Vulnerability, which is the sixth aspect of neuroticism, measures individual differences in the tendency to feel incapable of dealing with difficult, problematic, and stressful situations.
People with high scores on this scale tend to believe they are less capable of handling difficult, problematic, and stressful situations. When they find themselves in emergencies or stressful situations, they may become overwhelmed by negative emotions such as anxiety or fear, and possibly 'panic.'
People with low scores tend to feel capable of handling difficult and stressful situations, and are able to maintain control in such situations.
An individual with high Vulnerability may be prone to panic and become anxious when faced with a sudden incident, such as a car accident.
A person with low Vulnerability may remain calm and handle a stressful situation, such as a medical emergency, effectively without being overwhelmed by anxiety.
An employee who struggles to cope with stress at work and is often overwhelmed by negative emotions such as fear and frustration may exhibit a high level of Vulnerability.
An individual who generally feels confident and in control when faced with stressful professional challenges may exhibit a low level of Vulnerability.