Nice or Neurotic? Cambridge University ‘Personality Map’ Ranks The States.

New York is home to the most neurotic and unfriendly people in America while North Dakota is where the nicest people live, according to a Cambridge University “personality map” of the USA, reports the Telegraph.

New Yorkers are also likely to be anxious, stressed, impulsive and prone to heart disease and cancer.

My home state, Wisconsin, is more nice than neurotic. In fact, Wisconsin ranked among the top five states in America for “extraversion” — a trait associated with those who are sociable, energetic and enthusiastic — and “agreeableness” (defined as being warm, friendly and compassionate).

That’s moi. Unless you talk to me before I’ve had my coffee.

Researchers created the first ever map of its kind is based on the results of a six year online survey of 620,000 people. They claim ‘the personality map’ reveals how certain types of people are more likely to live and flourish in different parts of the country and showed links between personality traits and social phenomenon, like crime rates.

American-born Dr Jason Rentfrow, lecturer in social and political sciences at the University of Cambridge, led the study. The survey asked people from the US to read 44 short statements such as “I see myself as someone who is very religious” and mark their level of agreement on a scale of one to five. The impact of personality traits was then matched with social trends such as religiosity, health, crime, employment and tolerance.

The results revealed clear patterns of personalities – neuroticism is highest in the east along a line stretching from Maine to Louisiana – the “stress belt”.

See if your state is nice or neurotic:

Key findings:

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.

Guru’s Note: It’s got to be tempting to the DNC and RNC to map these findings against the blue, red and swing state matrix.