Eyes are the windows to the soul. A new research found what people see in a single shape can tell a lot about their personality and political inclinations.
People were shown a single, slightly fragmented shape and asked one question: "Is it a circle?" Participants who answered "yes" were believed to be liberals who tend to support legalization of cannabis for recreational use, gay marriage and its benefits and even a government-funded welfare state.
Participants who answered "no" were believed to be conservatives who would choose the illegalization of drug usage and prostitution. They were also believed to be in favor of a well-ordered immigration system and a small government.
The research claims that participants whose shapes interpretations are more flexible tend to be more accepting of marginalized groups such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. These participants are also more tolerant and supportive of the benefits given or planned to be given to the marginalized groups.
Participants who are less flexible in the shape variations were believed to have a more conservative view of the world around them.
"More conservative participants reported greater differentiation between perfect and imperfect shapes than more liberal participants, indicating greater sensitivity to deviance," wrote study authors Tyler G. Okimoto and Dena M. Gromet.
The test is expected to cause a lot of debate, similar to the commotion caused by the color-shifting dress when people were asked if they see gold and white or black and blue. The test is also expected to be exposed to a lot of interpretation.
The findings were published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology highlighted in the book Psy-Q by University of Liverpool senior psychology lecturer Ben Ambrige.
Ambrige's book aims to explore what makes people do the way they do things. Using a series of quizzes, illusions, games, puzzles and interactive tests, the book explores what makes people tick the way they do.
"You'll learn how we as a species think, feel, see and respond to others. You'll turn psychologist and ask friends and family to complete the studies in order to compare your results," said Ambrige.
Photo: Georgie Pauwels | Flickr
