Personality

Is it in your blood?

In the West some people believe that an individual's personality and character can be predicted according to the time of the year the person was born. From China comes the belief that the year of birth determines one's personality. In the past century, a relatively new belief has arisen: the idea that personality is related to one's ABO blood type. People with blood type A, for example, are considered more likely to be serious, hard working and quiet, while people with blood type O are likely to be popular and outgoing, yet often unable to finish what they start Though this belief continues to be strong, researchers and critics question the accuracy of the theory, and warn of potential negative consequences.

The blood type personality theory started in Japan 1927 when a high school administrator, Furukawa Takeji, observed personality similarities and differences among his workers. They theory soon went out of fashion, but was brought back in force by a Japanese broadcaster named Toshitaka Nomi in the 1097s. The belief is still strong in Japan and is increasingly popular in neighboring countries. Young Koreans in pariticular have taken to the theory. A recent survey conducted by Gallup Korea showed 76% of Korean aged between 13 and 64 believing in the blood type personality connection.

Is th belief accurate? The scientific community in Asia largely dismisses the belief as a modern-day superstition. Most studies have failed to find any strong link between blood type and personality. Even when the occasional study comes along which claims to have found a link between blood type and perosnlity traits the differences are very small and often contradict the expected results of the blood type theory. Psychologists generally warn against making predictions or important decisions based on this questionable theory.

Tatsuya Sato, a psychology professor at Ritsumeikan University, claims, " Linking blood type and personality is not only unscientific, it's wrong." Critics like Sato warn that the blood type personality theory has created stereotypes that can have negative consequences, as we expected people to conform to a stereotype that might be untrue.

Looking for love? Better not be a male with blood type B, especially in Korea. Recently, a popular song in Korea called type- B men" claimed that type B mea are quick to get angry and quick to make up, but in the end, they will break your heart." A movie called My boyfriend is type B portrayed a similar stereotype, with the main character torturing his girlfriend with his "typical type B selfishness." The director of the movie, Sukwon Choi (himself a type -B man), said, " For women they are seen as bad boys, but they are also appealing because they are charming and attractive." Some type-B men, however, have complained that women rejected them when they found out their blood type. According to a recent survey in Korea, 40 % of women said they did not want to marry a man with type B blood.

More serious are the reports that some Asian companies make hiring decisions based on blood types. One worker in a human resources company in China reported that clients often ask for blood type information for job candidates, wanting only certain blood type for positions in their companies, In Japan, it is possible for companies to hire a "blood type consultant" to help with hiring decisions. Critics complain that if research is unable to prove any relationship between blood type and personality, can we justify hiring practices based on what might just be superstitions? Is it fair to be denied a job just because you were born with the wrong type of blood in your veins?

There is also the possibility that people are influenced to change their personality to match the expected stereotypes. A survey of studies conducted in Japan over a 10 year period found that while in the 1970s there was no relationship between blood type and personality, later studies in the 1980s found that the relationship between blood type and personality slightly increased. Researchers concluded that as the belief in the stereotypes increases, people may actually be changing their personalities to conform to the blood-type theory. Critics worry that if this trend continues, companies in the future may feel even more justified in using blood-type information as a factor in hiring.

Though the majority of Asian might believe to some extend in the blood type theory for many it seems harmless and not something to be taken too seriously. Korean college student Ji sun Kim states, "I know it is not always true for everyone, but it seems accurate for me and many of my friends. Anyway, it's just something that is fun to talk about, especially when you meet new people."

Stereotype of Blood type personality

A blood type

strength: serious, responsible, hard-working, perfectionist, follows the rules.

weaknesses: shy, quiet, stubborn, overly cautious, sensitive

B blood type

strength: creative, individualistic, curious, passionate, optimistic, outgoing

weaknesses: irresponsible, selfish, unpredictable, forgetful

O blood type

strength: confident, independent, peaceful, popular, generous, ambitious,                outgoing

weaknesses: proud, stubborn, uncommitted, don't always finish what they               start.

AB blood type

AB blood type people are said to have many contradictions, easily witching from one extreme to the other. They can be cool and confident but then later sensitive and indecisive. They can be outgoing and sociable, but shy at other times, They can be considerate, but also strict, critical, and unforgiving, Generally, AB blood types are unpredictable and independent, seeing themselves as separate form the group.