Why Dancers Are More Outgoing and Less Neurotic: New Study Explains the Personality Traits of Dancers
Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
If you've ever wondered whether dancing says something about your personality, you're not alone!
A recent study published in Personality and Individual Differences has revealed that dancers possess distinct personality traits compared to non-dancers.
Spoiler alert: dancers are more open, extroverted, agreeable, and less neurotic. It's almost like the dance floor is a secret recipe for a better mood and personality boost!
Dance and Personality: How Dancing Improves Your Mood and Social Life
Researchers from Sweden and Germany conducted a deep dive into the personality traits of dancers versus non-dancers. They found that people who dance regularly are more open to new experiences, more agreeable, and have higher levels of extroversion.
Even better?
Dancers are less neurotic, meaning they're less prone to anxiety and emotional instability. This confirms what many of us have always felt: dancing doesn’t just make your body feel good—it also uplifts your mind.
Is It Dancing or the Dancers? The Chicken or the Dance Floor Conundrum
In this study, which used two large samples from Sweden and Germany, researchers wanted to know whether the personality benefits of dancing come from the act itself or if people with those traits are naturally drawn to dance.
They surveyed over 5,400 people in Sweden and nearly 600 dancers in Germany, using the Big Five Inventory (BFI) to measure core personality traits such as openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
The results?
Dancers, no matter where they’re from, consistently scored higher in openness, extroversion, and agreeableness.
The Link Between Dancing and Mental Health: Lower Anxiety, More Fun
The study showed that dancers, whether hobbyists or professionals, are generally more agreeable and less prone to anxiety. This aligns with other research that links dancing to improved mental health.
Dancing seems to be an antidote to stress, which may explain why dancers are less neurotic than musicians, for example. Musicians, especially professionals, tend to score higher in neuroticism, possibly because of the pressures of their profession.
In contrast, dancers express emotions through their bodies, and this physicality could be a key to releasing negative emotions and promoting emotional stability. In a world where stress and anxiety are at an all-time high, maybe the dance floor is the best place to unwind!
Dance Styles and Personality: What Your Dance Type Says About You
Not all dancers are created equal, though.
The study also looked at different dance styles and how they might relate to personality traits. Ballet and Argentine tango dancers, for example, scored the highest in openness.
This could be because these dance styles require significant creativity and adaptability. Meanwhile, street dancers, though creative, scored lower in openness compared to their ballet counterparts.
But no matter what style you groove to—whether it's tango, ballet, or ballroom—dancing has a way of connecting you to your social side. The physical nature of dance invites interaction and social exposure, which might explain why dancers are generally more extroverted than non-dancers.
Dance Entrepreneurs: When Dancing and Business Mix
Now, let’s talk about the unique breed of dance school entrepreneurs.
These folks, who manage the business side of dancing while also performing, scored the highest in openness, extroversion, and agreeableness.
They were also the least neurotic, which suggests that managing a dance business while also hitting the dance floor might attract particularly outgoing and stress-resistant personalities. So, if you’re thinking about combining your love of dance with entrepreneurship, it could be the perfect recipe for personal growth.
Dancing for a Better Life: How Dance Influences Personality and Success
While this study sheds light on the unique personality traits of dancers, it also suggests that dancing could have broader implications for personal success and well-being. Future research might explore how these traits help dancers succeed both on and off the stage.
Could dancing be the secret ingredient to a happier, more sociable, and emotionally resilient life? Science certainly seems to suggest so!
Limitations and Future Research: What's Next for the Psychology of Dance?
Of course, no study is perfect.
This research relied on self-reported questionnaires, which can sometimes be biased. Additionally, the German sample was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have affected participants' engagement with dance.
Plus, this study focused mainly on Western dance styles, so the results might not apply to dancers from other cultures or those practicing non-Western dance forms.
Future research could take a deeper dive into how different cultural dance traditions influence personality traits. For now, one thing is clear: dancing is more than just fun—it's a great way to express your creativity, improve your mental health, and build strong, outgoing personality traits.
Get Dancing, Get Happy!
So, next time you hit the dance floor, know that you’re doing more than just shaking off the stress.
You’re cultivating personality traits that make you more open to new experiences, less anxious, and maybe even a little more fun to be around. Who knew that dancing could help you score points in both the happiness and social departments?
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Christensen, J. F., Wesseldijk, L. W., Mosing, M. A., Fayn, K., Schmidt, E.-M., Blattmann, M., Sancho-Escanero, L., & Ullén, F. (2024). The dancer personality: Comparing dancers and non-dancers in Germany and Sweden. Personality and Individual Differences.