Eroding conscientiousness

Let’s define terms.

Conscientious - the quality of wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly (Google).

Neurosis - a mental condition that is not caused by organic disease, involving symptoms of stress (depression, anxiety, obsessive behaviour, hypochondria) but not a radical loss of touch with reality (Google).

Agreeableness - a personality trait characterized by kindness, empathy, and a willingness to cooperate with others (Google).

Extroversion - a personality trait characterized by a focus on the external world and social interaction (Google).

We are seeing a dramatic shift in the personality of young people towards neuroticism and away from conscientiousness, agreeableness, and extroversion. Studies are now using big words to describe a movement many of us already feel deeply: all people are moving steadily, or in some cases quickly, into anxiety and isolation and away from group work and community.

Things like social media and artificial intelligence make our world better in many ways. Yet, we are reminded once again that the defining feature of our time is both a blessing and a curse.

We all are able to see the great things technology does for us, while we often overlook what it is doing to us.

The current concern with this data, from my perspective, is the destruction of relationships. People know their phone much better than they know one another. I just hosted my class 10 year reunion (yes, I am that old). Many people refused to come because they had not talked to a single classmate since graduating. Maybe that is an irrelevant connection as no one is required to keep those types of connections. I myself have not done the best staying connected. But it did leave me wondering how many of my old classmates have real connections to anyone at all? Not because I am judging, but because I genuinely do not want anyone to feel lonely.

Is it all bad?

No. I think that this shift away from conscientiousness is in large part due to the rapid shift that is happening in the world of technology which is shifting how we relate to people and to our technology. To become less conscientious is to gain flexibility and spontaneity, which are absolutely necessary to stay on track with technology and will need to dominate our personality going forward.

Think about it. We have no idea just how big or how fast AI is going to move and grow. But, what the foremost experts believe is that most jobs will be replaced by AI in the next generation. You are going to be forced to be flexible and adapt to technology, or get run over. High conscientious folks have a hard time adapting.

I also think that AI will push into an artificial type of personhood. Though many will grow stunted in their ability to relate to others, they will flourish in their relationship with their AI agent. Some people are already trying to marry their AI companion!

That said, I also believe that human nature corrects itself and we will soon push back into community. People seem to be realizing that the shift towards isolationism is unhealthy and has been happening without us recognizing.

This shift is already happening, with religion, especially Christianity, being a beneficiary.

This is not a dystopian situation, but a real shift in relationships. Praying we are better for it.

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