ROY G. BIV and the OCEAN: A Heuristic Metaphor for Understanding the Role of the Five-Factor Model in Personality Research

The five-factor model has ascended to a dominant position within the field of personality research over the last two decades. In this paper, I present a framework for understanding the `truth value' of the five-factor model by comparing the role of the five-factor model in personality theory with the role of the ROY G. BIV scheme for organizing the color spectrum. The philosophical assumptions and critiques of the five-factor model are examined in light of this comparison. The result is a heuristic metaphor that maintains the integrity of the work of the big five theorists while also acknowledging the valid criticisms offered by thoughtful critics.