Fun and Fascinating Facts About Human Personality
By Kendra Cherry, About.com Guide
Personality makes us who we are. It influences nearly every aspect of our lives, from what we choose to do for a living to how we interact with our families to our choices of friends and romantic partners. But what factors influence our personality? Can we change our personalities, or do our overall traits remain constant throughout life?
Learn more about what researchers have learned in these ten fascinating facts about personality.
1. Birth Order Can Influence Your Personality
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You've probably heard of this concept before. First born children are often described as "bossy" or "responsible," while last-born children are sometimes described as "irresponsible" and "impulsive." But how true are these common stereotypes?
For decades, pop psychology books touted the effects of
birth order on personality, but hard evidence on the
phenomenon remained elusive until recently. A few recent
empirical studies have found that such things as birth order
and family size may indeed have an impact on personality.
One study even found that birth order can influence your
choices of friends and romantic partners; first-borns tend to
associate with other first-borns, middle-borns with other
middle-borns and last-borns with last-borns.
birth order on personality, but hard evidence on the
phenomenon remained elusive until recently. A few recent
empirical studies have found that such things as birth order
and family size may indeed have an impact on personality.
One study even found that birth order can influence your
choices of friends and romantic partners; first-borns tend to
associate with other first-borns, middle-borns with other
middle-borns and last-borns with last-borns.
Photo by Sharon Dominick / iStockPhoto
In long-term studies of personality, some of the most core
parts of personality remain stable throughout life. Three
aspects that do tend to change as we age are anxiety
levels, friendliness and eagerness for novel experiences.
parts of personality remain stable throughout life. Three
aspects that do tend to change as we age are anxiety
levels, friendliness and eagerness for novel experiences.
According to researcher Paul T. Costa Jr., there is no
evidence our overall personalities change as we grow older.
"What changes as you go through life are your roles and the
issues that matter most to you. People may think their
personality has changed as they age, but it is their habits
that change, their vigor and health, their responsibilities
and circumstances - not their basic personality," he
suggested in a New York Times article.
evidence our overall personalities change as we grow older.
"What changes as you go through life are your roles and the
issues that matter most to you. People may think their
personality has changed as they age, but it is their habits
that change, their vigor and health, their responsibilities
and circumstances - not their basic personality," he
suggested in a New York Times article.
3. Personality Traits Are Linked to Certain Illnesses
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In the past, a number of different personality traits have
been suspected of contributing to particular illnesses. For
example, hostility and aggression were often linked to
heart disease. The difficulty was that while some studies
would reveal a link, other studies demonstrated no such
connection.
been suspected of contributing to particular illnesses. For
example, hostility and aggression were often linked to
heart disease. The difficulty was that while some studies
would reveal a link, other studies demonstrated no such
connection.
Recently, researchers have used a statistical technique
known as meta-analysis to reevaluate previous research on
the connection between personality and disease. What they
discovered were some previously unnoticed connections
between neurotic personality traits and five illnesses;
headaches, asthma, arthritis, peptic ulcers and heart
disease.
known as meta-analysis to reevaluate previous research on
the connection between personality and disease. What they
discovered were some previously unnoticed connections
between neurotic personality traits and five illnesses;
headaches, asthma, arthritis, peptic ulcers and heart
disease.
Another study suggested that shyness might be linked to a
shorter lifespan.
shorter lifespan.
4. Animals Have Distinctive Personalities
Photo by Karin Schopke
Does it ever seem like your beloved pet has a personality that makes him utterly unique? Animal researchers have found animals from nearly every species of animal (from spiders to birds to elephants) have their own personalities with preferences, behaviors and quirks that persist throughout life.
While some critics suggest that this represents anthropomorphism, or ascribing human traits to animals, animal personality researchers have been able to identify consistent behavioral patterns that can be empirically measured and tested.
