Your personality is what makes you uniquely you. Your personality will determine what type of job you enjoy doing, how you behave in social situations, what types of relationships you have, and much more. Personality is something we are just born with, but what exactly influences the type of personality you will have? Can you change your personality? There are many psychological facts concerning personality will make you look at your own personality in a whole new light. Read on to learn some interesting facts you may never think about.
Interesting Psychological Facts About Personality
1. Birth Order
Are you the firstborn or last born? Studies indicate that the order you are born in can influence the type of personality you will have. It is common for firstborn children to be more responsible and better leaders while last-born children will have a more carefree personality who is more irresponsible and impulsive.
2. Testosterone levels
Interestingly, your testosterone levels can play a rule in your personality. If you have a higher level of testosterone, then you tend to take pleasure in seeing others become upset. This might lead to you purposefully angering those around you just for your own enjoyment.
3. Your IQ
If you have a lower IQ, you might tend to lean towards a more prejudice personality. Individuals who test lower on IQ test often express a national or religious prejudice towards others, while those with a higher IQ result are more open and accepting.
4. Low-self esteem
Individuals who have a lower self-esteem will often humiliate others. Humiliating others is one way they try to boost their own self-esteem and build their own confidence.
5. Quality of life
Your personality can have an effect on your quality of life. Optimist personalities tend to have a higher quality of life while pessimists have a lower quality of life.
6. Your movement
How you move your body can be an indication of your personality. It is suggested that people have a signature way they move and others that move the same way demonstrate similar behaviors.
7. Your personality has a distinct smell
One of the most interesting psychological facts about personality is that your personality can be detected by smell alone. Individuals who are neurotic, extraverts, or dominant tend to have a specific smell that others can detect.
8. Falling in love
The feeling of falling in love can alter your personality. Individuals who tend to be neurotic often notice a change in their personality when they fall in love. Instead of feeling anxious and unstable, love allows them to feel more secure and confident.
9. Entitlement
Individuals who have the type of personality where they constantly feel entitled will often live disappointing lives. This personality type often leads individuals to practice toxic behaviors and are often more aggressive and will blame others for their misfortunes.
10. Personality changes as you age
When you get older, there are three changes your personality goes through. You become more conscientious and agreeable and are less moody or neurotic. Overall, as you get older, you become a nicer person.
11. Anxiety disorders
If one of your personality traits include fearing the unknown, then you may be at a higher risk for anxiety disorders. Individuals who spend more time worrying about what might happen will suffer from different social anxieties, panic disorders or phobias.
12. Facial features
Most people make judgments about the way someone looks. Your facial features can give the impression of whether you want a serious relationship or not which can either attract or turn away potential partners.
13. Food preferences
What you like to eat can tell others about your personality. Individuals who like bitter tasting foods tend to have a more narcissistic personality. Those who dislike bitter foods are often more agreeable.
14. Multitasking
We all like to think that we can do many things at once but this isn't true. If you, however, believe that you are a pro at multitasking, that you'd be surprised by these psychological facts about personality. Individuals who believe they can and are good at multitasking tend to be overly confident.
15. Gratification
If you are the type of person who is impatient, gets stressed easily or feel frustrated often, this could be an indication that you have not developed you gratification traits. Children who develop the skills to not delay their instant gratification tend to live more successful life and do better in school.
16. Daydreaming
Some people are considered daydreamers, where their mind is always wandering, the truth is everyone is guilty of daydreaming. Throughout the day your mind will wander 30% of the time, some individuals may wander more than this. Those individuals who daydream more often than others are often better at solving problems and tend to be more creative.
17. Advertisements
The ads you see on TV or on billboards can have an impact on your personality. Subconsciously, many products ads can affect your mood and attitude and can change what you desire or feel you need in life.
18. Repetition
It should be no surprise that the more you do something over and over, the more likely it will become a habit. So, if you want to change your personality, you need to consistently change your behaviors every day to strengthen the connections in your brain.
19. Parts of your personality won't change
No matter how hard you try, the core parts of your personality are not going to change. Most people confuse their personality changes with their habits, health, responsibilities, and circumstance. Those things can change but for the most part, your personality does not.
20. Internal or external attributes
One of the most interesting psychological facts about personality that most people are not aware of how they react to others and to themselves. Often, we will blame others based on their internal attributes and blame ourselves based on external attributes. So when someone cuts you off in traffic, you state how dumb the person must be, but if you were to cut someone off in traffic it is because you had to do it so that you would run into the car next to you.
21. Personality and illness
If you have a more aggressive personality, then there's a good chance you may be at a higher risk for heart disease. Individuals with neurotic personalities are more likely to suffer from arthritis, ulcers, asthma, headaches and heart disease.
22. Types of personality traits
It may seem like there are thousands of different personalities you can have, but generally, there are just five core personality traits individuals will exhibit. These traits include extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness.
23. Central and secondary traits
It is rare that an individual will have one dominant personality trait, instead, they will have central and secondary traits that make up their personality. Central traits refer to the traits that are the core of their foundation while secondary traits are associated with attitude and behavior.
24. Pets and personality
While most pets have their own unique personalities, this can be telling of your personality. If you prefer to own a dog, then you might be more extroverted and willing to please others. Individuals who prefer cats tend to be more curious and introverted.
25. Personality disorder
It is not uncommon for individuals to suffer from one or more personality disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder or borderline personality disorders and there are a number of factors that can contribute to these disorders. Genetics, sensitivity, childhood trauma, verbal abuse and the relationship you have with your peers can all contribute to developing a personality disorder.