59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (32 page)

IN 59 SECONDS

Some researchers believe that the relative length of your first and third fingers provides considerable insight into your psychological and physical abilities. To quickly assess yourself, hold your left hand palm up in front of you and look at the length of your first (index) and third (ring) fingers.

Your first finger may be slightly longer than your third finger, and so your hand will tend to resemble the illustration below.

Alternatively, your third finger may be slightly longer than your first finger, and so your hand would be more like the illustration below.

According to the theory, a relatively long third finger is indicative of a more “masculine” brain and body and is associated with, for example, high levels of performance in sports, greater assertiveness, increased emotional stability, and enhanced musical ability.

To carry out a slightly more accurate version of the exercise, hold your right palm up in front of you and look at where your first finger joins the palm of your hand. There will be several creases at that point. Place the zero mark of the ruler on the middle of the bottom crease and measure to the tip of your finger (not your nail) in millimeters. Now repeat exactly the same procedure for your right third finger. To find the 2D:4D ratio, divide the length of your first finger by the length of your third finger. Research shows that the average male ratio is about .98, and a ratio of about .94 would be regarded as especially masculine, while a ratio of 1.00 would be viewed as more feminine. For women, the average ratio is about 1.00, and a score of about .98 would be regarded as more masculine while a ratio of 102 would be viewed as more feminine.

   
CELEBRITY FINGERS

When I first came across research suggesting that the 2D:4D ratio predicted athletic and musical excellence, I wondered whether the same effect might emerge among people who had made a name for themselves in other occupations. However, as measuring the finger lengths of the rich and famous seemed rather problematic, I filed the idea in the somewhat cramped mental box marked “Probably Never Going to Happen.” Then, some time ago, I was watching a television program documenting a road trip across America and suddenly had an idea. One of the scenes was filmed in Los Angeles and involved chatting with people walking along Hollywood Boulevard. In the background I could see the world-famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and suddenly the penny dropped.

Since the 1920s many of the world’s most famous celebrities have had their signatures, footprints, and handprints set in concrete blocks at the entrance of the theater. Was it possible, I wondered, to accurately measure finger lengths from the casts and thus discover the 2D:4D ratios of some of the best-known figures in show business? My mind started to race. Would leading men have especially high levels of testosterone and therefore especially low 2D:4D ratios? What about comedians? Their success often rests on being verbally skilled and creative rather than having rugged good looks—would that be reflected in a high 2D:4D ratio?

There was just one small problem—I was in London and the casts were in Los Angeles. Never one to let a few thousand miles get in the way of research, I contacted a colleague named Jim Underdown. Jim is a former stand-up comedian from Chicago who now works for the Center for Inquiry, an American organization that promotes the skeptical and scientific investigation of alleged paranormal phenomena. He heads a branch of the organization based in Los Angeles and has been involved in all sorts of strange projects, including examining sightings of alleged UFOs and testing people who claim to have psychic powers.

I e-mailed Jim and asked whether he might be able to help out. More specifically, could he obtain some digital calipers and arrange for a colleague (who was unaware of the 2D:4D theory) to measure as many of the concrete handprints as possible? Jim accepted the challenge. A few weeks later he e-mailed me to say that calipers had been purchased and that he had teamed up with another researcher named Spencer Marks and spent several days avoiding puddles and security guards, eventually collecting initial data from thirty-seven of the best-known leading men and nine comedians.

The list of leading men read like a who’s who of the film industry, including Paul Newman, Bruce Willis, Johnny Depp, John Travolta, Warren Beatty, and Jack Nicholson. Previous work suggested that the average male 2D:4D ratio tends to be about .98. The average ratios for the leading men’s left and right hands were both about .96, suggesting that they are an especially testosterone-fueled bunch. The comedians formed an equally impressive group, which included some of the funniest people in the world, such as George Burns, Peter Sellers, Bob Hope, and Robin Williams. Their average left-hand 2D:4D ratio was about .96, but their average right-hand ratio came in at a surprisingly high 101.

The work is still in its infancy, but the initial results look as intriguing as they are promising. If the phenomenon is genuine, it might really be possible to discover whether someone has that magic X-factor by simply looking at their hands.

