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Sci-tech

Researchers identify four personality types, challenging old paradigms

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2018-09-18 09:32:46Xinhua Editor : Gu Liping ECNS App Download
File Photo: Children prepare to take part in a Guinness World Records attempt for

File Photo: Children prepare to take part in a Guinness World Records attempt for "the most people playing a hand clapping game simultaneously" in Buftea, Romania, on June 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Cristian Cristel)

Researchers have identified four distinct clusters of personality types exist: average, reserved, self-centered and role model, which challenged the existing paradigms in psychology.

The study published on Monday in the journal Nature Human Behavior could be of interest to hiring managers and mental health care providers.

"Personality types only existed in self-help literature and did not have a place in scientific journals," said Luis Amaral, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University. "Now, we think this will change because of this study."

The new research combined an alternative computational approach with data from four questionnaires with over 1.5 million respondents from around the world, comprising between 44 and 300 questions.

The new algorithm produced four clusters of personality: average, reserved, self-centered and role models.

Average people are high in neuroticism and extraversion, while low in openness. "I would expect that the typical person would be in this cluster," said Martin Gerlach, a postdoctoral fellow in Amaral's lab and the paper's first author. Females are more likely than males to fall into the Average type.

The Reserved type is emotionally stable, but not open or neurotic. They are not particularly extraverted but are somewhat agreeable and conscientious.

Self-Centered people score very high in extraversion and below average in openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness. There is a very dramatic decrease in the number of self-centered types as people age, both with women and men.

Role Models score low in neuroticism and high in all the other traits. The likelihood that someone is a role model increases dramatically with age.

"These are people who are dependable and open to new ideas," Amaral said. "These are good people to be in charge of things. In fact, life is easier if you have more dealings with role models." More women than men are likely to be role models.

Amaral said the study's results could be helpful for hiring managers looking to insure a potential candidate is a good fit or for people who are dating and looking for an appropriate partner.

Also, as people mature, their personality types often shift. For instance, older people tend to be less neurotic yet more conscientious and agreeable than those under 20 years old.

"When we look at large groups of people, it's clear there are trends, that some people may be changing some of these characteristics over time," Amaral said.

  

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