attention to the words leaving their mouth.

You may also be able to draw conclusions about a person based on how much they say or their amount of participation in a conversation. Some people spend a lot of time talking and very little time listening or allowing others to speak. This can indicate one of two traits – the person is overconfident and believes whatever they are saying is the most important, or it manifests as an expression of insecurity that makes them feel they need to overcompensate for their lack of internal prowess.

Interestingly, some studies have concluded that people who talk more and tend to have extroversive characteristics appear to others to be more intelligent than they actually are. That only lasts until they make a remark that is absurd or makes no sense at all. Someone that allows others time to speak generally show consideration for others – although again, it shouldn’t be assumed that their outward projections are direct reflections of their internal thought processes. You must also consider their body language and eye movements, as well as other factors, when paying attention to their verbal interaction with others.

What They Listen To

There is a multitude of studies that have been conducted about a person’s musical preference in relation to their personality. As you may have noticed by now, there is no “one size fits all” rule when it comes to determining characteristics of someone’s personality. Below is a summary of a study conducted at Heriot-Watt University of 36,000 participants from all over the world:

Rap/Hip-Hop: Correlates with being outgoing and having high selfesteem; despite stereotypes, there seemed to be no links to aggression or violence

Rock/Heavy Metal: Another category that defied stereotypes, there seems to be no connection to violence or aggression with this musical preference. Listeners tend to be creative, introverted, gentle, and have low self-esteem Indie: Connections to creativity and intellect; also, linked to low selfesteem, passivity, and anxiety

Pop: Fans of this genre tend to be honest, conventional, and extroverted with high self-esteem; some occurrences of less creativity Country/Western: Correlates to conventional and outgoing personalities that are emotionally stable and hard-working

Classical: Although listeners tend to be introverted, they have high selfesteem and are emotionally stable and comfortable in their own skin Dance: Connected with outgoing and assertive personalities

Jazz/Blues: Fans have high self-esteem and are extroverted, intelligent, and creative

Habitual Behaviors

Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.

- Stephen R. Covey

A person’s habits will also reveal a great deal about their personality. Volunteering may indicate that they are empathetic and generous. Having pets could show they enjoy caring for others or that they don’t interact well with people or they are lonely. If they are heavily influenced by following a strict schedule, it could be an indicator of the desire to maintain control and may be caused by a lack of self-assurance. If someone prefers to spend most of their time socializing and prefers not to be alone they may feel the desire to selfvalidate. Someone who spends very little time with others may lack selfconfidence or feel uncomfortable in the presence of others.

Also, consider the kinds of entertainment a person finds enjoyable: television shows, video games, websites, articles or books, blogs, or movies. Consider the end result of the consumption of these sources of entertainment or how they might influence a person who regularly consumes media from various sources. The way a person views outcomes of their choices – whether positive or negative – can give insight into their perspectives.

Now combine their media consumption choices with their disposition. Check out their Twitter or Facebook, who they follow, what they post, who their friends are, etc. Many times, people will mirror their internal sentiments on an outward platform, especially if they spend an excessive amount of unconstructive time on these social media sites. Maybe they are more comfortable with the illusion of anonymity these sites provide and are uncomfortable in face-to-face interactions because of low self-confidence. Perhaps the reassurance of constant interaction with others soothes an internal need for contact.

Every little piece of information can be used to gather a whole image of a person. Any of these aspects can be considered a habit if they expose themselves to it on a regular basis. Participation in these activities can influence and form the thought processes a person may knowingly or unknowingly construct.

Who They Interact With

Perhaps one of the most definitive factors of a person’s internal characteristic is who they choose to associate with, influencing how they view themselves. Just to reiterate, this is not an exact science – you would have to analyze each person in their social circle to draw more solid conclusions. However, a person’s friends will be yet more pieces of the puzzle of a person. A peer group can influence how a person makes decisions for themselves, as well as influence how others make their own decisions.

Consider a group of friends who regularly party and binge drink on the weekends – it is highly unlikely you will find someone in that group who is concerned with their health. Studies have shown that how a person chooses their social circles is a highly complex interaction of many variables. There does seem to be four main contributing factors:

1.Convenience: How often people interact and physical proximity can be very influencing when associating with a group. It’s easier to be friends with someone just a few minutes up the road than someone who lives several hours away. It’s also easier to form a social bond with someone you see on a daily basis rather than every few weeks.

2.Reciprocal Altruism: This consideration lies in what two people (or a group) can do for one another and how often it is reciprocated. It can be as simple as offering companionship or a friendship based on person one offering a higher social status association to person two, while person two offers kindness and generosity. It usually isn’t this basic, but understanding reciprocated altruism can determine what a person feels they lack and how they seek out those traits in others.

3.Similarities: Generally, people become friends because of similar innate and existing characteristics, despite the fact they may have many other differences. There will always need to a common ground on which two people begin to interact and can establish a positive relationship.

4.Reinforcing Perceptions: Many times, a person forms a social bond with another person because that person will reinforce their perceptions of the

world. For example, friends may share certain morals or values or mindsets, and will often befriend someone who confirms their selfevaluation of their value as a person. This may be a subconscious attraction – people who are confident will seek those who support their confidence; conversely, someone who lacks self-value may be drawn to others who reinforce their lack of value. For instance, this is evident among women who are victims of domestic violence. They will continue to endure repeated abuse, feeling unable to leave the relationship because they have perhaps (subconsciously) validated their lack of self-worth and believe they deserve terrible treatment.

Proximity

When analyzing someone, the closer they are to a person they are in a relationship with can tell you about that person. Consider Joe, Susie, and Brian. If Joe and Susie are close friends, you can learn a lot about Joe from Susie. However, if Brian is Joe’s distant cousin whom Joe only sees every few years, Brian will offer little in the way of understanding Joe. This not only applies to the amount of contact between two people, but also a matter of influence. Joe may be highly influenced by Susie, but it also amounts to the strength of Susie’s influence on Joe.