The majority (90%) of the population can be categorized into four basic personality types: the optimistic, the pessimistic, the confident and the envious, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal. But among these character traits, the envious represent the most frequent group with 30% of the population, against 20% for each of the other groups. 10% does not belong to any group.
A study on human behavior was conducted by researchers from Carlos III University in Madrid and the universities of Barcelona, (Rovira i Virgili and Zaragoss) in Spain. Scientists analyzed the responses of 541 volunteers to hundreds of social dilemmas, with options leading to collaboration or conflict with each other, depending on individual or collective interests.
Envious people are the most numerous among the population
After performing this test, the researchers developed a computer algorithm that aimed to rank people based on their behavior. The computer organized 90% of the people into four groups: the largest group, representing 30% of the population were the envious, those who are not team players and who are not proud of what they accomplish. Their only goal, to be better than the others. The optimists, 20% of the human race for whom their partner will make the best choice for both of them. Next come the pessimists (20%), who choose the option they consider to be the lesser of two evils. Then, the confident which represents 20% of individuals who are always ready to cooperate and do not mind winning or losing.
There remains an undefined group that represents 10% of the population. The algorithm was unable to classify them against a clear type of behavior. “There is a certain category of the population that does not react in the same way when faced with a given problem”, concludes Yamir Moreno, coordinator of the study.
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