5. Current Research Suggests that there are Five Core Personality Traits
In the past, researchers have debated exactly how many
personality traits exist. Early researchers such as Allport
suggested that there were as many as 4,000 distinct
personality traits, while others such as Raymond Cattell
proposed that there were 16. Today, many personality
researchers support the five-factor theory of personality,
which describes five broad personality dimensions that
compose human personality:
personality traits exist. Early researchers such as Allport
suggested that there were as many as 4,000 distinct
personality traits, while others such as Raymond Cattell
proposed that there were 16. Today, many personality
researchers support the five-factor theory of personality,
which describes five broad personality dimensions that
compose human personality:
- Extraversion
- Agreeableness
- Conscientiousness
- Neuroticism
- Openness
6. Personality Influences Personal Preferences
Photo by Sanja Gjenero
It may come as no shock to learn that your personality can have a profound effect on your personal preferences, but you just might be surprised by how far reaching these effects may be. From your choice of friends to your taste in music, your unique personality can influence nearly every choice you make in your daily life.
For example, while you might pride yourself on carefully considering the issues before choosing a candidate to support, research suggests that personality may play a strong role in political preferences. One study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto found that individuals who identified themselves as conservatives were higher in a personality trait called orderliness, while those who self-identified as liberal were higher in empathy.
Researchers suggest that these underlying personality needs to either preserve order or express empathy can have a strong influence on political preferences.
7. People Can Accurately Judge Your Personality Based on Your Facebook Profile
Screenshot
When you think about people's online identities, you might
imagine that most people try to present an idealized
version of their real selves. After all, in most online
situations you get to pick and choose the information you
want to reveal. You get to select the most attractive
photos of yourself to post and you can edit and revise your
comments before you make them. Surprisingly, one study
discovered that Facebook profiles are actually quite good at
conveying your realpersonality.
imagine that most people try to present an idealized
version of their real selves. After all, in most online
situations you get to pick and choose the information you
want to reveal. You get to select the most attractive
photos of yourself to post and you can edit and revise your
comments before you make them. Surprisingly, one study
discovered that Facebook profiles are actually quite good at
conveying your realpersonality.
In the study, researchers looked at the online profiles of
236 U.S. college-aged individuals. The participants also
filled out questionnaires designed to measure personality
traits including extroversion, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness. Observers
then rated the personalities of the participants based on
the online profiles, and these observations were compared
to the results of the personality questionnaires. The
researchers found that observers were able to get an
accurate read on a person's personality based on their
Facebook profile.
236 U.S. college-aged individuals. The participants also
filled out questionnaires designed to measure personality
traits including extroversion, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness. Observers
then rated the personalities of the participants based on
the online profiles, and these observations were compared
to the results of the personality questionnaires. The
researchers found that observers were able to get an
accurate read on a person's personality based on their
Facebook profile.
"I think that being able to express personality accurately
contributes to the popularity of online social networks in
two ways," explained psychologist and lead author Sam
Gosling. "First, it allows profile owners to let others know
who they are and, in doing so, satisfies a basic need to be
known by others. Second, it means that profile viewers feel
they can trust the information they glean from online social
network profiles, building their confidence in the system as
a whole."
contributes to the popularity of online social networks in
two ways," explained psychologist and lead author Sam
Gosling. "First, it allows profile owners to let others know
who they are and, in doing so, satisfies a basic need to be
known by others. Second, it means that profile viewers feel
they can trust the information they glean from online social
network profiles, building their confidence in the system as
a whole."
8. Numerous Factors Can Contribute to Personality Disorders
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An estimated 10 to 15% of adults in the United States
experience symptoms of at least one personality disorder.
Researchers have identified a number of factors that may
contribute to the onset of different personality disorders
such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline-
personality disorder.
experience symptoms of at least one personality disorder.
Researchers have identified a number of factors that may
contribute to the onset of different personality disorders
such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline-
personality disorder.
These factors include:
- Genetics
- Relationships with peers
- High sensitivity
- Verbal abuse
- Childhood trauma
By Kendra Cherry, About.com Guide