Personality Psychology

Personality Psychology

A colorful butterfly with vivid patterns hangs near an empty cocoon on a twig against a soft, gradient background.
"Personality isn't based on what we say we'll do. It's rooted in what we actually do, which becomes what we think about."
A lifelong single with short hair sits alone on a park bench at night, facing away. Bushes and dim lighting surround the scene.
People who've never been partnered tend to be less extraverted, less conscientious, and more neurotic.
A drawing shows a person's side profile on the left, with dashed lines leading to a second drawing on the right where the facial features are replaced by a question mark, hinting at a lack of perceptivity.
To understand others, you need to see past their fleeting emotions. You must perceive who they are as people.
Visitors exploring why people get lost in a large, complex wooden maze installation in an indoor gallery setting.
Research suggests that experience may matter more than innate ability when it comes to a sense of direction.
A woman with a music personality enjoying a record player on a couch.
Musical preferences are correlated with personality traits — and these connections are largely consistent across cultures and continents.
A personality-filled collage portraying a man, woman, and child.
A few key moments are linked to significant shifts in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Are fools happy and geniuses disorganized — or is that a mistaken stereotype?
A successful man in a suit captured in a black and white photo.
Psychopathic tendencies may be present to some extent in all of us. New research is reframing this often sensationalized and maligned set of traits and finding some positive twists.
An infographic displaying the various types of work preferences according to Myers-Briggs.
If you’ve looked for a job recently, you may have encountered the personality test. You may also have wondered if it was backed by scientific research.
A pixelated image depicting the structure of a human brain.
A study involving nearly 2,000 people found links between personality traits and the likelihood of moving toward or away from dementia.
Research suggests there's truth to regional stereotypes in the U.S. — with some caveats.
a group of penguins standing on top of a rock.
If you think everyone around you is terrible, the joke may be on you.
a couple of rhinos standing next to each other.
High-conflict people are found in all walks of life. Learning how to identify them, and what to do next, can save you much emotional turmoil.
A black and white photo featuring two men engaged in a profound gaze.
There's such thing as a healthy sense of pride in oneself and one’s accomplishments.
Within the "Dark Triad" of personality traits, narcissism exists on a confidence spectrum.
Extreme home environments — either very supportive or harshly negligent — tend to produce more sensitive kids.
There's a link between dark personality traits and breaches of battlefield ethics.
If you believe that you're perfect, then somebody else must be responsible for your failures.
dark triad
Managers who are able to identify and understand dark salespeople can manipulate them to benefit the company. What could be more Machiavellian than that?
cat people
People who rate themselves as highly knowledgeable about cats are more likely to interact with cats in ways they don't like.
In "The Secret Life of Secrets", Michael Slepian explores how holding secrets affects our relationships, psychology, and well-being.
assholes
We all know assholes. Perhaps, you are one. Now, psychologists are trying to answer one of life's biggest mysteries: What, exactly, makes someone an asshole?