Comparison of Personality Factors among Successful and Unsuccessful Math Teachers2

The aim of this study was to determine the differences between the personality traits of successful and unsuccessful math teachers. This study was conducted with a comparative method. The study population included successful and unsuccessful math teachers in Tabriz. Therefore, 100 people were selected (50 subjects in each group) in the five education districts of Tabriz and completed the NEO-PI-R. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance. The results showed that the two groups were significantly different in the personality factors of extroversion, openness, agreeableness and consciousness. Successful teachers had a higher average than unsuccessful teachers and in the component of neuroticism, the average of this group was less than the unsuccessful teachers . Consequently, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and consciousness can lead teachers to be succeed through activity, assertiveness, altruism, good-heartedness, mental curiosity and independence, sociality, as well as conscientiousness. Neuroticism makes problems for teachers through anger, hostility ,and instability. Hence, during the process of selecting teachers, positive and negative personality traits should be considered