Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Intelligence01:27

Intelligence

8.4K
The term "intelligence" is complex because it refers to both behavior and individuals, and its interpretation varies across cultures. European Americans tend to link intelligence with reasoning and cognitive skills, while in Kenya, it is tied to responsible participation in family and social life. In Uganda, intelligence is seen as the ability to know the right actions and carry them out effectively, while the Iatmul people of Papua New Guinea associate it with the capacity to remember...
8.4K
Multiple Intelligences Theory01:20

Multiple Intelligences Theory

8.7K
Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligence proposes that there are nine distinct types of intelligence, each reflecting different ways of interacting with the world. Introduced in 1983 and expanded in subsequent years, Gardner's framework challenges the traditional notion of a single, generalized intelligence.
8.7K
Triarchic Theory of Intelligence01:24

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

9.8K
Robert Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence posits that intelligence is composed of three distinct but interrelated components: analytical, creative, and practical intelligence.
9.8K
Personal Identity01:25

Personal Identity

295
Personal identity is the deeply felt sense of self that individuals cultivate over time, intricately woven from intrinsic qualities they consider essential to their existence—qualities such as morality, intelligence, and friendliness. These attributes serve as vital internal benchmarks, guiding individuals in evaluating whether their actions resonate with their true selves.When personal identity takes center stage in one's life, individuals often emphasize their distinctiveness,...
295
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

868
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
868
Intellectual Disability01:29

Intellectual Disability

618
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
618

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Personality trait change in three sub-Saharan countries: Normative development and life events.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2025
Same author

Highlighting Personality and Social Psychological Theories From Majority World Contexts: Introduction to the Special Issue.

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2025
Same author

Ubuntu in Namibia and Kenya: How Emerging Adults Live an Essential African Value Today.

Journal of cross-cultural psychology·2025
Same author

Comparison of the multivariate genetic architecture of eight major psychiatric disorders across sex.

Nature genetics·2025
Same author

Becoming an Ovambo Adult: Growing Into Agentic Communalism in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Psychological science·2025
Same author

The cross-cultural big two: A culturally decentered theoretical and measurement model for personality traits.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2024
Same journal

The Cultural Diversity Climate "Big Five" in Schools: Dimensions, Facets, and a Future Research Agenda.

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2026
Same journal

Speaking the Public's Love Language: How Engaging with Lay Theories Can Build a Rigorous and Resonant Science of Relationships.

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2026
Same journal

Masculinity Threat in Heterosexual Men: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Experimental Research with Recommendations for Future Theory Building and Research Practice.

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2026
Same journal

Socially Minded Intelligence: How Individuals, Groups, and Artificial Intelligence Can Make Each Other Smarter (or Not).

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2026
Same journal

Intelligent Systems, Vulnerable Minds: A Framework for Radicalization to Violence in the Age of AI.

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2026
Same journal

Valence Asymmetry in Cognition-A Formal Account.

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Problem-Solving Before Instruction PS-I: A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
10:26

Problem-Solving Before Instruction PS-I: A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities

Published on: September 11, 2021

4.4K

Openness/Intellect: A Unique Trait Requires Unique Considerations.

Ted Schwaba1, Amber Gayle Thalmayer2,3

  • 1Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.

Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc
|November 7, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Openness/intellect is a unique personality trait, rarely targeted for change and less culturally portable than others. Understanding its distinctiveness is key for future research on individual differences.

Keywords:
culture/ethnicityintellectopenness to experiencepersonality structure

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Innovations in iTUG Test for Enhanced Risk Assessment and Cognitive Insights
05:26

Author Spotlight: Innovations in iTUG Test for Enhanced Risk Assessment and Cognitive Insights

Published on: October 25, 2024

1.7K
Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age
15:00

Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age

Published on: May 1, 2020

8.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Problem-Solving Before Instruction PS-I: A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
10:26

Problem-Solving Before Instruction PS-I: A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities

Published on: September 11, 2021

4.4K
Author Spotlight: Innovations in iTUG Test for Enhanced Risk Assessment and Cognitive Insights
05:26

Author Spotlight: Innovations in iTUG Test for Enhanced Risk Assessment and Cognitive Insights

Published on: October 25, 2024

1.7K
Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age
15:00

Assessing Dyslexia at Six Year of Age

Published on: May 1, 2020

8.8K

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Personality Science
  • Cross-Cultural Psychology

Background:

  • Openness/intellect, a Big Few personality trait, describes imaginative, knowledgeable, and creative individuals.
  • This trait possesses a unique history with unresolved controversies influencing its interpretation.
  • It stands apart from other broad personality traits in several key research areas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the unique characteristics of openness/intellect compared to other Big Few personality traits.
  • To investigate the trait's historical context, research associations, and cross-cultural portability.
  • To develop theoretical explanations for the observed uniqueness of openness/intellect.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesized etic (imported) and emic (local) cross-cultural evidence.
  • Reviewed trait associations with outcomes, relevance to mental health, and volitional change.
  • Examined historical interpretations and controversies surrounding openness/intellect.

Main Results:

  • Openness/intellect is rarely a target for volitional change and often shows moderated associations with outcomes.
  • The trait appears less cross-culturally portable, with relevance potentially modified by cultural factors like individualism and looseness.
  • While some components vary culturally, core indicators like wisdom show universal presence.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the unique qualities of openness/intellect is crucial for interpreting existing findings.
  • Future research should focus on the trait's distinctiveness to expand our understanding of individual differences.
  • Theories explaining its uniqueness can guide future research on how, why, and among whom openness/intellect differences are significant.