Monday, January 10, 2011

Should we practice glacial profiling?

If a fat job applicant waddles into your office, should you assume he is lazy?

The MIDUS Study measured the body mass index (BMI) as well as personality characteristics of a large sample of adults. Here are the BMI/personality correlations for men and women:

Correlations

Men (white, ages 40-59, n = 830)
Conscientiousness -.07
Achievement -.07
Control -.10

Women (white, ages 40-59, n = 978)
Conscientiousness -.21
Achievement -.12
Control -.06

The correlations are weak; they are a bit stronger for women. So there is a slight tendency for heavier people to be less achieving, less conscientious, and lacking in self-control, but no more than a slight tendency.
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