Emotional stability

How steady you stay under pressure, versus how strongly stress and mood shifts register.

Measured by the Big Five Personality test. Scores run from 0 to 100.

Low scores (under 40): Sensitive

Stress can stick and mood can swing for you. The other side is that you feel things strongly and pick up on risks and small changes in mood, which can make you thoughtful and prepared.

Balanced scores (40 to 60)

You are usually steady but not unshakable. Ordinary setbacks pass, while bigger pressures can rattle you for a while. Your reactions vary with sleep, load and context.

High scores (over 60): Calm

When things get tense, you are often the calming presence: you stay even under pressure and recover quickly from setbacks. Risks can get underestimated, though, and signs that others feel strained may slip past.

Related traits

• Openness
  How drawn you are to new ideas, imagination and unfamiliar experiences.
• Conscientiousness
  How much you plan, follow through and keep things in order.
• Extraversion
  How much you seek out company, activity and stimulation.
• Agreeableness
  How much you prioritize warmth, cooperation and other people's feelings.

Sources and method

The Big Five is one of the most widely studied academic models of personality. This test uses wording adapted from IPIP, a public-domain item pool of Big Five markers. It measures self-reported tendencies, so it reflects how you see yourself today, not a fixed label. Scores are rough, and no position on any dial is simply good or bad: each has strengths and costs depending on the situation.

Neither end of a dimension is better. Each comes with strengths and costs. For self-reflection and entertainment only.