Conformity vs. Openness to Experience

Openness to Experience is a major dimension of human personality that describes how we relate to new ideas, emotions, and experiences. It sits on a spectrum with two equally human tendencies at its ends.

At one pole is Conformity—a preference for the familiar, the predictable, and the socially established ways of doing things. At the other pole is Openness—a tendency to seek out novelty, explore alternative viewpoints, embrace emotional depth, and appreciate subtle beauty or complexity.

Most people fall somewhere between these extremes. Neither pole is “better” or “worse”; each has strengths and vulnerabilities. Conformity supports reliability, order, and social cohesion, while Openness fuels innovation, insight, and emotional richness. Understanding your own natural preferences helps  you explore ways to adapt when environments demand a different style.