousness.

5. Treating Underlying Mental Health Conditions

Conscientiousness could be an ingrained personality trait, but some people experience mental health conditions that influence their levels. By adding levels of impulsivity, recklessness, and selfishness, these conditions can overwhelm and hide someone’s true levels of conscientiousness.

Some mental health disorders that interfere with conscientiousness include:1

  • Bipolar disorder
  • Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
  • Personality disorders like narcissistic, borderline, and antisocial personality disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Seeking professional mental health treatment can address these underlying conditions to reveal a person’s true level of conscientiousness.

6. Being Patient With Yourself

Depending on your conscientiousness, the easiest way to increase your level could be to do nothing at all. Remember, more than other personality characteristics, conscientiousness will naturally increase over time. Whatever your level today, you can rest assured it will be higher tomorrow.

The History of Conscientiousness

Conscience and conscientiousness are words that have been part of the lexicon for hundreds of years, but their relation to the world of mental health really emerged in the first part of the 20th century. As teams of psychologists researched and scoured dictionaries to identify terms that were linked to mental health conditions and personality traits, conscientiousness became a preferred way to describe a certain set of characteristics and qualities.

Some other terms that were combined into the domain of conscientiousness include:5

  • Tidy
  • Responsible
  • Scrupulous
  • Persevering

Through the second half of the 20th century, the focus on conscientiousness shifted to its inclusion in the Big Five Factors of personality traits. It continues to be researched and studied into the present.5

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

Online Therapy 

BetterHelp Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy.  Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you. Get Started

Online Psychiatry  

Hims / Hers  – If you’re living with anxiety or depression, finding the right medication match may make all the difference. Get FDA approved medication prescribed by your dedicated Hims / Hers Healthcare Provider and delivered right to your door. Plans start at $25 per month (first month). Get Started

Reduce Drinking

Sunnyside Want to drink less? Sunnyside helps you ease into mindful drinking at your own pace. Think lifestyle change, not a fad diet. Develop new daily routines, so you maintain your new habits for life. Take a 3 Minute Quiz.

Choosing Therapy Directory 

You can search for therapists by specialty,  experience, insurance or  price, and location.  Find a therapist today.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp, Talkiatry and Sunnyside.

For Further Reading

For more information about conscientiousness, ways to increase levels of conscientiousness, and the conditions it is connected to, please consider viewing reliable resources like:

  • American Psychological Association
  • American Psychiatric Association
  • National Institute of Mental Health
5 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA.

  • Harvard Health Publishing. (2012, May). Raising your Conscientiousness. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/raising-your-conscientiousness

  • Psychologists World. (n.d.). Conscientiousness: A ‘Big Five’ Personality Trait. Retrieved from (https://www.psychologistworld.com/influence-personality/conscientiousness-personality-trait

  • Jarrett, Christian. (2017, April 13). Different Nationalities Really have Different Personalities,  BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170413-different-nationalities-really-have-different-personalities

  • Johnson, J. A. (2017). Big-Five model. In V. Zeigler-Hill, T.K. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (1-16). New York: Springer. Retrieved from http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/j/5/j5j/papers/Big-FiveModelFinal.pdf

Recent Articles

Energy Vampires_ 10 Signs _ How to Deal with One
Energy Vampires: 10 Signs & How to Deal with One
If you feel drained after every encounter with a particular person, you may be dealing with an energy vampire....
';
Only Child Syndrome_ X Characteristics _ Is It Real
Only Child Syndrome: 6 Characteristics & Is it Real?
While the stigma of being an only child, or experiencing “onliness,” may decrease with time, only children continue to...
';
How to Overcome Perfectionism: 12 Tips for Success
How to Overcome Perfectionism: 21 Tips for Success
Perfectionism is a trait that, when kept in check, can foster goal-setting and achievement. However, it can easily spiral...
';
Maladaptive Behavior: Definition, Causes, & Treatment
Maladaptive Behavior: Definition, Causes, & Treatment
Maladaptive behaviors are actions or manners that cause problems, because they lead a person to handle challenges in ineffective,...
';
Hypervigilance - Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments
Hypervigilance: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments
Hypervigilance places you in a state of high alert that is stressful, anxiety-provoking, and exhausting to maintain. Hypervigilance is...
';
Perfectionism: Signs, Causes, & Ways to Overcome
Perfectionism: Signs, Causes, & Ways to Overcome
Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by high standards, rigid expectations, and specific ideas about how to achieve a...
';
Headshot of Eric Patterson, LPC
Written by:

Eric Patterson

LPC
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD
  • What Is Conscientiousness?Definition
  • What Are the Benefits of High Levels of Conscientiousness?Benefits
  • What Does It Look Like to Have Low Levels of Conscientiousness?Low Levels
  • What Causes Conscientiousness?Causes
  • Potential Risks of ConscientiousnessRisks
  • Ways to Become More ConscientiousWays to Develop
  • The History of ConscientiousnessHistory
  • Additional ResourcesResources
If you are in need of immediate medical help:
Medical
Emergency
911
Suicide Hotline
800-273-8255
See more Crisis Hotlines
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • Careers
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • No Surprises Act
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
988
Click For More Crisis Hotlines
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
811
See more Crisis Hotlines
here
logo
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
Choosing Therapy Logo
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit Cookie Settings to provide controlled consent. Cookie settings ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

We use cookies to facilitate website functionality. Also, we use third-party cookies to track your website behavior and target advertising. These cookies are stored in your browser only with your consent, and you have the choice of opting out.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non Necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Save & Accept