Intelligent people are more likely to swear and walk around naked at home, according to a new study.
Quizzing about 1,000 people on 400 typical behaviors, researchers at the University of Rochester found that extroverts are prone to telling dirty jokes, while those with agreeable personalities are more likely to sing in the shower.
During the study, participants were asked if they performed each of the 400 behaviors, and how often. The results were then compared with their own personalities, with the aim being to identify signature behaviors for each of the main personality types.
The findings, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, revealed each personality had its own unique behaviors. People with higher intellects were more likely to curse, eat spicy breakfasts and lounge around the house naked, while extroverts were more likely to drive cars faster that 75 mph, gamble, and go to their local bar.
Agreeable people had behaviors that benefited others and conscientious people were focused on avoiding irresponsible behaviors.
These studies are interesting but probably not very revealing. Researchers are often trying to find correlations to predict human behavior. The trouble here is that they had to rely upon “self-report” from the participants. I’m a pretty smart guy but I don’t lounge around the house without any clothes on. But I DO cuss a lot. And I drive a LOT faster than 75 mph. So, then, what does that predict?
I don’t know, but the study was interesting nonetheless.
