Human cognition and personality traits interact complexly, according to researchers.
This study synthesized data from over 1,300 studies globally, representing 2 million participants, to examine how personality traits and cognitive abilities intertwine.
Findings show a direct link between cognitive prowess and activity levels, mental health’s impact on knowledge accumulation and a strong positive link between cognitive abilities and open-mindedness.
This study revolutionizes our understanding of human individuality, shedding light on the diverse tapestry of the human mind [1].
In a new landmark study, University of Minnesota research shows surprising links between human cognition and personality – pillars of human individuality that shape us and how we interact with the world [2].
Personality influences our actions, emotions and thoughts, defining whether we are extroverted, polite, persistent, curious or anxious.
On the other hand, cognitive ability is the umbrella that reflects our capability for navigating complexity, such as articulating language, grasping intricate mathematics and drawing logical conclusions.
Despite the prevailing belief that certain connections exist – for instance, introverted individuals are often perceived as more intelligent – scientists lacked a comprehensive understanding of these intricate connections.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, integrates data from over 1,300 studies from the past century, representing more than 2 million participants from 50 countries and integrating data from academic journals, test manuals, military databases, previously unpublished datasets and even proprietary databases of private companies.
This enormous effort examines the entire pantheon of personality traits and cognitive abilities spanning many cultures and demographic groups. It features an array of 79 personality traits – from modesty to agreeableness – alongside 97 cognitive skills – from reading speed to memory.
“Knowing how personality and intelligence are related allows us to ponder the much deeper question of why,” said Deniz Ones, a study co-author and a psychology professor at the College of Liberal Arts.
“These findings revolutionize our understanding of human diversity and individuality. Only by knowing ourselves can we fully tap into our potential.”
Results include the following:
- An active and energetic individual has a better command of various cognitive abilities. This includes extensive knowledge, efficient memory retrieval, and enhanced information processing. The more active people are, the more they know about any subject.
- Those who suffer from high levels of depression or anxiety may have difficulty accumulating knowledge or reasoning logically.
- Knowledge skills in verbal and quantitative areas tend to be better in those who are more industrious and compassionate. There seems to be a connection between personality traits and how we learn, according to this discovery.
- Many cognitive abilities are positively correlated with open-mindedness (such as receptivity to new ideas).
“It took over 13 years and a team of over 30 volunteers to seek out, translate, enter and analyze the over 1,300 studies,” said Kevin Stanek, a co-author of the study who previously led the College’s Personality and Intelligence Lab.
“We’re extremely grateful to the research team as well as the broader set of thousands of scholars, librarians and companies who contributed their time and data to piece together this mosaic.”
A surprising revelation from this research was the consistency of research methods over the past century. Contemporary personality research often still employs self-reporting of agreement with written items.
Researchers are exploring innovative methods for assessing personality traits and cognitive abilities, including sensor studies and generative AI, to counter this stagnation [3].
[1] https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2212794120
[2] https://umn.edu/
[3] https://neurosciencenews.com/cognition-personality-23381/
