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While most of us intuitively believe that our assessment of our lives is largely objective and a direct result of what has been happening to us, it's clear that subjective perceptions of objective events play a significant role in shaping the ultimate emotional experience of those events. This highlights the importantly interplay between personality traits and life satisfaction, raising questions about how much flexibility we have to change, reinterpret events, and see things differently to enhance well-being. Professor Dr. Rene Mõttus joins us for a discussion of his recent paper, "Most People’s Life Satisfaction Matches Their Personality Traits." In this discussion, we explore:
- why the Big Five stands out as a widely accepted and utilized model of personality.
- an overview of the Big Five model.
- exploring the relationship between personality traits and life satisfaction, and its importance due to its implications for psychological well-being.
- the methodology employed in the study and the challenges involved in clearly defining core concepts such as "life satisfaction" to ensure measurable and reliable outcomes.
- the particular traits that serving as stronger predictors of well-being.
- Personality traits that exhibit varying degrees of stability over the lifespan, and changes in these traits can affect life satisfaction as people age.
- how extraversion and neuroticism play a pivotal role in determining life satisfaction.
- moderating factors, such as life events and cultural contexts.
- the surprising correlations between specific personality traits and life satisfaction, challenging conventional wisdom in the field.
- applying these findings in clinical practice to enhance well-being, such as guiding therapists in working with clients and understanding the potential for change and effect sizes.
Dr. René Mõttus is a personality psychologist whose research delves into the intricacies of human individuality, encompassing personality measurement, development, and the interplay between personality traits and well-being. Dr. Mõttus earned his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Tartu in 2009. His doctoral research focused on the universal and specific aspects of personality traits across various representations. In 2010, he joined the University of Edinburgh as a postdoctoral researcher. His academic trajectory at Edinburgh includes appointments as a lecturer in 2013, reader in 2019, and professor in 2024. Since 2023, Dr. Mõttus has also served as a professor of psychology at the University of Tartu, contributing to the academic community in his home country. Beyond his teaching and research roles, Dr. Mõttus is the Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Personality, where he oversees the publication of cutting-edge research in personality psychology. He co-hosts the Personality Psychology Podcast, engaging audiences in discussions on the latest developments in the field. Additionally, he authors the blog "People Unexplained" on Psychology Today, exploring various facets of human behavior and personality.
Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/people-unexplained
