1. Your handshake
Several Quora users admitted that they judge people based on their handshake.
"Strong handshakes usually reflect a strong and confident character, whereas
weak handshakes usually indicate a lack of confidence and are almost always a
characteristic of people who would look for an easy way to do things," writes
Julian Parge.
Research backs up the idea that your handshake can reveal certain aspects of
your personality. One study found that people with firm handshakes were more
likely to be extroverted and emotionally expressive and less likely to be shy
and neurotic.
2. Whether you show up on time
Late for a very important date? The person who's waiting may be forming a
negative impression of your personality.
"A proactive person will be there on time, because he is self-motivated,
mentally organized, and values time whereas a procrastinator will be running
here and there at the last hour," says Humaira Siddiqui.
According to science, those who are chronically late aren't necessarily
inconsiderate people — but they're probably more laid-back, "Type B"
individuals.
3. How you treat restaurant staff
Multiple users said they pay close attention to how other people interact with
waiters.
"I will never, EVER date a man who is rude to restaurant staff," says Sati Marie
Frost.
Even top executives say that you can learn a lot about someone based on the way
he or she treats waiters, hotel maids, and security guards. Ron Shaich, CEO of
Panera Bread, says that he once declined to give someone a job partly because
she was nice to him but rude to someone cleaning the tables nearby.
4. Where you look when you drink out of a cup
Writes David Junto: "A person that looks into the cup when drinking tends to be
more introspective, self-aware, idealistic, and focused. A person who looks over
the rim of the cup when drinking tends to be more influenced by others, more
environmentally aware, carefree, extroverted, and trusting."
And don't even get started on what your drink choice may signal to others.
5. Whether you bite your nails
Sushrut Munje has strong views on people with bitten nails, saying that it's a
sign that "the person eats away at himself."
Meanwhile, research suggests that those who bite their nails — or pull their
hair or pick their skin — tend to be perfectionists, unable to fully relax.
6. Your handwriting
Whether you're writing a to-do list or a love note, your handwriting can say a
lot about you.
Ramesh Nagaraj believes that "people who put a lot of pressure on pen and paper
to write something are usually stubborn in attitude. They have a lot of
confidence."
Meanwhile, professional graphologist Kathi McKnight says that large letters
indicate that you're people-oriented, while small letters suggest you're
introverted. Letters that slant to the right can mean you're friendly and
sentimental, those that don't slant at all might mean you're pragmatic, and
letters that slant to the left suggest you're introspective.
7. How often you check your phone
An anonymous Quora user writes about noticing "where and when [people] pull
their phones out (waiting in a short line, talking to their parents, being out
with friends, when they're alone in public)."
As for what it might mean if you're constantly refreshing your email or Facebook
feed, one study found that you may be less emotionally stable and trying to
boost your mood.
8. Whether you make eye contact
Munje says that a limp handshake and a lack of steady eye contact "shows lack of
self-control, required drive to follow through, and a weak will."
Alternatively, psychologist Adrian Furnham, PhD, writes in Psychology Today that
extroverts tend to look more often and for longer at their conversation partners
than introverts do. And in general, people who look at their partners more often
are more confident and socially dominant.
9. Your selfie style
Research suggests that people will assume a lot about you based on your selfies.
Usually, those assumptions are inaccurate. For example, being alone in a photo
does not mean you're neurotic, but people are probably right to think that
positive emotion in a selfie predicts openness to experience.
10. Your taste in music
Citing a 2003 study on the topic, Quora user Humaira Siddiqui says that she
judges people based on the type of music they listen to.
The study found that people who listen to "reflective and complex" music tend to
be open to new experiences and politically liberal. Those who listen to "upbeat
and conventional" jams are more likely to be extroverted and athletic.
11. Your favorite color
Shivani Jha has a theory on what your color of choice reveals about your
personality. For example, if your favorite color is red, she assumes you desire
physical fulfillment. If your favorite color is yellow, she thinks you need
logical order and value individuality.
Industrial psychologist Bernardo Tirado breaks it down slightly differently.
Writing in Psychology Today, Tirado says that red lovers are tenacious and
determined, while yellow lovers enjoy learning and find happiness easily.
12. Whether you're a dog or a cat person
People may make inferences about you based on your pet. For instance, Joe
Waldron believes that people who do not like cats have control issues, and he
warns against dating women who have big dogs, believing that they are not
interested in long-term relationships.
Meanwhile, one study found that people who prefer dogs are generally more
energetic and outgoing, while those who prefer cats tend to be more introverted
and sensitive. The same study also found that cat people tend to be more
intelligent.
13. How long it takes you to ask a question
Even if someone doesn't say anything about themselves in conversation, you can
still learn about their personality.
As Khaliana Schmitz says: "When meeting someone for the first time ... see how
long it takes for them to ask you a question in return. You'd be surprised how
much this reveals in terms of a person being a 'giver' or a 'taker.' It will
help you distinguish between 'people who like you' and 'people who like what you
can provide them.'"