Self-Awareness
Cancel Culture and Character: The Psychology of Public Shaming as a Social Trait
A person says something offensive on social media. Within hours, thousands of people are demanding their firi…
Editorial library
My Traits Lab Blog
Helpful articles about self-awareness, relationships, work style, emotional patterns, communication, and personal growth.
Self-Awareness
Echo Chamber Mindset: How Surrounding Yourself with "Yes-Men" Freezes Your Growth
Look at the five people you spend the most time with. Now look at the media you consume, the podcasts you lis…
Self-Awareness
The Virtue Signaler's Paradox: When the Appearance of Character Replaces Actual Character
You changed your profile picture to support a cause. You posted a quote about justice. You shared an infograp…
Self-Awareness
Identity Foreclosure: Why You Are Clinging to an Old Version of Yourself to Stay Safe
You knew who you were at twenty-two. You had a plan, a career path, a set of beliefs, and a clear sense of th…
Self-Awareness
Retail Therapy as a Trait: The Neurological Link Between Low Impulse Control and Materialism
You sit on your living room couch late on a stressful Tuesday evening after a grueling corporate meeting or a…
Self-Awareness
The "Joneses" Engine: Why Your Character Obsesses Over Relative Social Status
You attend a high school reunion, browse LinkedIn career updates, or drive through an affluent suburban neigh…
Self-Awareness
Financial Infidelity: Why High-Agreeableness Personalities Hide Spending from Partners
You sit inside a bank consultation room or stand in your kitchen when a spouse discovers a hidden credit card…
Self-Awareness
The Frugal Perfectionist: When Saving Money Becomes an Obsessive Moral Character Trait
You sit at a restaurant dinner table with an exceptionally wealthy colleague or family member who has accumul…
Self-Awareness
Money as Safety vs. Money as Power: Identifying Your Core Financial Trait
You observe two different affluent investors or senior executive colleagues who have both accumulated multi-m…
Self-Awareness
The Gambler’s High: Why High "Openness to Experience" Can Lead to Financial Sabotage
You observe a brilliant, highly creative, imaginative entrepreneur or intellectual peer who possesses extraor…
Self-Awareness
Philanthropy and the Ego: The Psychological "Why" Behind Anonymous Giving
You attend a glittering high-society charity gala inside a grand museum ballroom, where wealthy donors pledge…
Self-Awareness
The Workaholic’s Wallet: Why High Earners Often Have the Lowest Self-Worth
You sit at a polished mahogany boardroom table or stand inside a luxury high-rise corner office looking at a…