Is Conscientiousness the Key to Environmental Responsibility and Work Place Compatibility?

The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard. —Gaylord Nelson (1916-2005), former governor of Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day

While cycling down a paved path that follows the curve of an ancient terrace formed by the Santa Clara River, I reflected on the CNBC article that explained why employers consider ‘conscientiousness’ the number one personality trait. The hum and vibration of my tires changed cadence when the slope and sandy debris increased. Glancing over my shoulder I checked on my Porter, a golden-retriever-hound-dog mix. His soft ears gently jiggled with the wind created by our descent; his paws were outstretched as we travelled faster than he could ever run.

Recent spring storms had eroded the hillside. As the scenery passed my brain flipped through topics connected to the visual cues: admiration of the clouds, lava rock used as riprap, sadness over hillsides transformed into misplaced terraces for suburban starter-castles. This brought my thoughts back to reflect on how we develop the conscientious personality trait from our infancy through adulthood.

Then as if summoned from the quantum gel where supposedly our thoughts become reality, I witnessed a conscientious moment in real-time. Two women were gathering assorted roadside trash that was scattered within a sheltering, narrow length of now rare, mesquite bosque.

“Thank you for picking up the trash!” I yelled, trying to project my voice higher than the circular rasp of rubber against asphalt that was being created by my bike, and passing cars. Here was an example of this number one personality trait in action.

How can we apply this valuable soft skill to all interactions and actions? Not only with one another, but also with the abiotic and biotic systems that we live within.

Conscientiousness seems to be a composite trait developed through education, empathy, self-reflection of actions and impacts to other individuals and biological systems, contentment and perhaps the most important, ‘reverence for life.’ What are your thoughts about this admirable trait and environmental advocacy?

References:

CNBC Make It:  The No. 1 personality trait employers always look for, from a workplace psychologist with 10+ years’ experience: It’s ‘universally valuable.’

Soutter ARB, Mõttus R. Big Five facets' associations with pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Personality. 2021; 89: 203–215. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12576

Taciano L. Milfont, Chris G. Sibley. "The big five personality traits and environmental engagement: Associations at the individual and societal level." Journal of Environmental Psychology. Volume 32, Issue 2, (2012) Pages 187–195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2011.12.006