Conscientiousness: Definition, Signs, & Causes

What Is Conscientiousness?

The conscientiousness personality trait coincides with being skilled in emotional regulation and delayed gratification. Some major characteristics include high levels of self-awareness, thoughtful decision-making skills, and staying task-oriented when working toward a goal. Conscientious people may be routine-oriented, and some may struggle with needing control to feel safe.¹

Conscientiousness & the Big Five Factors of Personality

The Big Five personality traits refer to a suggested group of distinct personality traits to describe why and how people act. The conscientiousness trait falls on a spectrum, and people who score high on this tendency are often focused, diligent, and stubborn. Lower levels may correspond with being perceived as spontaneous, free-spirited, and unreliable.

Besides conscientiousness, the remaining personality traits include:

• Openness: Openness refers to an affinity toward emotion, imagination, curiosity, and engagement.
• Extraversion: Extraversion means individuals gain energy from social interactions and obligations.
• Agreeableness: Agreeableness refers to the desire to connect with others, and many agreeable people are trustworthy, empathic, and compassionate.
• Neuroticism: Neuroticism is the natural affinity toward experiencing intense emotions.

How Common Is Conscientiousness?

Accurately measuring conscientiousness is impossible. However, research does show conscientiousness generally increases throughout the lifespan, and people tend to undergo the most change during their 20s. These changes may relate to how personalities evolve as the brain matures and older people inherently have more responsibilities.²

Common Conscientiousness Characteristics

Everyone is undoubtedly unique, but some of the shared conscientiousness characteristics people experience are notable. In general, people with high levels of conscientiousness plan for the future and are responsible, organized, ambitious, and reliable. On the downside, they may be overly cautious, risk-averse, and so self-disciplined they miss opportunities for creativity or fun.

Characteristics associated with a conscientious personality include:

• Goal-oriented
• Forward-thinking
• Efficient
• Detail-oriented
• Consistent
• Dependable
• Resourceful
• Driven

Examples of Conscientiousness

Someone high in conscientiousness would relate to wanting things to be done logically, effectively, and efficiently. They do not like wasting time or feeling out of control. They are often willing to sacrifice personal pleasures to meet deadlines. They are thoughtful and generally prepared in the event of emergencies.

Common examples of conscientiousness include:

• Planning ahead for the future
• Succeeding in work
• Having a clean and organized house
• Being perceived as reliable by others
• Always arriving at events and meetings on time
• Double-checking work to ensure accuracy
• Self-disciplined and an independent go-getter

How Conscientiousness Affects Behavior

A conscientious person shows up on time, performs at high levels, and achieves their goals. They plan out the future and pace themselves in steady and methodical ways. Even better, those around them benefit from their high levels of conscientiousness. Instead of being careless or reckless, conscientious people make choices that create success for everyone.

Cautious When Making Decisions

Conscientious people plan for the future and are skilled in outweighing various pros and cons. As a result, they may err on the side of caution and prefer tried-and-true methods rather than spontaneous or impulsive plans. Some may perceive conscientious individuals as too “safe.”

Strong Sense of Duty

Conscientiousness comes with feeling loyal to responsibilities and people. At work, these people are dependable and consistent. They finish tasks on time, and coworkers may covet their dependability and intelligence. At home, they may be fiercely loyal to their loved ones, and they are always considering safety and well-being.

Highly Organized

People high in conscientiousness value building systems and processes. They enjoy metrics and often track progress in various domains. As a result, they come across as highly organized. For instance, they may like tasks others see as mundane, such as budgeting, making spreadsheets, counting calories, or making chore charts. They tend to thrive with to-do lists and shared calendars.

Self-Driven

Conscientiousness goes hand-in-hand with independence and ambition. Conscientious people are intrinsically motivated, and they do not need much external validation to achieve important goals. They do not fall behind on work or disappoint others, even if they are not always outwardly successful,

Independent & Self-Efficacious

Conscientiousness coincides with getting things done without requiring much direction or reminders. These people are skilled at teaching themselves new topics. While they may collaborate with others for feedback, they also have no problem relying on their own knowledge or resourcefulness. They may also enjoy sharing their insights with others.

