About The Big Five
History and Vision
BigFivePersonalityTest.com strives to be the internet’s premier destination for research and innovative thinking in personality development and career advancement. We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of what works professionally and personally for you and your family. The Big Five Personality Test is central to our mission, offering insights and guidance to help navigate both personal growth and professional trajectories.
The Big Five Personality Test, also known as the Five-Factor Model, embarked on its journey in the 1940s and 1950s through the diligent work of several independent researchers. These pioneers were on a quest to categorize the endless ways in which personality traits could be described. It was a colossal task, akin to finding the most essential colors in an infinite spectrum.
By the 1960s and 1970s, two research teams led by Paul Costa and Robert McCrae, and Warren Norman, distilled these traits into five broad dimensions now famously known as Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (OCEAN). This breakthrough provided a universal framework for understanding personality, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers.
Over the decades, the Big Five Personality Test has been refined through global research, becoming a trusted tool for personal growth, career planning, and enhancing interpersonal relationships. With thousands of research papers dedicated to exploring its facets and millions of people having taken the test, it stands today not just as a testament to the complexity of human nature, but as a beacon guiding individuals on their path to self-discovery and understanding.
About Darren Free, M.Ed.
CEO / Research Scientist
Darren Free M.Ed., is a worldwide expert in the psychology of personality, AI coaching and human transformation.
A researcher, psychological educator, author, former psychologist and psychotherapist, Darren obtained his master’s degree in education with a specialization in counselling psychology, a graduate diploma in Human Relations and Family Life Education, and a B.A. in Psychology.
For nearly three decades, Darren has passionately explored numerous facets of psychology, personality, mindfulness and, behavioural neuroscience. He focuses on real world application of science and behavoural principles.
Darren Free is also a software designer, who specializes in integrating Artifical Intelligence (AI) with online personality testing software.