Openness and other Big Five traits in relation to dispositional mixed emotions

Abstract

Despite accumulating evidence for concurrent feelings of positivity and negativity (e.g., simultaneous happiness and sadness), little is known about individual differences in these mixed emotions experiences. We examined relations between a novel measure of dispositional mixed emotions (the Trait Mixed Emotions Scale; TMES) and the Big Five trait domains and aspects. We derived two a-priori predictions: (1) Openness/Intellect—reflecting cognitive flexibility and exploration—would predict the TMES, and (2) Extraversion and Neuroticism—reflecting susceptibility to positive and negative emotions, respectively—would jointly predict the TMES. Results showed that two measures of the Openness aspec..