(U-WIRE) NORMAL, Ill. – Chances are it is something that happens a few times a week. Sometimes it might be subtle and unnoticeable. Other times it might be cause for embarrassment and even kind of messy. But it could also be revealing aspects of an individual’s personality to perfect strangers.
According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, “Feeling nosy? Here’s what a sneeze can reveal,” a sneeze can actually provide insight to the sneezer’s personality. Different characteristics of the sneeze indicate different personality traits.
“I can’t believe a sneeze could tell people something about me other than that I probably need a Kleenex,” Tara Molleck, an Illinois State University sophomore family and consumer sciences major, said.
This entire philosophy was developed by Patti Wood, a spokeswoman of Benadryl and body language expert. She used a sneezing survey of 547 people and three months of observation to come to her conclusions about the relationship between sneezing style and behavioral characteristics.
Still the public seems skeptical and unwilling to accept, or in some cases even consider, that a sneeze could be a personality indicator.
“I never sneeze the same way twice so what does that mean for me, that I’m a schizophrenic?” Molleck said.
However, others seemed more convinced.
“I never notice how I sneeze, but my dad is a very loud sneezer and usually he sneezes more than once and I think he fits with the description of that type [enthusiastic] of sneezer,” Kyle Slowiak, a freshman math education major, explained.
Ultimately, Wood came up with four distinct types of sneezers and therefore four personality types.
The first type is the enthusiastic sneezer. This person has a loud and powerful sneeze, often followed by others, that people take notice of.
According to Wood this person is a good leader who is very imaginative and an original thinker. This person grabs life by the horns and welcomes its challenges while encouraging and motivating others to do the same. This person is also a good conversationalist and thrives on the social scene.
The next type of sneezer is the nice sneezer. Often this is the person who tries to hold back their outburst and keeps noise to a minimum.
Wood says this person is friendly and lives life at a leisurely pace, valuing relationships with others above all else. This person avoids conflict and is loyal and dependable. Often this person is confided in because they are helpful and supportive.
The third type of sneezer is the be-right sneezer. This person has a polite sneeze and often covers his or her mouth with a tissue or hankie.
According to Wood, this indicates someone who carefully processes thoughts and surroundings, thinking twice before speaking and catching things others might miss.
This person values his or her time alone and generally plays by the rules, wishing others would follow the example.
The last type of sneezer Wood identifies is the get-it-done sneezer. This person has the loud, hard sneeze that often startles people and may even make them jump.
Wood says this person is very decisive and likes things to be accomplished quickly.
This person is a proficient and commanding leader who reaches goals quickly. Physical exertion is a must, as is fair treatment to and from others.
Although these are the only types of sneezers identified by Wood it can be argued that there are many more and that one sneeze may not tell all.
Still, instead of just “gesundheit” as a response to a sneeze, consider what that very brief outburst could indicate about that boy on the bus or that shy girl in chemistry lab.