How do you see your personality as being "open" or "closed"?

Being "open" is usually framed as superior to being "closed”, but are there times when being less open would work better?

Our openness might be a high tolerance for ambiguity, but this can lead to becoming stuck in indecision, or being lax with standards. Having strong convictions is often socially praised, but can also be considered an example of closed-mindedness.

We are usually open in some areas but closed in others.

“Open-mindedness” describes whether we are willing to change our beliefs. Our beliefs encompass a wide spectrum of how humans make sense of themselves and the world. What do we believe about ourselves? What do we believe about others? What do we value? Do we think others need to value the same things? How do we view the world? How do we live life? Are multiple approaches to life valid?

Open-mindedness is different from being open toward experiences, aesthetics, ideas, learning, imagination, and novelty.

• Someone can love travel, experimental jazz, and surreal films AND be extremely rigid in their ideology.
• Someone can prefer familiar routines AND be open to carefully considering new information that changes their beliefs.
• Someone can be creative and expressive AND have fixed ideas on how people “should” live their lives.

Openness often brings flexibility, while closed-ness often brings stability and efficiency. Do different personality types resolve this tension in unique ways? Is openness a trait or a skill? Join us to discuss!