Increased Empathy

Conscientiousness comes with reliability and dependability. These people value the time, space, and needs of others. As partners, they are loyal and considerate. They are supportive employees and invested in the well-being of coworkers. Finally, they tend to be good friends, as they are thoughtful and compassionate.

How Low Levels of Conscientiousness Looks

Some people will have low levels of conscientiousness because personality falls on a continuum. Low conscientiousness and disinhibition tend to have a negative influence on life and produce damaging effects on friends and family.

Low levels of conscientiousness correlate with impulsivity, poor decision-making skills, and selfishness. The person only seeks instant gratification rather than thinking things through and being concerned with others.³

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

Benefits of High Conscientiousness

Being a conscientious person can be a wonderful asset. Individuals low in conscientiousness may struggle with more impulse control, lax behavior, and carelessness (although these people may also have some excellent, redeeming traits!). Leaning into and honing your natural gifts can be helpful if you are a highly conscientious person.

Benefits of conscientiousness include:³

• Safer drivers: People with high conscientiousness levels are often safer drivers and involved in fewer accidents than others.
• Better salespeople: One study found those high in conscientiousness regularly achieved a higher volume of sales than their lower conscientious counterparts.
• Longer lives: Conscientious individuals may live longer than those low in these traits. This link may stem from their safe driving, careful consideration, focus on physical health, and other factors.
• Higher job satisfaction: Conscientious people may enjoy their professions more, as they are more likely to feel prepared, follow schedules, and produce better work.
• Better academic performance: Students high in conscientiousness value learning and studying. They are timely with their assignments and punctual when attending class.
• Increased income: Conscientiousness may coincide with frugality and being mindful of spending. These individuals may also have an affinity toward money-building habits, like budgeting and investing, and achieving career-related success.

What Causes Conscientiousness?

No one factor influences a conscientious personality type. Biological and early childhood experiences go a long way in shaping conscientiousness, but the personality trait is not static. For example, other facets can affect conscientiousness, including geological location, nationality, employment, and relationship status.

Possible causes and influences of high conscientiousness include:

• Parental involvement: Involved and affectionate parenting techniques during early developmental years correlate with higher levels of conscientiousness.
• Aging: Due to the effect of the “maturity principle,” people tend to increase their levels of conscientiousness throughout life. Based on this notion, most people grow more conscientious as they age.³
• Brain differences: Some research suggests brain differences in the cortex and prefrontal regions may affect levels of conscientiousness.³
• Location: People who live in cities and other more densely populated areas exhibit higher scores on conscientiousness measures. These findings could stem from increased competition for relationships, housing, and work that encourages increased mindfulness, awareness, and future orientation.⁴
• Medical issues: Conscientiousness rises when individuals focus on navigating life with a medical diagnosis.
• Starting a demanding role: A new job, getting married, or having a child can increase conscientiousness as the person adapts to their new roles.
• Leaving a negative relationship: Leaving a dysfunctional relationship can increase conscientiousness as individuals manage new challenges away from their ex-partners.

Potential Risks of Conscientiousness

Some may believe a person can never be too conscientious, but they would be incorrect. Many risks emerge from extreme conscientiousness, impacting all phases and areas of life.

Possible complications associated with extreme levels of conscientiousness include:^1,3

Failure to Act

Conscientious people take their time when making decisions. They may constantly weigh their options, leaving them in a perpetual standstill. They may miss the opportunity to experience positive life events because they hyperfocus on the details.

Demanding Relationships

Conscientious people expect a lot from themselves, but they also have high expectations for others. Overly conscientious individuals will judge coworkers, family members, friends, or romantic partners harshly, 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 stress for the conscientious individual. Chronic stress can result in numerous negative impacts on both mental and physical health.

Burnout

Being demanding, rigid, stressed, and preoccupied with every detail will eventually wear down resources. This high level of energy and investment is too challenging to maintain. Without healthy coping skills and alternative reserves, overly conscientious people will experience burnout, meaning functioning well in any area of life is nearly impossible.

