Knowing something about your own personality may be useful as we all work to limit the spread of COVID-19. After all, not everyone copes in the same way.

Self-isolation and social distancing are hard to swallow and even harder to implement.

To make your self-isolation easier—or at least more understandable– here are some useful insights from the perspective of personality psychology that may be useful in coping with social distancing.

I’ve already introduced you to “The Big Five”  – the five major personality traits that can describe each of us. Knowing something about your own personality may be useful as we all work to limit the spread of COVID-19. After all, not everyone copes in the same way.

Who Are You?  Take the Test.

True, robust, scientific personality tests are time-consuming. But time is what we all have plenty of these days. So take advantage – and spend 20 minutes – to discover your personality traits with the Big Five Personality test. Then return here for some personality-related suggestions for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coping Suggestions Tailored to Your Personality.

Now that you know more about your personality, read the coping suggestions below. These are based on my expertise in personality theory and should be treated as hypotheses which you can test for yourself to see if they’re useful.

Extraversion

Extraverts are sociable, talkative, energetic, active, and assertive. They like the excitement of large social gatherings.

If you’re extraverted, social distancing will likely be more difficult for you to endure than it will be for others. You’re probably feeling lonely and may be tempted to go out and see people even though you know you shouldn’t.

Technology could come to the extraverts’ rescue. Take full advantage of video-call software like Skype and Zoom and of course stay connected through social media. And don’t forget about good old-fashioned phone calls. These can’t always match the satisfaction of face-to-face interaction, but they can take the edge off.

If you’re introverted, your endurance for social distancing will probably be greater. But remember, the extraverted people you know may be itching for some social stimulation, so think about giving them a call.

Conscientiousness

People who are high in conscientiousness are reliable, organized, and hardworking. They’re good at exerting self-control and they’re dutiful.

If you’re conscientious, you’re an asset to yourself, those close to you, and your entire community. Conscientiousness is a psychological resource for not only keeping everyday life generally on track (e.g., transitioning to working from home) but also for steadily following important safety precautions and serving as a good example for others.

If you’re low conscientiousness, you might be having a more difficult time adapting. One potentially helpful suggestion is to create a daily schedule. Keeping a schedule of essential daily tasks could prevent you from creating a situation for yourself in which you’re overwhelmed by a number of specific chores and more prone to violating COVID-19 safety instructions.

 Agreeableness

People high in agreeableness are compassionate and eager to help others while those who are low tend to be competitive rather than cooperative.

If you’re high in agreeableness, you’re already concerned about the health and safety of those around you. Your prosocial nature will tempt you to try and help others more vulnerable than you. But remember: social distancing is the best way to help. Limit your exposure and make sure you don’t put anyone in danger. Don’t go out of your way to help others, as you could end up making things worse by spreading the virus.

Agreeable people also hate confrontation, so they might find it difficult to challenge people who are not doing their part to “flatten the curve.” For example, agreeable people may find it difficult to insist on working from home when their boss calls them into work. And they will also have a hard time saying “no” when their friends call them to hang out. Such instances, minor as they may seem, call for agreeable people to act courageously. And they can do that by focusing on the key element of their personality: their desire to help others.

If you’re low in agreeableness, cooperating with others doesn’t come easy but it’s not out of the question, especially if it’s framed as a competition. And you do love a competition. So how about using your competitive spirit to outperform others in all the safety measures? You can be the first to implement them in your family, the one that washes their hands more often, the one that is staying at home the most…you get the drift!

In all this, it’s also important to keep interpersonal tensions low. Being holed up with anyone for a significant amount of time will eventually result in conflict (apparently, divorce rates in Wuhan are higher than normal right now).  Being in the same living quarters doesn’t mean you need to be with each other 24/7. Go to a different room, if possible, or isolate yourself with headphones; spend some time doing things you personally enjoy so you recharge and are more patient when you’re altogether again.

 Neuroticism

Neuroticism describes a general tendency to feel negative emotions like anxiety, fear, sadness, guilt, and depression. People high in neuroticism are also more likely to have a difficult time controlling their emotional reactions and get worn down by stress.

If you’re high in neuroticism, by definition this is a truly stressful time for you as your automatic reaction is to “freak out.” However, knowing that you’re “wired” this way and reminding yourself that you tend to be “high-strung” could paradoxically help you to relax. After all, you don’t need a pandemic to feel anxious – you already were anxious. So, if you catch yourself catastrophizing, remember that your mind is prone to ruminating about worst case scenarios and that this case is no different to any other. There’s no need for panic shopping for example. Take a deep breath and remind yourself of the amount of TP (or any other product) you use in a month. You’ll quickly come to the conclusion that you don’t need to buy 56 rolls for a 15 day quarantine.

You can also take measures to protect yourself from additional stress. For example, limit your exposure to the news. Stay informed and up-to-date of course, but only from trusted sources that rely on facts and that aren’t trying to play with people’s emotions. Instead of being “glued” to the news, add some pleasant distractions: now is the best time to catch up on a favorite TV show; to read all the books you’ve been buying but never had the time to read; to get solid sleep; to enjoy a long bath.

Being high in neuroticism is not all bad though, as you’re more likely to take potential dangers seriously. It’s quite a safe bet that you’re taking the proper COVID-19 safety precautions. But, try not to “fly off the handle” when you see someone failing to act appropriately. Maybe develop a good plan in advance for such situations so you’re not caught off guard. You don’t want to be remembered as the hysteric.

For those low in neuroticism (i.e., more emotionally stable), this pandemic is one of those rare times when you can take a cue from neurotic people. We’re not saying you should stress and panic but to comply with the safety precautions. You feeling calm shouldn’t be taken as a sign of the severity of the situation. For you as well, realising that you typically don’t get stressed, paranoid or panicky could help you acknowledge that this is a serious situation.

 Openness/Intellect

People who are high in Openness/Intellect are curious and imaginative. They also have a have a deeper appreciation for art and beauty.

If you’re high in Openness/Intellect, you’re probably intensely interested to learn more about COVID-19 and are following the news minute-by-minute. Exponential curves, supply chain, economic impacts, geopolitical responses—these topics are probably gripping your attention like crazy right now. You may even enjoy the memes and reading about the inevitable conspiracy theories. That’s all probably fine as long as it’s not coupled with high neuroticism. Also, some of your friends and family may be more on the anxious side, so you may want to refrain from sharing every single Coronavirus-related news item with them. Instead, now is your time for your art appreciation to shine: break the cycle of doom on social media by sharing beautiful photography or poems. Maybe you can help distract some neurotic people you know with an interesting discussion. Or make a list of your favorite songs and pass it along. They can probably use some help refining their artistic palette anyway.

If you’re low in openness/intellect, there’s a good chance that you’re feeling bored. Give an extraverted friend a call. You can entertain each other and they’d appreciate it. Consider this an opportunity to try something new. Maybe take an online course. Check out that podcast your friends have been talking about.

Stay safe. Stay in touch.

Stefano

References

Ozer, D. J., & Benet-Martinez, V. (2006). Personality and the prediction of consequential outcomes. Annual Review of Psychology, 57, 401-421.