The Big Five Openness trait and intelligence in education is a huge topic of discussion. As a general rule of thumb, intelligence (i.e. IQ) is linked to the Openness (O) trait in the Big Five.
It refers to the ease of making abstract connections, considering thought processes outside of the proverbial box, and being receptive to new ideas. Creativity, as a result, appears to link to the trait.
However, can creativity be taught or learned?
Conscientiousness (C) is the tendency to be time-sensitive, organized, and driven to meet deadlines. Through rigorous training and a period of stringent training routines, it’s certainly possible to go from grade-A (or is it grade-F?) couch potato to marathon runner.
“Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.”
– Ken Robinson, Educationalist
Creativity can be loosely defined as the ability to make abstract connections between disparate topics and produce a unique piece of artwork, or suggest a new framework for thinking. In a nutshell, a push to bring forth a spark of novelty into the ecosystem of ideas—tangible or intangible.
A Pedagogical Approach
Academic curriculums and schools have already started to implement measures to facilitate the development of Openness (O) in students. Terms like critical thinking, holistic learning, and cultural awareness get thrown around a lot in academia—especially prior to post-secondary education.
“Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.”
– Arthur Koestler, Hungarian-British Author & Journalist
Individualized curriculums and cloud-based learning provide students with a treasure cove of resources for self-discovery and development. Prior to embarking on post-secondary education, many schools offer a compulsory “careers” course where students figure out how to proceed in the professional sphere.
The effectiveness of allowing 16–18 year olds to self-access their personalities and strengths in the course of a few months remains questionable. Career direction is best considered as a long-term process, which could start as early as elementary school—the idea-to-idea “exploratory” stage.
Multiple Intelligences Theory
American psychologist Howard Gardner proposed a set of eight (8) distinct areas of intelligence (deemed as “modalities”), each with equal merit:
- Visual – Spatial
- Linguistic – Verbal
- Logical – Mathematical
- Bodily – Kinesthetic
- Musical
- Interpersonal
- Intrapersonal
- Naturalistic
- Existential
Higher levels of Openness (O) may potentially indicate more evenly-spread affinities for multiple areas of intelligence, however this view can be controversial. Will the Big Five trait be treated differently if the link is verified? Currently, Conscientiousness (C) takes the lead.
“We should spend less time ranking children and more time helping them to identify their natural competencies and gifts and cultivate these.
There are hundreds and hundreds of ways to succeed and many, many different abilities that will help you get there.”
– Howard Gardner, Developmental Psychologist
What Do IQ Tests Really Measure?
An individual’s IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a combination of:
- Arithmetic skills
- Vocabulary
- Spatial recognition
- Abstract thinking and reasoning
- General knowledge (g)
Numerous high IQ societies and organizations have been created to distinguish the “cognitive elite” of the world. There are merits and downsides to any niche group, and the label of being “intellectually gifted” can be a boost or detriment (perhaps even both) to one’s ego.
Standardized tests such as the Wonderlic (used mostly for military and hiring purposes) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children are becoming increasingly popular as teachers and educational board members continue to push for individualized curriculums.
The most commonly used Stanford-Binet (SB) Test, now in its fifth release, spans five categories:
- Fluid reasoning
- Quantitative reasoning
- Knowledge
- Visual-spatial processing
- Working memory
Final Thoughts: Education, Multiple Intelligences, and the Big Five Openness Trait
Both public and private schools tend to strongly emphasize the linguistic and logical-mathematical areas of intelligence—hence the promotion (and sometimes idealization) of STEM (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) careers. Proposals of adding an “A” to the mix, which stands for “Arts,” turns the acronym into STEAM.
“Education…has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading.”
– G. M. Trevelyan, British Historian & Academic
STEAM has been met with mixed support from educationalists, teachers, and students. To further the acronym, other educators have suggested a sixth addition, “R” for “wRiting,” which turns STEAM into STREAM—to encompass the elements of Gardiner’s multiple intelligences theory. Will we finally have more authors and screenwriters in the future?
Does formal schooling tend to hinder the development of Openness? The creativity and critical thinking levels of homeschooled children remains largely unstudied; a demographic of research interest. In the future, school curriculums will also teach soft skills such as communication, for students to become confident and self-actualized directors of their lives.
“The mind is not a vessel to be fueled, but a fire to be kindled.”
– Plutarch, Biographer and Philosopher
Overview: Big Five Openness Trait and Intelligence in Education
- Applications in pedagogy and education
- Multiple intelligences theory
- Intelligence quotient (IQ) test measurements
- Correlation between creativity and intelligence
References
Ata Aktürk, Aysun & Demircan, Ozlen. (2017). A Review of Studies on STEM and STEAM Education in Early Childhood. Journal of Kırşehir Education Faculty (JKEF). 18. 757-776.
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De Caroli, Maria & Sagone, Elisabetta. (2009). Creative thinking and Big Five factors of personality measured in Italian school children. Psychological Reports. 105. 791-803. https://doi.org/10.2466/PR0.105.3.791-803.
Lebuda, Izabela. (2015). The Big Five, the Huge Two, and Creative Self-Beliefs: A Meta-Analysis. Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts. 10. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000035.
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Shi, B., Dai, D. Y., & Lu, Y. (2016). Openness to Experience as a Moderator of the Relationship between Intelligence and Creative Thinking: A Study of Chinese Children in Urban and Rural Areas. Frontiers in psychology, 7, 641. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00641.
Stankov L. (2018). Low Correlations between Intelligence and Big Five Personality Traits: Need to Broaden the Domain of Personality. Journal of Intelligence, 6(2), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence6020026.
Simha, Aditya & Parboteeah, K.. (2019). The Big 5 Personality Traits and Willingness to Justify Unethical Behavior—A Cross-National Examination. Journal of Business Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04142-7.