Low Agreeableness – Pros, Cons & What It Looks Like

Agreeableness is a Big Five personality trait that has been of high interest among researchers for decades. While high agreeableness is commonly associated with characteristics widely viewed as positive, the same can’t be said for low agreeableness.

Nonetheless, disagreeableness does appear to have some benefits, particularly in a professional context.

So, what is low agreeableness? And what are the pros and cons of being disagreeable?

What is Low Agreeableness?

Those scoring low on agreeableness (disagreeable individuals) typically lack empathy, are more hostile and will often prioritize their own self-interests over the needs of others.

While an agreeable person is typically honest and cooperative, disagreeable people often manipulate and deceive and would sooner compete than cooperate.

Research indicates that low agreeability may pose professional, relational, and personal problems.

Low agreeability can manifest in different ways depending on the setting. Below are some scenarios you might see with low-agreeable children, adolescents, and adults.

Low Agreeableness in the Workplace

A disagreeable adult may play a part in conflict at work and struggle to get along with their peers. They might also be fiercely competitive, valuing winning over making friends.

Disagreeable individuals are more likely to engage in specific counterproductive work behaviors such as harming individuals and stealing, as well as bullying tactics. A disagreeable manager may be overly critical and condescending, not considering the welfare of employees.

It’s also been found that agreeable adults are less likely to lose their jobs than are low-agreeable adults.

And while agreeableness is related to better team performance, its relationship with individual-level performance is the weakest of all of the Big Five Personality Traits.

Disagreeableness in Relationships

Research has shown that high agreeableness in relationships is also a significant predictor of marital satisfaction, suggesting that those high in agreeableness are more likely to be happily married than disagreeable adults.

What’s more, a 52-nation cross-cultural study found that those scoring low on agreeability and conscientiousness were more likely to engage in infidelity and sexual risk-taking behaviors.

Disagreeableness in Adults

A study focusing on Big Five personality traits and their impact on parenting found low-agreeable adults to be less responsive to their children’s needs.

Agreeable parents also tended to have a warmer disposition and more structured parenting style than their disagreeable counterparts.

However, there are positives to being a disagreeable adult. Those scoring low on agreeableness may reach a higher occupational status and may also earn more annually. However, this effect was only found in males.

Low Agreeableness in Children and Adolescents

Children rating low on agreeableness typically demonstrate more aggressive, non-compliant behaviors and have poorer self-control, whereas high-agreeable children are less likely to be disobedient and struggle with concentration difficulties.

It’s also been found that agreeable adolescents may be more likely to compromise or avoid a topic that may cause conflict in interpersonal relationships.

In contrast, a low-agreeable adolescent may be more inclined to use conflictual resolution tactics, such as physical actions, threats, and undermining behaviors.

Mental Illnesses Associated with Disagreeability

The evidence suggests that when Big Five traits are present in extremes, this can indicate a mental disorder.

For example, being overly conscientious is often associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

But what about agreeableness?

Psychopathy

Interestingly, a 2005 study found that of all the Big Five Personality traits, low agreeableness was most strongly associated with three aspects of psychopathy:

• Selfishness
• Interpersonal manipulation
• Callousness

They also found that, in combination with high neuroticism and low conscientiousness, disagreeableness was related to impulsivity, social deviance, and instability, three further aspects of psychopathy.

Broader Personality Disorders

In addition, a 2004 meta-analysis highlights a significant negative relationship between disagreeableness and a range of personality disorders, including paranoid, schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, and narcissistic personality disorders.

ADHD

More recently, researchers have looked into the potential link between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and agreeableness.

The results suggested that, in conjunction with high neuroticism, low levels of agreeableness may be typical amongst adolescents displaying ADHD symptoms.

Therefore, the evidence suggests that those displaying low levels of agreeableness may be more at risk of various psychological conditions.

Disagreeableness: Closing Remarks

While agreeable adults are seen as polite and honest, disagreeable people are considered deceitful and manipulative. Low agreeableness doesn’t just pose problems professionally; it appears to affect relationships, parenting, and mental health, too.

But if your personality test is showing low agreeableness, don’t fret. You may achieve higher occupational status, lock in higher pay, and be inundated with personal successes.