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Openness To Experience Scale

For some people, it is in their DNA to be curious, push boundaries, and explore the unknown. Are you one of these people? Find out below.

Mark Travers, Ph.D.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D.

November 5, 2023

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, responsible for new client intake and placement. Mark received his B.A. in psychology, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. His academic research has been published in leading psychology journals and has been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker, among other popular publications. He is a regular contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today, where he writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning. Click here to schedule an initial consultation with Mark or another member of the Awake Therapy team. Or, you can drop him a note here.

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The Big Five Personality Test is a widely used psychological tool that measures an individual's personality based on five key dimensions: openness to experiences, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, collectively known as the OCEAN model. Among these dimensions, openness to experience stands out as a captivating and complex trait that delves into one's receptivity to novel ideas, creativity, and aesthetic appreciation. This dimension assesses the willingness of individuals to explore new concepts, engage in imaginative thinking, and embrace unconventional experiences.

People high in openness tend to be curious, open-minded, and adventurous, while those with lower scores may lean towards tradition, routine, and a preference for the familiar.

To gauge your own level of openness, you can take this test here. Follow all of the steps to receive your results.

References: McCrae, R. R., & John, O. P. (1992). An introduction to the five‐factor model and its applications. Journal of personality, 60(2), 175-215.

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. I have many artistic interests.

2. I am curious about lots of different topics and subjects.

3. I am inventive.

4. I have a knack for finding clever ways to do things.

5. I am fascinated by art, music, and/or literature.

6. I have lots of creative energy.

7. I am always coming up with new ideas.

8. I seek out intellectual and philosophical conversations.

9. I have a deep appreciation for art and beauty.

10. I like to think outside of conventions and tradition.

0 of 0 questions answered

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores with people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.