WE’VE BEEN USING PERSONALITY TYPES as a way to get to the nitty-gritty of human behaviour for decades. We often refer to extroverts or introverts, and this way of categorising people has been used in countless psychological studies. One area that has been investigated in detail with regards to personality is health – we know personality traits can be used to predict whether someone will develop a particular condition (those who score high on the personality trait ‘agreeableness’, for example, are at higher risk of weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes). This type of classification system can also be helpful to combat and prevent ill health if interventions are tailored to suit personality. This takes the trial-and-error frustration out of lifestyle changes, making them much easier to stick to.
Are you a Magpie or a Rebel?