Psychosocial development and the big five personality traits among Chinese university students

Abstract

This study explores how psychosocial development and personality traits are related. In particular, the study investigates the predictive power of the successful resolution of the Eriksonian psychosocial crises for the Big Five personality traits beyond age and gender. Four hundred university students in mainland China responded to the Measures of Psychosocial Development and to the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Results indicate that the successful resolution of particular Eriksonian crises reversely predicted neuroticism, but positively predicted extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. The amounts of these contributions went substantially beyond what was predicted by age and gender. Implications of the findings are discussed in relation to research and university education. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.