Neuroticism vs Conscientiousness as Success Drivers People driven principally...

Neuroticism vs Conscientiousness as Success Drivers

People driven principally by fear (trait neuroticism) are operating in a high-time preference, r-selected, prey animal, herd, and primitive thinking mode.

People with this mental mode are generally at the bottom of the social and success hierarchy, but when one of them does become financially successful, it can be huge. Think Steve Jobs.

The post I quoted is right about one thing: low testosterone increases the fear response. Highly neurotic people tend to have low T, high E, and high cortisol.

These kinds of people are never successful across the board—in money, in relationships, in family—because the extreme neuroticism that pushes them to strive for money is toxic to relationships, your health, and everything else that is good in life. Fear and neuroticism are antisocial traits when they are your prime drivers.

Compare this to people who prefer low-time, are K-selected, predatory, have a pack mentality, are socially sophisticated and driven by conscientiousness, and enjoy the thrill of chasing high-potential opportunities.

Conscientiousness-driven people are generally more successful in all aspects of their lives, especially if combined with low neuroticism and high openness.