Correlated (18 page)

63%
of people say they're well informed about world events.

But among those who have voted for a minor party or write-in candidate,
76%
say they're well informed about world events.

----------------

29%
of people own skinny jeans.

But among those who have voted for a minor party or write-in candidate, only
17%
own skinny jeans.

----------------

72%
of people are not fastidious about locking the bathroom door.

But among those who have voted for a minor party or write-in candidate,
82%
are not fastidious about locking the bathroom door.

You're extremely likely to have voted for a minor party or write-in candidate if you both:

• have been on the radio
  
• have boycotted a company
  

People who have voted for a minor party or write-in candidate are almost exactly as likely as the average person to:

• like the smell of old books
  
• say they'd rather blow up at
  someone they're mad at than keep it in
  
• prefer Google Chrome as their browser
  

26%
of people say their parents or grandparents are immigrants.

But among those who prefer white noise when they sleep, only
14%
say their parents or grandparents are immigrants.

----------------

72%
of people prefer their gravy thick and gloopy rather than thin and soupy.

But among t
hose who prefer white noise when they sleep,
83%
prefer their gravy thick and gloopy rather than thin and soupy.

----------------

49%
of people suffer from seasonal allergies.

But among those who prefer white noise when they sleep,
60%
suffer from seasonal allergies.

You're extremely likely to prefer white noise when you sleep if you both:

• are better at punctuality than punctuation
  
• prefer cold weather over hot
  

People who prefer white noise when they sleep are almost exactly as likely as the average person to:

• feel more confident in comfortable clothes than in dressy clothes
  
• know the difference between a stock and a bond
  
• have been on a cruise
  

50%
of people have made a career change.

But among those who haven't had any wisdom teeth extracted, only
37%
have made a career change.

----------------

45%
of people are not very physically affectionate.

But among those who haven't had any wisdom teeth extracted,
57%
are not very physically affectionate.

----------------

35%
of people do not consider voting a moral duty.

But among those who haven't had any wisdom teeth extracted,
46%
do not consider voting a moral duty.

You're extremely likely to have not had any of your wisdom teeth extracted if you both:

• have never taken a philosophy course
  
• like the smell of citronella
  

People who haven't had any wisdom teeth extracted are almost exactly as likely as the average person to:

• be terrible bowlers
  
• believe women should be subject to the draft
  
• live alone
  

42%
of people own cardigans.

But among women,
72%
own cardigans.

----------------

30%
of people have nice handwriting.

But among women,
55%
have nice handwriting.

----------------

31%
of people prefer checkers to chess.

But among women,
54%
prefer checkers to chess.

You're extremely likely to be a woman if you both:

• prefer Hillary Clinton over Bill Clinton
  
• prefer to sip cold beverages through a straw
  

Women are almost exactly as likely as the average person to:

• think fireworks displays are better when they're set to music
  
• have used the word
  obsequious
  in conversation
  
• find Australians sexy
  

59%
of people are dog lovers.

But among those who would rather work less than earn more, only
45%
are dog lovers.

----------------

54%
of people know what their Myers-Briggs personality type is.

But among those who would rather work less than earn more,
66%
know what their Myers-Briggs personality type is.

----------------

37%
of people don't make wishes before they blow out their birthday candles.

But among those who would rather work less than earn more,
48%
don't make wishes before they blow out their birthday candles.

You're extremely likely to say you'd rather work less than earn more if you both:

• tend to choose tails in a coin toss
  
• dislike Big Business more than Big Government
  

People who would rather work less than earn more are almost exactly as likely as the average person to:

• regularly check their horoscope
  
• plan their outfits the night before
  
• have gone glow bowling
  

54%
of people think there's been a net decrease in morality over the past century.

But among those who think World War III will occur in the next 25 years,
68%
think there's been a net decrease in morality over the past century.

----------------

38%
of people say they are passive-aggressive.

But among those who think World War III will occur in the next 25 years,
52%
say they are passive-aggressive.

----------------

56%
of people prefer
Star Wars
to
Star Trek
.

But among those who think World War III will occur in the next 25 years,
68%
prefer
Star Wars
to
Star Trek
.

You're extremely likely to think World War III will occur in the next 25 years if you both:

• dislike the scent of menthol
  
• would regift the Clapper
  

People who think World War III will occur in the next 25 years are almost exactly as likely as the average person to:

• have summer birthdays
  
• prefer their sandwiches cut into triangles
  
• have taken a martial arts class
  

32%
of people prefer sweet potatoes to potatoes.

But among those who do yoga,
53%
prefer sweet potatoes to potatoes.

----------------

27%
of people regularly use mouthwash.

But among those who do yoga,
44%
regularly use mouthwash.

----------------

22%
of people have a Pinterest account.

But among those who do yoga,
38%
have a Pinterest account.

You're extremely likely to do yoga if you both:

• are a Lady Gaga fan
  
• like having your feet massaged
  

People who do yoga are almost exactly as likely as the average person to:

• say they'd rather be called a nerd than a geek
  
• like their current bank
  
• be Caucasian
  

23%
of people have Tumblr accounts.

But among those who say they have been attacked by zombies,
55%
have Tumblr accounts.

----------------

48%
of people say their interest in sports is lower than their ability to play sports.

But among those who say they have been attacked by zombies,
70%
say their interest in sports is lower than their ability to play sports.

----------------

37%
of people prefer their vitamins in gummi bear form.

But among those who say they have been attacked by zombies,
55%
prefer their vitamins in gummi bear form.

You're extremely likely to have been attacked by zombies if you both:

• prefer to dry your hands with air dryers, rather than paper towels, in public restrooms
  
• prefer Batman over Superman
  

People who have been attacked by zombies are almost exactly as likely as the average person to:

• prefer foreign cars
  
• describe themselves as a little bit racist
  
• have served as ring bearers or flower girls at a
  wedding
  

Foremost thanks go to Correlated.org's contributors, who supplied the data used in this book, and especially to the top contributors—numbering several hundred—who have answered more than 90% of the poll questions that have been published since Correlated's inception.

Thanks also to Marian Lizzi and Maria Gagliano at Perigee, Laurie Abkemeier at DeFiore & Co., and to everyone else involved in the production of the book.

Finally, I'd like to thank my wife, Tanya, and the rest of my family. Their support, encouragement, and feedback have been instrumental in bringing this book to life. They have celebrated my strengths and put up with my many weaknesses, and for that I am deeply
grateful.

Shaun Gallagher
is the founder of Correlated.org and is also the author of
Experimenting with Babies: 50 Amazing Science Projects You Can Perform on Your Kid
(experimentingwithbabies.com).