Do the Big-Five Personality Traits Predict Empathic Listening and Assertive Communication?

Abstract

As personality traits can influence important social outcomes, the current research investigated whether the Big-Five had predictive influences on communication competences of active-empathic listening (AEL) and assertiveness. A sample of 245 adults of various ages completed the self-report scales. Both Agreeableness and Openness uniquely predicted AEL. Extraversion had the biggest influence on assertiveness but did not uniquely explain AEL variance. Conscientiousness and Neuroticism had small predictive influences on assertiveness. Further investigation into the pathways linking Big-Five facets to the different components of these communication competences is proposed and practical implications including understanding personality traits for successful leadership is discussed.

Notes

¹ It was decided that where a participant had not rated an item, the total score for that scale or subscale would not be calculated. Therefore, the total number of participants varied slightly between scales and subscales (extraversion = 233; agreeableness = 238; conscientiousness = 238; openness = 234; neuroticism = 234; Rathus Assertiveness scale = 205; AELS total = 218; AELS sensing = 222; AELS processing = 239; AELS responding = 237