Research Feed

A curated collection of research papers, articles, and related news and media exploring the Big Five personality traits.

RESEARCH
Extraversion Openness Conscientiousness Neuroticism
“My Pet is More-Than-Animal to Me”: Personality Profiles in the Context of Attachment to Companion Animals
Magdalena Agnieszka Kotus · Zoophilologica. Polish Journal of Animal Studies · May 2026

Using cluster analysis with 426 Polish participants, Kotus identified three Big Five personality profiles predicting pet attachment. Cluster 1 (high extraversion, openness, emotional stability) showed lower attachment. Clusters 2 (high neuroticism, low extraversion/openness) and 3 (low openness, high conscientiousness, need for predictability) both showed stronger attachment, with animals serving compensatory social functions: particularly as human-relationship substitutes for Cluster 2 and stress-regulating companions for Cluster 3.