The article by Robert R. McCrae explores the social consequences of experiential openness, a dimension of personality that is often overlooked in social sciences. Openness to Experience is one of the five broad factors that encompass most personality traits, and it is typically seen as an intrapsychic dimension, reflecting characteristics of consciousness. However, McCrae argues that different approaches to and processing of experience lead to distinct value systems that significantly influence social interactions. The author reviews the effects of openness versus closedness in various social contexts, including cultural innovation, political ideology, social attitudes, marital choice, and interpersonal relations. He highlights that experiential openness has profound implications for a wide range of social behaviors and should be incorporated into research by social psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, and historians. McCrae discusses the intrapsychic and interpersonal aspects of openness, emphasizing how it affects internal experiences and interpersonal interactions. He provides examples, such as the case of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, to illustrate the social consequences of experiential openness, including the French Revolution. The article also examines the macrosocial influences of openness, such as cultural change, social attitudes, and political affiliation. It explores how open individuals tend to be more adventurous and innovative, while closed individuals prefer familiarity and simplicity. The author discusses the relationship between openness and political conservatism, noting that open individuals are more likely to hold liberal, progressive views. In the microsocial context, McCrae looks at how openness affects family dynamics, marital choice, and interpersonal interactions. He finds that couples tend to have congruent values, particularly in social attitudes, and that openness is the most significant factor in marital choice. Finally, the article considers the origins of openness, noting its genetic basis and stability over time. It concludes by advocating for the inclusion of openness in existing paradigms of social science research, emphasizing its broad relevance and importance in understanding social phenomena.The article by Robert R. McCrae explores the social consequences of experiential openness, a dimension of personality that is often overlooked in social sciences. Openness to Experience is one of the five broad factors that encompass most personality traits, and it is typically seen as an intrapsychic dimension, reflecting characteristics of consciousness. However, McCrae argues that different approaches to and processing of experience lead to distinct value systems that significantly influence social interactions. The author reviews the effects of openness versus closedness in various social contexts, including cultural innovation, political ideology, social attitudes, marital choice, and interpersonal relations. He highlights that experiential openness has profound implications for a wide range of social behaviors and should be incorporated into research by social psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, and historians. McCrae discusses the intrapsychic and interpersonal aspects of openness, emphasizing how it affects internal experiences and interpersonal interactions. He provides examples, such as the case of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, to illustrate the social consequences of experiential openness, including the French Revolution. The article also examines the macrosocial influences of openness, such as cultural change, social attitudes, and political affiliation. It explores how open individuals tend to be more adventurous and innovative, while closed individuals prefer familiarity and simplicity. The author discusses the relationship between openness and political conservatism, noting that open individuals are more likely to hold liberal, progressive views. In the microsocial context, McCrae looks at how openness affects family dynamics, marital choice, and interpersonal interactions. He finds that couples tend to have congruent values, particularly in social attitudes, and that openness is the most significant factor in marital choice. Finally, the article considers the origins of openness, noting its genetic basis and stability over time. It concludes by advocating for the inclusion of openness in existing paradigms of social science research, emphasizing its broad relevance and importance in understanding social phenomena.