Openness to Experience: The Creative Mind Explained
What Is Openness to Experience?
Openness to Experience is one of the five core dimensions in the Big Five personality model. It captures the breadth, depth, and originality of a person's mental life — how much you seek out new ideas, experiences, and sensations.
People high in Openness tend to be intellectually curious, aesthetically sensitive, and imaginative. They enjoy exploring abstract concepts, appreciate art and beauty, and are drawn to novelty. People low in Openness prefer the familiar, value practicality, and tend toward conventional thinking.
The Six Facets of Openness
Openness isn't a single trait — it breaks down into six facets:
1. Imagination (Fantasy)
The tendency to create vivid mental imagery and rich inner worlds. High scorers are daydreamers and storytellers. Low scorers focus on the here and now.
2. Artistic Interests (Aesthetics)
Sensitivity to beauty in art, nature, and music. High scorers are moved by poetry, visual art, and design. Low scorers are less interested in the arts.
3. Emotionality (Feelings)
Awareness and receptivity to your own emotions. High scorers have deep emotional experiences and value emotional insight. Low scorers are more emotionally reserved.
4. Adventurousness (Actions)
Willingness to try new activities and visit unfamiliar places. High scorers love travel and new cuisines. Low scorers prefer familiar routines.
5. Intellect (Ideas)
Love of intellectual challenge, philosophical discussion, and abstract thinking. High scorers enjoy debating ideas and solving puzzles. Low scorers prefer concrete, practical problems.
6. Liberalism (Values)
Readiness to question authority and conventional values. High scorers challenge tradition and embrace change. Low scorers respect established norms.
Openness and Career Fit
Your Openness score has real implications for career satisfaction:
High Openness careers: writer, artist, researcher, UX designer, entrepreneur, psychologist, philosopher, filmmaker, architect, musician
Low Openness careers: accountant, logistics manager, systems administrator, quality inspector, financial analyst, compliance officer
The key insight: high-Openness individuals thrive in roles that reward creativity, exploration, and independent thinking. Low-Openness individuals excel in structured environments where consistency and attention to detail are valued.
Can You Change Your Openness?
Research suggests that personality traits are relatively stable in adulthood, but not fixed. Openness tends to peak in young adulthood and gradually decline with age. However, deliberate exposure to new experiences — travel, learning new skills, engaging with different cultures — can help maintain or even increase Openness over time.
Discover Your Openness Score
Take our free Big Five personality test to find out exactly where you fall on the Openness spectrum, including all six facets.