Conscientiousness is the
personality trait of being , , or . Conscientiousness implies a desire to do a task well. Conscientious people are
efficient and
organized as opposed to
easy-going and . They exhibit a tendency to show
self-discipline, act
dutifully, and
aim for achievement; they display
planned rather than spontaneous behavior; and they are generally
organized and
dependable. It is manifested in characteristic behaviors such as being
neat and ; also including such elements as , , and (the tendency to think carefully before acting.) Conscientiousness is one of the five traits of the
Five Factor Model of personality and is an aspect of what has traditionally been referred to as having
character. Conscientious individuals are generally and . They are also likely to be
conformists. When taken to an extreme, they may also be "
workaholics",
perfectionists, and
compulsive in their behavior. People who score low on conscientiousness tend to be laid back, less goal-oriented, and less driven by success; they also are more likely to engage in
antisocial and
criminal behavior.