New Study: These Six Traits Make Us "Cool"

Coolness is more than just an image – it follows the same rules worldwide. But what exactly makes a person "cool"? An international research team investigated this question in an extensive study – with surprisingly consistent results. The analysis is based on data from around 6,000 people from twelve countries, including Germany, the USA, China, and South Africa.

The six traits that are associated with "coolness" worldwide according to the international study are:

The study, published in the "Journal of Experimental Psychology," shows that these six personality traits are perceived similarly in all the countries studied – regardless of the respondents' age, gender, or education. Todd Pezzuti, a marketing professor in Chile and co-author of the study, emphasizes: "The same traits appeared in every country." This suggests that coolness is a more fundamental concept than just a cultural label.

Cool and good – two different concepts

The researchers clearly distinguish between "cool" and "good." While traits like warmth, conscientiousness, or adaptability are more strongly associated with the image of a "good" person, "cool" individuals are characterized by independence and a drive for innovation. Some traits – such as competence – are attributed to both categories.

An interesting result: The study participants were asked to rate real people from their environment. It turned out that being "cool" does not necessarily bring moral qualities. Rather, independence and the courage to question conventions count.

Exemplary coolness – Elon Musk as a reference figure

As a prominent example of a "cool" person, the researchers named Elon Musk. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO combines all six identified traits – from his extroverted presence on social media to adventurous projects like the colonization of Mars. That Musk also polarizes is part of the phenomenon, according to Pezzuti.

Coolness as a social construct

Experts like Jon Freeman from Columbia University classify the concept of coolness as a social construct that allows for quick attributions to status and identity. Especially in times of social media, coolness plays an important role in self-presentation and perception by others. The researchers suggest that future studies should more strongly differentiate between positive and negative coolness.

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.