Are you really cool? A global survey finds 6 traits to fit the definition

A new global survey has identified six core traits commonly associated with “cool” individuals: extroversion, hedonism, power, adventurousness, openness, and autonomy.

The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, involved nearly 6,000 participants from 12 countries. Despite differences in geography, age, income, education, and gender, responses were remarkably consistent.

“What blew my mind was the fact that it was pretty much the same result everywhere,” said Dr Caleb Warren, one of the study’s authors and a professor at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona.

Cool, but not always kind

Participants were asked to think of specific people they considered cool, not cool, good, and not good. They then assessed these individuals based on 15 personality traits. While there was some overlap between cool and good individuals, “good” people were more often described as conforming, traditional, secure, warm, agreeable, conscientious, calm, and universalistic.

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Interestingly, kindness, commonly associated with goodness, was not a defining feature of those seen as cool.

Western roots of cool

All participants recognized the word “cool” in English, without translation. Researchers suggest this reflects the global influence of American media and cultural exports.

“Globally, American success has led to the diffusion of music styles and an immense amount of cultural content, including, apparently, the concept of cool,” said Dr Joseph Henrich, an anthropologist at Harvard University who was not involved in the study.

Limits and bias

One limitation noted by the researchers is that participants who didn’t recognize the English word “cool” were excluded. This means the findings cannot fully assess how the concept is understood or valued in non-Western cultures. The average age of participants also skewed young, typically around 30 or under.

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Other studies suggest cultural factors influence what is seen as desirable.

“Factors like aggression make us have higher status in some Western cultures and simultaneously give us less status in the East,” said Mitch Prinstein, chief of psychology at the American Psychological Association.

Adolescence and identity

Coolness may be especially influential during adolescence. Prior research has found it affects preferences in entertainment, social interactions, and even consumer behaviour. But what society deems cool may not always align with personal values.

Dr Warren and his colleagues made this distinction by comparing perceptions of cool versus good. Across cultures, traits tied to kindness or helpfulness were more frequently associated with being good rather than cool.

Is it worth it?

Dr Warren offers a word of caution. “I have serious doubts,” he said, when asked if coolness is a trait worth chasing.

Some research suggests that adolescents who engage in risk-taking to appear cool may face challenges later in life, including issues with substance use and relationships. “They are doing more extreme things to try to act cool,” one of the researchers told The New York Times.

Dr Prinstein added that while popularity may bring attention and visibility, long-term success often depends on being genuinely liked.

“Even the most uncool kid will probably fare well if they have at least one close friend,” he said.

Coolness, it seems, is more complicated than it appears, and not always beneficial in the long run.