Personality Traits of Mechanical Engineers: The Chamelon in a Dynamic World

Abstract

The personality of a person reveals thinking, feeling, and acts in specific ways by this individual. Personality of an individual is formed of the grouping characters and shapes that trigger their behaviours, opinions, inspiration, and emotions. Personality refers to enduring patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that distinguish an individual or group of professional. Personality traits of mechanical engineers are known characteristic that describe the uniqueness of mechanical engineering professional that enable adaptability in a rapidly changing world associated with technological advancement and human interactions. Therefore, this article focus on the basis of the personality psychology, engineering education and mind-set of mechanical engineers as well as professional practices of mechanical engineers in our dynamic world. Theories and models are developed by notable physiologist to analyse personality type as well as personality traits of individuals or group of professionals. The Big Five-Factor is employed to investigate the personality traits of mechanical engineers. This model explore conscientiousness, openness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism in relation to occupational performance of an individual. Metaphorically mechanical engineers exhibits features of a chameleon, capable of adopting to the environments and various situations by blending analytical rigor with flexibility, lifelong learning, and interpersonal competence. In addition, a case study that investigates the personality traits of 7,340 mechanical engineers by Big Five-Factor recorded high score in extraversion and lowest in agreeableness. Mechanical engineers excel beyond technical competencies and successful in all fields of endeavour and situations.