How your daily conduct reveals your emotional insecurities

  Getting to know someone can often feel like solving a complex puzzle.

 One moment, you think you've grasped their essence, and the next, they reveal another facet of their personality.

 Most people strive to present their best selves, but some remain enigmatic.

 They might exude aloofness but harbor warmth inside, or they could appear friendly in person while harboring rudeness behind closed doors.  

As you navigate the intricate world of human interaction, it's essential to remember that the people you're trying to understand may be trying to decipher you as well.   

The subtleties in our actions can unveil volumes about our personalities.

Whether it's our phone usage, treatment of service staff, or the choice of shoes we wear, these seemingly insignificant details offer glimpses into our true selves.

  In this article, we'll explore nine such small yet revealing behaviors that provide valuable insights into human nature.

 1. How Often You Check Your Phone

In today's digital age, it’s no surprise that many people constantly glance at their smartphones. 

  However, did you know that the frequency of your phone-checking habit can serve as an indicator of your emotional stability?

 A study conducted by psychologists from the University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University unearthed a noteworthy connection between intensive smartphone use and mental health.  

 Individuals who extensively use their smartphones often grapple with mental health challenges.

 For them, the phone becomes a form of therapeutic escape.

Additionally, those with lower levels of conscientiousness are prone to smartphone addiction.

 The study, encompassing 640 smartphone users aged 13 to 69, aimed to discern the correlation between personality traits and smartphone usage.

  Interestingly, it revealed that as anxiety levels rise, so does smartphone dependency.

 So, if your roommate appears to be glued to their phone day in and day out, it might be an opportune moment to engage in a conversation with them.

They could be wrestling with personal issues that warrant your support.

  Or, perhaps, they're just fervent fans of games like Among Us.

 2. How You Treat Service Staff

Observe how you and others interact with individuals in service roles, such as waiters, flight attendants, or desk clerks.  

These interactions can be telling indicators of a person's character. 

 Is your date excessively critical of the waitress or impatient over trivial matters?   

 Such behavior could hint at their true nature.

 Conversely, if someone consistently displays kindness and patience towards service staff when they believe no one is watching, it reflects their genuine benevolence and their ability to manage stress, even in seemingly minor situations like waiting for a plate of chicken wings.

  3. What Shoes You Wear

Surprisingly, your choice of footwear can provide valuable insights into your personality, as evidenced by a study published in Science Direct.  

  Participants in this study were tasked with assessing the characteristics of unknown individuals   based solely on photographs of their most frequently worn shoes.

The results were remarkable.

 The participants accurately judged the age, gender, income level,and attachment anxiety of the shoe owners solely from the shoe images.

The conclusion was clear:  shoes can indeed serve as a medium for evaluating others, at least in specific aspects.  

 Comfortable shoe wearers are often found to be agreeable individuals.

 Those who opt for uncomfortable footwear may possess a calm demeanor  or use their shoes as a channel to express concealed pain.

  Alternatively, they might just have a penchant for stylish yet uncomfortable shoes, as the saying goes, "pain is beauty."

 Interestingly, people with an inclination towards aggressive behaviour often prefer ankle boots.  

 Those who opt for new, clean, and well-maintained shoes might do so as a means to counteract their anxiety and clinginess.

 4. How Much Eye Contact You Make 

Eye contact, or the lack thereof, can reveal  a great deal about what's transpiring in a person's mind during a conversation. 

 While not everyone feels comfortable with prolonged eye contact, it remains a valuable tool for deciphering emotions and thoughts. 

Researchers at Cornell University have discovered that people often reduce their eye contact when discussing embarrassing topics or when engrossed in deep thoughts or emotions.

 Conversely, individuals who maintain consistent eye contact during interactions   tend to exhibit higher levels of social dominance and self-assuredness.

5. Your Handshake 

The way you shake hands can also provide insights into your personality.

A study conducted by the University of Alabama enlisted "handshake coders" who interacted with 112 male and female subjects, shaking their hands twice.

Unbeknownst to the subjects, their handshakes were being assessed, followed by the completion of four personality questionnaires.

The findings were intriguing.

 A firm handshake is often associated with extroversion and a willingness to embrace new experiences.

 Conversely, a weak handshake may suggest shyness and a tendency towards neuroticism.

  In this study, men generally exhibited firmer handshakes than women.

  However, it's noteworthy that women who leaned towards liberalism, intellectualism, and openness to new experiences also displayed firmer handshakes.

 Moreover, these women left a more favorable impression compared to their counterparts with weaker handshakes.

 For men, the dynamic was somewhat different.

 Those who were more open-minded tended to have slightly less firm handshakes and made relatively less favorable first impressions than their peers.

 6. How Late You Are    

Do you constantly run late to things?

Have you gotten a bad rep for struggling to make it to school or work on time?

 In actuality, this bad habit might not be the worst thing.

 Running late can be indicative that you're a multitasker or are more laid back.

 Findings from a 2003 study by Jeff Conte from San Diego State University showed that out of 181 New York City subway operators, those who preferred to multitask were commonly late to work.

 Multitasking makes it harder to have metacognition, or the awareness of what you're doing, meaning that you aren't as aware of the time when you're in the middle of multitasking.

 7. If You Get Something for Yourself, and Don’t Think of Others 

Let’s say you want some takeout.

So you decide to grab some food on your way home from work, and you decide to call your partner or family up to see if they want some too.

That is, if you’re a kind and unselfish person.

Let’s just say this, if you live with a partner, or your brother, or your old Uncle Larry and they don’t call to ask if you’ve eaten or want something?

They suck.

They don’t even need to pay for it!

Just ask! You can split the bill later.

But if you have a partner who likes to buy a churro or hotdog and eat it in front of you – without asking if you want one –they are simply selfish, and likely cheap.

 Not a good thing my friend. Not a good thing.

 8. If You Subtly Put Others Down 

People can subtly be rude to you and you might not notice it right away.

For example, do they talk like this?

You don't like to read that comic, right?

Or, you're not really into that video game, are you?

If they often phrase questions in a condescending way and you can't help but feel bad by their remarks, then they might not be the best friend to have.

Speaking this way can also be a sign that they look on the negative side of things and don't think very highly of others.

 9  Where Your Eyes Go When You Drink   

Psychologists have observed that the direction of a person's gaze while taking a sip of a drink can provide insights into their personality.

When someone gazes over the rim of their cup while drinking, it suggests they may be extroverted and easily influenced.

Such individuals tend to place trust in others, are environmentally aware, and possess a carefree outlook on life.

Conversely, if a person focuses their gaze within their drink while taking a sip, it indicates introspection.

 These individuals tend to be self-aware, attentive to their own thoughts and feelings,and possess an idealistic view of life.

Lastly, if someone closes their eyes while taking a gulp of their favorite beverage, such as a soothing hot cocoa, it suggests they seek solace and pleasure in the act of drinking.

This behavior may arise from a desire to momentarily escape discomfort or pain.

 Remember, brighter days are ahead, so savor that hot cocoa while you can.

 In conclusion, understanding people is akin to peeling away the layers of an intricate onion.

Their actions, choices, and behaviors provide invaluable clues that can help you decode their true selves.

 By paying close attention to these subtle hints, you can gain deeper insights into their personalities and develop more meaningful connections with the people in your life.