We all wish we possessed the ability to decode the lives of the people around us like the great Sherlock Holmes. While Sherlock’s heightened ability is highly sensationalized, there are certain signals that reliably can predict someone’s personality. Eric Barker writes in Time about which factors may indicate different personality traits:
- Look at their smile.
In two studies, researchers showed that the intensity participants smiled in a single profile picture on Facebook consistently predicted life satisfaction 3.5 years later at graduation. Similarly, in a student that looked at photographs for women in their college yearbook, those with a genuine Duchenne smile were more likely to be married, stay married, be happier, and enjoy better health throughout their lives compared to those with smiles perceived as fake.
- Pay attention to their writing (including text messages!)
BPS Research Digest explains, comparing the amount of positive and negative words can illustrate large changes in personality. Those who used more swear words than communality words were more agreeable, extroverts used more words with positive connotations, and conscientious bloggers mentioned more words about achievement. People who said “invited” less and “irony” more were significantly more neurotic, and those who mentioned “drinks” more and “computer” less were significantly more extroverted.
- What is their sleep schedule like?
Morning types tend to be more introverted and focused on logic backed by concrete information. They’re also more likely to be people pleasers. Evening types may be more prepared to take risks, less likely to “conform” and have a far more creative, impulsive outlook on life.
- Facebook.
Turn’s out, Facebook is a far better predictor of job performance than most resumes. When researchers rated students on personality-related traits such as conscientiousness, agreeability, and intellectual curiosity based off their Facebook profile, and found strong correlation with positive job performance six months later. Partying photos didn’t necessarily detract from a student’s score, rather, students who showed themselves to be extroverted, well traveled, and with a wide range of interests proved better in the work place.
- Their facial expressions
“People could often tell photos of “America’s Most Wanted” from Nobel Peace Prize winners just by looking at their faces. More likely than not you’ll be able to tell how extroverted and conscientious someone is by a quick glance at their mug,” Eric Barker of
Barking Up the Wrong Tree writes.
- What music are they listening to?
“Headphone girl” by Shinichi Higashi / Flickr In Rob Brooks’ book,
Sex, Genes, and rock n’ Roll: How Evolution Has Shaped the Modern World, he finds musical tastes could predict personalities across four major categories. “Reflective and complex” tastes in music, like jazz, the blues, classical, and folk, showed someone was more emotionally stables, open, and above average intelligence. “Intense and rebellious” tastes in rock, alternative and heavy metal, indicated openness, athleticism, and above average intelligence as well. A love for “upbeat and conventional” music like country, religious, and pop music were agreeable, but not open, extroverts who were often wealthy, politically conservative, and athletic. Finally, those who preferred “energetic and rhythmic” music like rap, hip-hop, soul, funk, and electronica were agreeable, athletic, politically liberal, unafraid to speak their minds, and were the most extroverted.
- Where are they originally from?
A study from the American Psychologists Association showed surprisingly consistent results when rating neuroticism and openness in regions across the US. Openness was higher in New England, the Mid Atlantic, and Pacific regions, and significantly lower in the Midwest and Southeastern states. The East coast tended to be much more neurotic than the Midwest and Western side of the counter, but also was rated much higher in extroversion. Not surprisingly, people from the South were more likely to be agreeable than the rest of the country, with the Northeast scoring least-agreeable.
- Left handed?
Left-handed men, researchers at the Tinbergen Institute at the University of Amsterdam found, could be predicted by lower levels of prenatal testosterone exposure, which is associated with higher levels of empathy. As such, left-handed men were often more generous, empathetic, and creative. They also especially performed better at activities that required rapid transfer of information, leadership experience, and had higher wages amongst other college-educated men.
9. Invited in? Their bedroom may indicate their politics.
Conservative rooms tended to be more structured and organized, with conventional decorations like sports paraphernalia, flags, and alcohol bottles. They were “neater, cleaner, fresher, better organized, and better lit”. In contrast, liberals contained a higher number and variety of books, music CDs, art supplies, stationery, movie tickets, and cultural and travel memorabilia.
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