A scientific study reveals what your choice of snacks says about your personality

The study brought together 1,629 people from countries such as China, Germany, Mexico and the United States to analyze your preferences of flavor and how these could relate to your personality. “The association between agreeableness and a preference for a sweet taste coincides with terms that are sometimes used to describe kind and pleasant people, as well as people we love in some cultures (for example, ‘sweet,’ ‘honey,’ or ‘little lump’)”, the researchers explained. This finding reinforces the popular belief that ‘people sweets‘are also kinda relationship that, according to the research team, appears to be supported both in language and in our food preferences.

Until now, it was known that There was a link between the love of sweet flavors and kindnessbut it was not clear whether this relationship could apply universally or if it was a specific phenomenon of some cultures. The team, led by Brian P. Meier, wrote in the paper: “Although studies have found an association between preferences for sweet flavors and agreeableness, previous work has focused on U.S. samples. This association It may or may not occur in multiple cultures. However, the new study concluded that agreeableness was “significantly and positively” correlated with preference for sweets. in participants from all countriesregardless of their differences in social values, norms, customs, languages ​​and locations.

To measure these associations, the researchers asked participants to complete a personality survey based on the five great traits: openness, responsibility, kindness, extroversion and neuroticism. They then used a “sweet taste preference scale” that included ten foods common, such as candy, chocolate cake, strawberries and honey, where participants rated their preferences from 1 (I really dislike it) to 6 (I really like it). They also evaluated other preferences such as sour, salty, bitter and spicy foods.

The conclusions of the study

The results revealed that those who preferred sweet flavors They tended to be kinder and nicer.. “The results of this project suggest that the link between liking and preference for sweet taste extends across cultures that vary greatly in social values, norms, customs, languages ​​and locations,” the researchers stressed. For them, this correlation could have evolutionary rootssince both the act of enjoying sweet flavors and being affectionate and kind seem to be beneficial not only on an individual level but also for societies as a whole.

Finally, the team concluded by reflecting on how taste experiences can symbolize abstract concepts such as kindness: “The universal occurrence of these metaphors and preferences for sweet foods and kind, loving people suggest that sweet taste experiences might be an appropriate perceptual experience for conceptualizing more abstract concepts such as kindness.”