In the current landscape, personality tests are ubiquitous, offering insights into our inner selves and behavioral patterns. While renowned tests like Myers-Briggs or career personality assessments can be enlightening, it’s crucial to exercise caution with the simpler quizzes circulating on social media. According to psychiatrist and personality development researcher Christine B.L. Adams, MD, delving into behaviors is more revealing than superficial tests.
The Way You Walk:
Body-language expert Carol Kinsey Goman suggests that your gait can unveil aspects of your personality. A confident and socially adept individual often walks with a measured, even stride and head held high, while a more vulnerable or self-conscious person may exhibit a caved-in posture.
Your Handshake:
Your handshake speaks volumes about your personality, notes human behavior expert Patrick Wanis, PhD. A firm, brief handshake suggests confidence, while a limp one indicates insecurity. Different handshake styles convey various traits, from dominance to assertiveness.
Email Etiquette:
Dr. Adams emphasizes a link between email communication and real-life character. Keywords and writing style can predict traits; for example, narcissists may use self-centered language. Grammar and typos also offer insights into conscientiousness and intelligence.
Nervous Tics:
Body-focused repetitive behaviors, such as nail-biting, may reflect inner states. A 2022 study indicates a connection between emotions and tic behaviors, revealing that anxiety and stress exacerbate these habits. The type of tic may indicate personality traits, with perfectionists often engaging in repetitive behaviors to soothe dissatisfaction.
Punctuality:
Your punctuality signals elements of your personality. Being consistently early may correlate with neuroticism, while chronic lateness can suggest a self-focused nature. Research in the Journal of Research in Personality supports the idea that punctuality aligns with positive character traits.
Eating Habits:
Goman suggests that how you eat, including the speed and preferences, reflects your personality. Slow eaters may be conscientious, while fast eaters tend to be ambitious. Food choices and eating etiquette offer additional clues, with adventurous eaters displaying thrill-seeking tendencies.
The Color of Your Clothes:
A 2020 study indicates that clothing choices, including style and color, can reveal personality traits. While bright colors may signal insecurity, creative individuals express their personalities through clothing.
Shopping Habits:
Shopping preferences offer insights into personality. Those who shop excessively may have hedonistic, extroverted, or impulsive traits. Financial habits can also be indicative of personality types in relationships.
Selfie-Taking Frequency:
The frequency of posting selfies on social media may be linked to personality traits. A 2022 study suggests that frequent selfie-takers tend to be extroverted but may experience lower self-esteem and emotional instability.
Handwriting:
Graphology, the analysis of handwriting, has been a long-standing method to assess personality. Different traits, such as sociability or impulsiveness, can be inferred from handwriting characteristics.
Beverage Choices:
A 2021 study reveals a connection between beverage choices and personality traits. Those who opt for sugary drinks may be impulsive and open, while health-conscious individuals tend to consider future consequences.
Response to Compliments:
Constantly deflecting compliments may indicate low self-esteem and discomfort with one’s identity. Dr. Adams warns that this habit can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, reinforcing negative perceptions of oneself.
Constantly Checking Your Reflection:
Regularly checking one’s appearance may indicate perfectionism, nervousness, or lack of confidence. Extreme cases could be associated with low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, or eating disorders.
In essence, the subtleties in everyday behaviors paint a detailed picture of your personality, offering valuable insights into who you are and what motivates you.