What Your State Says About Your Personality

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According to a new study released by the University of Cambridge, the state you choose to live offers insight into your personality. In the report, “The Geography of Personality: A Theory of the Emergence, Persistance and Expression of Geographic Variation in Basic Traits,” American-born Dr. Jason Rentfrow created a personality map of the United States depicting clusters of personality traits by state.  In this six year online survey of 620,000 people, Dr. Rentfrow found that those of us who live along the West Coast are among the most laid back in the country (no surprise), especially compared to those who live on the East Coast, who are more likely to be anxious, stressed, impulsive, and prone to heart disease and cancer.

Washington residents scored low in extravert traits (being sociable, energetic, and enthusiastic–perhaps those theories about weather depressing ring true), and also in neuroticism (being anxious, stressful, and impulsive–still weather depression wins out over our fixation on high-caffeine coffee drinks). However, we also scored high in openness (being curious, intellectual, and creative–as if we didn’t already know that!).

More key findings of the report include:

EXTRAVERSION

Personality traits: Sociable, energetic and enthusiastic

High-scoring states: North Dakota, Wisconsin, District of Columbia, Nebraska, Minnesota, Georgia, South Dakota, Utah, Illinois, Florida

Low-scoring states: Vermont, Washington, Alaska, New Hampshire, Maryland, Idaho, Virginia, Oregon, Montana, Massachusetts

AGREEABLENESS

Personality traits: Warm, compassionate, co-operative and friendly.

Highest-scoring states: North Dakota, Minnesota, Mississippi, Utah, Wisconsin, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Nebraska.

Lowest-scoring states: New York, Nevada, Wyoming, District of Columbia, Alaska, Maine, Rhode Island, Virginia, Connecticut, Montana.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

Personality traits: Dutiful, responsible, self-disciplined.

Highest-scoring states: New Mexico, North Carolina, Georgia, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Florida, Arizona, Missouri.

Lowest-scoring states: Wyoming, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Maine, Alaska, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York.

NEUROTICISM

Personality traits: Anxious, stressful and impulsive.

Highest-scoring states: West Virginia, Rhode Island, New York, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Arkansas.

Lowest-scoring states: Alaska, Oregon, South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Arizona, Nebraska, North Dakota, Nevada.

OPENNESS

Personality traits: Curious, intellectual, creative.

Highest-scoring states: District of Columbia, New York, Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington, California, Vermont, Colorado, Nevada, Maryland.

Lowest-scoring states: Wisconsin, Alabama, Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, Hawaii, Kentucky, Nebraska, Iowa, Delaware.

Source: Telegraph UK