Which trait refers to the tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily and includes emotional instability?

• A. Neuroticism
• B. Openness to experience
• C. Conscientiousness
• D. Extroversion

Answer: (A)

Neuroticism is the trait that captures the tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily and to be emotionally unstable. In the Big Five framework, it includes emotional reactivity, mood fluctuations, and vulnerability to stress, anxiety, sadness, and anger. People higher in neuroticism tend to react more strongly to stress and perceive situations as more threatening, while those lower in neuroticism tend to remain calmer and steadier under pressure. The other traits describe different aspects of personality: openness to experience involves imagination and curiosity; conscientiousness relates to organization and reliability; extroversion covers sociability and energy. So the trait described is neuroticism.