QUICK TIPS FOR GAINING INSIGHT INTO SOMEONE’S PERSONALITY IN 59 SECONDS OR LESS

Ask People About Their Pets
. A few years ago I conducted a large-scale online study examining the possible relationship between the personality of owners and their pets. More than two thousand owners rated their personality and the personality of their pets on several factors (e.g., sociability, emotional stability, and sense of humor). In addition, they indicated
how long they had owned their pet. Fish owners turned out to be the happiest, dog owners the most fun to be with, cat owners the most dependable and emotionally sensitive, and reptile owners the most independent. Weirdly, the results also revealed telling differences rating pets’ sense of humor. According to their owners, 62 percent of dogs had a good sense of humor, compared to just 57 percent of fish, 48 percent of cats, 42 percent of horses, 38 percent of birds, and 0 percent of reptiles.

The findings also revealed significant similarities between the personalities of owners and those of their pets. Interestingly, this similarity increased over time, suggesting that pets may slowly come to adopt their owner’s personality, or vice versa. For years, owners have insisted that their pets have a unique personality—not only does my research suggest they might be right, but it also reveals that people’s pets are a reflection of themselves. So if you meet someone who has a dog and you want to gain genuine insight into their personality within seconds, ask them to describe the personality of their canine pal.

Bumper Stickers
. William Szlemko and colleagues speculated that many people who personalize their car by adding bumper stickers or window stickers may be sending out powerful signals of territoriality, and they were curious to discover if having to share public roads with others could increase the chances of these drivers’ experiencing road rage.
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To investigate, hundreds of participants were asked to report how many bumper and window stickers they had and also to rate their level of aggressive driving. The results revealed that drivers with more stickers admitted to driving more aggressively, including a greater frequency of tailgating and ramming. So if
you find yourself driving behind a car covered in stickers, it’s probably best to give it that extra inch or two.

All Thumbs
. The brain can be seen as working in two general modes. In one mode (often called right-brained), it is more intuitive, visual, and creative. In the other (often called left-brained), it is more logical, sequential, and language-based. In many ways, it is like having an artist and an accountant arguing in your head, and you are flipping between the two. All of us work in both modes, but everyone naturally tends toward one or the other. Right-handers can try this quick test to discover if they tend to be more right- than left-brained or vice versa. Interlock the fingers of your hands and place one thumb on top of the other. People who place their right thumb on top of their left thumb tend to be left-brain dominant, and are thus more verbal and analytical.
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Those who place their left thumb on top of their right thumb tend to be right-brain dominant, and excel in visual, creative, and intuitive tasks.

Morning or Evening?
If you wanted to feel at your best and were free to get up at any time of the day, when would you choose to climb out of bed? At 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m., or even 10 a.m? And how about at the opposite end of the day. If you had your way, and were free from all other demands, when would you choose to go to bed? At 10 p.m., midnight, or 1 a.m.? Your answers to those two questions help reveal whether you are a morning type (going to bed early and getting up early) or an evening type (late to bed and late to rise). Recent research also suggests that your answers reveal a great deal about your personality and style of thinking.
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Questionnaire results from more than 350 people showed that morning
types are attracted to concrete information rather than abstract thinking and like to rely on logic rather than intuition. They tend to be introverted, self-controlled, and eager to make a good impression on others. In contrast, evening types have a far more creative outlook on life, are more prepared to take risks, are more independent and nonconforming, and are a little impulsive.

conclusion

Sophie’s answer:
Ten
techniques
in
59 seconds

AT THE START OF THIS BOOK
I described going to lunch with my friend Sophie a few years ago. As we chatted, Sophie said that she had bought a book on increasing happiness, and I expressed considerable skepticism about the self-help industry. When I launched into a lengthy account of academic work in happiness, Sophie politely interrupted me and essentially posed the question that acted as a catalyst for this book: are there any scientifically supported techniques that could help improve people’s lives in less than a minute? I didn’t know the answer, but Sophie’s question piqued my curiosity. After surveying thousands of studies in countless journals, I realized that behavioral researchers working in many different areas had indeed developed such techniques. Sophie, here are ten of the most interesting studies that I wish I had known about when you asked. On a good day, I think I could describe all ten in just under a minute.