What arriving early says about control, responsibility and stress: Psychology

There is always someone who reaches the airport hours before departure, arrives at a restaurant before the rest of the group or leaves home early enough to account for traffic, parking and an unexpected delay. While others are watching the clock, this person is already there, waiting.It is easy to describe such people as disciplined and organised. But arriving early can also reflect how a person approaches uncertainty, responsibility and the need to feel prepared. The reasons, however, are not the same for everyone. For some, punctuality is simply a useful habit; for others, it may help ease the discomfort of not knowing what could go wrong.Early arrival may reflect conscientiousnessOne psychological explanation for punctuality is conscientiousness, a personality trait associated with organisation, dependability and self-discipline.A 2006 study published in the Journal of Research in Personality examined the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and punctuality.