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

Perfectionism

High levels of conscientiousness may cause people to struggle with perfectionism. They may become so preoccupied with getting something right they avoid starting altogether. Paradoxically, this behavior can lead to frustrating procrastination tendencies. Or, they might become highly self-critical when they make a mistake, which can cause a cycle of self-loathing and low self-esteem.

Underlying Mental Health Conditions

Conscientiousness may result from underlying mental health conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), and eating disorders. To the outside world, this individual may present well, but the need for order and control can significantly impact their emotional well-being. Without treatment, symptoms may worsen progressively over time.

How to Increase Conscientiousness

You can successfully boost the quantity and quality of conscientiousness when you set a goal and follow through.

Some effective ways to become more conscientious include:²

1. Find 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. Gather information about your baseline by studying your life. Do you lean more toward recklessness or perfectionism? Do you strive to be thoughtful?

During the process, consulting loved ones and trusted individuals about their perceptions of your personality can be helpful. They can offer valuable insight to support your journey.

2. Turn Big Plans into Small Goals

Of course, people would like to achieve an ideal level of conscientiousness. However, doing so takes time and effort. Rather than focusing on the larger, abstract concept of conscientiousness, define a few areas to target. For example, start by arriving at events on time, thinking before making decisions, or considering other viewpoints.

3. Stay Engaged in Your Relationships

A significant part of conscientiousness is socialization, so you should strive to maintain or increase your relationships. Conscientiousness grows when mutual trust, consideration, and respect provide the foundation for social interaction.

Practice open communication with your loved ones to understand how they view your role in the relationship. You are on the right track if they feel you are kind, fair, and considerate.

4. Get Organized

Start developing systems for yourself. Consider starting each day with a to-do list and writing down the non-negotiable tasks that need to get done. If you share responsibilities with other people, discuss how you can sync calendars to ensure everyone knows what events and items need to be factored into planning.

When possible, prioritize your most important work as soon as you can. Do not hesitate to delegate tasks that suck your emotional energy or logistical resources. Make specific spaces for everything and get in the habit of decluttering regularly at home. Adhere to a consistent cleaning schedule to keep things tidy.

5. Be Patient With Yourself

Developing conscientiousness takes time, and cultivating this skill can be difficult without regular practice. Patience is key. When you make mistakes or act impulsively, spend time reflecting on what happened. Instead of becoming critical, get curious. Think about how you might respond differently next time. Consider what you need to increase your chances of more success.

6. Limit Procrastination

Procrastination can be detrimental to building conscientiousness. However, consider that procrastination is rarely just laziness in action. Instead, this may be a response to anxiety and perfectionism. People who consistently procrastinate may see specific tasks as intolerable, and they are scared of wasting precious time or failing.

One of the best ways to beat procrastination is to break large tasks into small, manageable steps–even the smallest actions matter. Make a timeline that maps out the complete assignment. You can also enlist a trusted friend or therapist to help you stay accountable to your goal.

7. Create a Routine

Routines can benefit your emotional health, as they help you feel grounded in your day-to-day activities. You know what to expect—this can keep you moving when overwhelmed or scattered. Consider starting small by establishing one routine at a time (i.e., when you wake up, go to bed, or start your work day).

8. Seek Professional Help

Seeking professional help can be beneficial if you feel increasingly frustrated by your low conscientiousness. Despite popular claims, improving and enhancing parts of your personality is possible. Therapy can help you identify your goals and take the steps needed to achieve personal growth.

You must understand triggers that may stunt change and acquaint yourself with the motives for these changes. Finding the right therapist can take time, but focus on locating a provider with whom you are comfortable.

Final Thoughts

Conscientiousness builds throughout childhood and the entire lifespan. Regardless of how conscientious you are (or aren’t), being aware of your own strengths and weaknesses is important. The more you can harness your strengths and work on improving weaknesses, the happier and more balanced your life will likely feel.