The United States of Mind Presented: The Money Makers Presented by: Money Makers

Investigation of how personalities relate to regions. More than 600,000 questionaires were issued in the journal Perspectives on Psycological Science Various topics include crime, health, and economic development

Even when factors such as race, income, and education levels were left out it was found that a state’s personality was linked to certain outcomes Examples: Sociable states tend to be lower in crime. Dutiful states produce many mathematicians. States open to new ideas are more creative. Stressed states like New York have a higher rate of heart disease and lower life expectancy.

Psychologists are unsure about how applicable the questionaire is because it brings up the chicken-and-egg question. Do states have these personalities because of their histories, cultures, or climates; or do people with those personalities go to those states where they feel at home. The information produced from these results could be argued either way.

Cross cultured psychology has become more prominent in the last decade because of the Big Five Inventory. The Big Five Inventory is a 44 question quiz that tests five traits: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and openness.

Mr. Rentfrow wanted to answer the question of why his neighbors acted the way they did. (Texas neighbors vs. New York neighbors) He found analyzing tests given from 1999 to 2005 showed that the results were similar to the testers current residence and not where they were born, or had previously lived.

Mr. Rentfrow’s purpose was not to gauge the life of New Yorkers Mr. Rentfrow’s purpose was not to gauge the life of New Yorkers. He simply wanted to get a “psychological snapshot” of the state. His study was proportionate to the population by state and race. But not so much the “class level” i.e. poor or rich

The tests produced some surprises for Mr. Rentfrow Examples: North Dakota-most outgoing Nevada-open minded Las Vegas- least agreeable Florida-Most Conscientious

Social scientists are considering new ways to use the research to make new programs to help/benefit the state The results of the test produced positive and negative feed back. View Interactive