Are you an aesthetic type, or are you cerebral? Next time you turn on the TV it could tell a lot about who you are, says Ben Ambridge
One of the easiest ways of measuring your personality is simply to ask which kinds of TV, films, and books and magazines do you enjoy. Do you prefer:
a) Daytime talk shows, romance, cooking and religion
b) Arts and humanities, classics, foreign films and poetry
c) Horror, cult films and erotic novels
d) Action and adventure, thrillers, sci-fi films and spy stories
e) News, documentaries and nonfiction
Your answer reveals which of the five personality types you are. If you tended to prefer a) you are communal; b) aesthetic; c) dark; d) thrilling; or e) cerebral
A recent study of more than 3,000 people, conducted by psychologists at the University of Texas, found numerous correlations between these preferences and measures of personality and education.
Communal types tend to have received less education and are poor at abstract reasoning, but are tender, warm and understanding. Fans of aesthetic and dark entertainment are both well-educated and good at abstract reasoning. But while the former are calm and introspective, the latter are provocative, outgoing and incautious.
Cerebral types tend to be well organised, enterprising and selfassured (to the point that they dislike co-operation). But thrilling types of personality are a law unto themselves, showing no consistent characteristics (other than being male) an inconsistency that is perhaps thrilling in its own right.
A fully referenced version of this article is available at benambridge.com. Order PsyQ by Ben Ambridge (Profile Books, 8.99) for 6.99 at bookshop.theguardian.com