As humans, we have all kinds of ways of categorizing things, and we love doing it. If sorting, labeling, and organizing your whole house is something you like to do, then you get it.
But we also like to categorize people, for better or for worse, and one of our favorite ways to do this is to get a little… out there.
For thousands of years, people have looked all over for traits that form our personalities, sometimes relying on methods pretty distant from the actual person involved.
Traditional Western astrology from Greece and Rome uses the constellations in the sky at the time of birth to determine traits.
In China, certain years are associated with certain animals that lend traits to people born under those singns. The ancient Celts used the types of trees in bloom when a person was born.
Other systems use the number of your birthdate, and the ancient Mayans developed their own zodiac system thousands of years ago in Mexico.
With all that in mind, it seems that determining your personality based on arbitrary traits is something from ancient times, made up of traditions that have been passed down for generations.
But that's not always the case. In fact, people were developing personality-determining systems as late as the 1970s.
That's when a man in Japan named Masahiko Nomi popularized a system that used blood type to determine a person's personality, temperament, ideal careers, and compatibility with other people (though the system itself was first created in 1927 by Takeji Furukawa).
The scientific community sees about as much merit in this as they do in astrology (which is to say, none), but it remains hugely popular in Japan and continues to influence everyday life, especially when it comes to dating.
In fact, it's so common that many Japanese people are surprised when a non-Japanese person doesn't know their own blood type. Personality by blood type is also popular in Korea.
If you know your blood type, check out the personalities associated with yours below.
Does it match up? Do you think this is all very silly, or might there be something to this biological way of sussing out someone's personality? Let us know what you think!
Thumbnail Photo: Flickr
What Does Blood Type Have To Do With Personality?
The idea that your blood type influences the kind of person you are comes from Takeji Furukawa, a professor in Tokyo in the late 1920s.
Largely forgotten, his ideas were revived in the 1970s by Masahiko Nomi, a journalist who went on to write several books on the subject, making it grow in popularity.
In this system, the four blood types (A, B, AB, and O) are associated with certain traits.
Positive and negative aren't considered, so people with A positive and A negative blood would both just be considered Type A.
Read on to find what your blood type says about your personality!
Blood Type A
People with Type A blood are said to be earnest, responsible, sensible, and patient.
They're careful and methodical, and like to keep things neat and clean.
Should an accident happen, they're good at staying calm and focused.
They're said to be hard workers and safe drivers, but they'll sometimes not express themselves for fear of causing a conflict.
Blood Type B
Type B people are strong-willed "doer" types who like to go their own way, even if it means breaking a few rules and stepping on a few toes.
Forging their own path makes them adaptable and flexible in their thinking, and they're also very frank and unpretentious.
B types need to be around lots of company and love parties. They can get lonely easily, and don't like to be by themselves.
They also fall in love easily, but don't get too upset if things don't work out.
Blood Type AB
People with AB blood are dreamers, but they're not just dreamers. They're also willing to go out and achieve those dreams, whatever they may be.
They don't desire fame, money or success, but reaching their goal.
They tend to be bookworms, and love studying and learning. Their interests and hobbies tend to be varied, and they tend to be creative, too.
However, they can be hurt easily, and need a lot of private time and personal space.
Blood Type O
Type O folks are also goal oriented, but their goals tend to be a little more rooted in the material world than AB people.
But while they strive for money and gain, they're not greedy or rash and will usually take a strategic approach to things.
They're also good leaders, and caring for others comes naturally to them. They also don't sweat the small stuff, and prefer to see the bigger picture.
What do you think of this method of figuring out peoples' personalities?
Do you think it's hooey, or do you think there might actually be something biologically sound about your blood affecting who you are?
Let us know in the comments, and SHARE this fascinating system with your friends!
