[Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/docs/editorial-process) Conscientiousness is a fundamental [personality](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/personality "Psychology Today looks at personality") trait—one of the [Big Five](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/big-5-personality-traits "Psychology Today looks at Big Five") —that reflects the tendency to be responsible, organized, hard-working, goal-directed, and to adhere to norms and rules. Like the other core personality factors, it has multiple facets; conscientiousness comprises self-control, industriousness, responsibility, and reliability. A conscientious person is good at [self-regulation](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/self-control "Psychology Today looks at self-regulation") and impulse control. This trait influences whether you will set and keep long-range [goals](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/motivation "Psychology Today looks at goals"), deliberate over choices, behave cautiously or impulsively, and take obligations to others seriously. (The other Big Five personality traits are [extraversion](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/extroversion "Psychology Today looks at extraversion"), [agreeableness](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/agreeableness "Psychology Today looks at agreeableness"), [openness](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/openness "Psychology Today looks at openness"), and [neuroticism](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/neuroticism "Psychology Today looks at neuroticism").) Conscientiousness is generally a key ingredient for success—in love as well as work. It's also a major predictor of health, well-being, and longevity. ## Understanding Conscientiousness  Conscientious people are proactive in making decisions big and small. For example, the conscientious don't just set [goals](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/motivation "Psychology Today looks at goals"), they set a timeline for meeting each goal. People with a conscientious [personality](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/personality "Psychology Today looks at personality") do well in jobs that require [attention](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/attention "Psychology Today looks at attention") to detail, such as surgeons and pilots; and it's no surprise that the conscientious are less likely to wind up behind bars. How does a conscientious person act? These people are not impulsive. [They are planners](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-gen-y-guide/201705/7-things-conscientious-people-will-never-do) and they abide by schedules. They also do not miss bill payments, they take notes, keep their promises, and show up on time. They engage in self-care through exercise, proper sleep, and a healthy [diet](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/diet "Psychology Today looks at diet"). They are less likely to engage in risky behaviors like [smoking](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/smoking "Psychology Today looks at smoking") and heavy drinking. How can you become more conscientious? One technique is mental contrasting, by which individuals imagine a goal, the [path to the goal](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/finding-new-home/201902/three-potential-ways-become-more-conscientious), and obstacles likely to be encountered along the way. Such a process can help people choose feasible goals and boost their commitment to achieving them. Both nature and nurture affect this personality trait, and people do become more conscientious as they age. Can you be conscientious about some things but not about others? Yes. By and large, [people behave consistently when the environment is consistent](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/articles/201409/would-tolstoy-pass-the-marshmallow-test), but the behavior might not translate across domains. The degree of conscientiousness we bring to a task at our job does not predict how conscientious we'll be about bill paying or other personal matters. It is predictive of how conscientious we'll continue to be in work-related endeavors. Are the conscientious more [empathic](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/empathy "Psychology Today looks at empathic")? The conscientiousness among us may well be more empathic toward others. A [Chinese study](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1471595318302233#!) of 471 nurses found that empathy was positively associated with conscientiousness and [agreeableness](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/agreeableness "Psychology Today looks at agreeableness"), while it was negatively associated with [neuroticism](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/neuroticism "Psychology Today looks at neuroticism"). Is conscientiousness genetic? Studies in [behavioral genetics](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/genetics "Psychology Today looks at behavioral genetics") have shown that this trait is about half attributable to genetics, and half to [the environment](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/environment "Psychology Today looks at the environment") in which someone is raised, or to developmental factors that are not presently understood. Anatomically, the prefrontal cortex, site of all [executive function](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/executive-function "Psychology Today looks at executive function"), is critical in managing behavior that reflects conscientiousness. Can you be too conscientious? A person can be too diligent and dedicated, which can result in [burnout](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/prescriptions-life/201809/hard-working-and-conscientious-watch-out-the-dark-side). In physicians, a profession where conscientiousness can be highly useful, the rate of [burnout](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/burnout "Psychology Today looks at burnout") is estimated at about 50 percent. ## The Link Between Conscientiousness and Success  Conscientious individuals tend to be high achievers in academics and in professional life. On the job, along with high [productivity](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/productivity "Psychology Today looks at productivity"), they garner higher earnings, good relationships, work satisfaction, and achievement. In addition, the conscientious tend to land more [leadership](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/leadership "Psychology Today looks at leadership") positions. Do conscientious people persevere more than others? Diligent and thorough people will stick to a problem until it is solved. If they fail, they will keep trying. They are not necessarily smarter than anyone else in the room, nor will they execute a task better than others. They will, however, [plug away](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-gen-y-guide/201705/7-things-conscientious-people-will-never-do) toward a successful resolution. Are conscientious people more rule-abiding? People high in conscientiousness do abide by certain rules of living. They are, for example, more likely to drive at the speed limit and take responsibility for problems that come up. This also applies to relationships and the obligations that come with them. Are conscientious people more punctual and prepared? The less conscientious may oversleep, and be late for class or work and avoid tasks that demand action.But being on time is an important [trait of the conscientious](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-gen-y-guide/201705/7-things-conscientious-people-will-never-do) person. They keep To-Do lists, are usually prepared, attend to tasks without delay, and prefer orderly routine. They are avid note takers and they write first drafts. Are conscientious people healthier? Research has found that conscientiousness may mean lower blood pressure, lower rates of diabetes and stroke, fewer joint problems, among other [health outcomes](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/03/personality-health). In general, the conscientious person maintains self-care to a higher degree and enjoys a longer life, as well. What is the link with [perfectionism](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/perfectionism "Psychology Today looks at perfectionism")? People at the higher end of the conscientious scale may be at risk of [perfectionism and workaholism](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/prescriptions-life/201809/hard-working-and-conscientious-watch-out-the-dark-side) and may fare poorly under conditions of high [stress](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/stress "Psychology Today looks at stress"). As mentioned, overly conscientious people are prone to burnout. Those low in conscientiousness may conversely exhibit flexibility and spontaneity. Are conscientious people happier? If you feel a greater sense of agency in your life, or that you have control over things that happen, you have an internal [locus of control](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/locus-control). And the things and situations that happen are directly influenced by your skills, abilities, and actions you have taken. People [high in conscientiousness](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-gen-y-guide/201705/7-things-conscientious-people-will-never-do) have such an internal [locus of control](https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/locus-of-control "Psychology Today looks at locus of control").