How the common cold reveals your true personality

Davey Winder
Monday, 13 October 2008 16:48

Science - Health

There is nothing worse than catching the common cold. Nothing, that is, other than having someone decide to identify your personality type by the way you react to being ill...

In the UK alone, more than 9 million people catch a colds during the winter months. They fall victim to one of at least 200 different cold viruses in circulation in the UK. Now they have to worry about personality profiling while they sneeze.

Covonia, a company which makes cough medicine, has published its research in an attempt to uncover what the common cold can reveal about your personality.

Or rather, how the way you react when suffering from a cold can expose the true you.

The research, which polled 5000 people in all, identified four main personality types that are displayed by cold sufferers:

THE MARTYR was the most common with 44 percent just getting on with their responsibilities, both at home and at work. People who demonstrate this type of behaviour apparently have high standards for themselves and worry about what others think of them. Unsurprisingly then, more women than men are martyrs.

THE NON-BELIEVER was some way behind on 25 percent, refusing to accept they are unwell and downplaying symptoms accordingly. These people are, the survey says, in denial and tend to be shy as well as very caring and good listeners.

THE COMPLAINER accounts for 22 percent, letting everyone and anyone know they are unwell and looking for the sympathy of others. Funnily enough, 47 percent of those surveyed found complainers frustrating to work with.

THE WORRIER was the least common personality type on just 7 percent, and are those who think their symptoms are a sign of something more serious. These people are often indecisive and easily influenced, although do pay close attention to detail.

Personality psychologist Dr Glenn Wilson said of the findings "People approach colds in many different ways, and to some extent, their behaviour reflects their constitutional personality. There are also needs and strategies that we acquire, through experience and conditioning, which are likely to be demonstrated when fighting off a cough or a cold."