Posted on 09/07/2020 10:11:03 AM PDT by LibWhacker
Distinct psychological mix associated with mountain populations is consistent with the theory that harsh frontiers attracted certain personalities.
This psychological fingerprint for mountainous areas may be an echo of the personality types that sought new lives in unknown territories Friedrich Götz
When historian Frederick Jackson Turner presented his famous thesis on the US frontier in 1893, he described the “coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and acquisitiveness” it had forged in the American character.
Now, well into the 21st century, and researchers led by the University of Cambridge have detected remnants of the pioneer personality in US populations of once inhospitable mountainous territory, particularly in the Midwest.
A team of scientists algorithmically investigated how landscape shapes psychology. They analysed links between the anonymised results of an online personality test completed by over 3.3 million Americans, and the “topography” of 37,227 US postal – or ZIP – codes.
The researchers found that living at both a higher altitude and an elevation relative to the surrounding region – indicating “hilliness” – is associated with a distinct blend of personality traits that fits with “frontier settlement theory”.
“The harsh and remote environment of mountainous frontier regions historically attracted nonconformist settlers strongly motivated by a sense of freedom,” said researcher Friedrich Götz, from Cambridge’s Department of Psychology.
“Such rugged terrain likely favoured those who closely guarded their resources and distrusted strangers, as well as those who engaged in risky explorations to secure food and territory.”
“These traits may have distilled over time into an individualism characterised by toughness and self-reliance that lies at the heart of the American frontier ethos” said Götz, lead author of the study.
“When we look at personality across the whole United States, we find that mountainous residents are more likely to have psychological characteristics indicative of this frontier mentality.”
Götz worked with colleagues from the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Austria, the University of Texas, US, the University of Melbourne in Australia, and his Cambridge supervisor Dr Jason Rentfrow. The findings are published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.
The research uses the “Big Five” personality model, standard in social psychology, with simple online tests providing high-to-low scores for five fundamental personality traits of millions of Americans.
The mix of characteristics uncovered by study’s authors consists of low levels of “agreeableness”, suggesting mountainous residents are less trusting and forgiving – traits that benefit “territorial, self-focused survival strategies”.
Low levels of “extraversion” reflect the introverted self-reliance required to thrive in secluded areas, and a low level of “conscientiousness” lends itself to rebelliousness and indifference to rules, say researchers.
“Neuroticism” is also lower, suggesting an emotional stability and assertiveness suited to frontier living. However, “openness to experience” is much higher, and the most pronounced personality trait in mountain dwellers.
“Openness is a strong predictor of residential mobility,” said Götz. “A willingness to move your life in pursuit of goals such as economic affluence and personal freedom drove many original North American frontier settlers.”
“Taken together, this psychological fingerprint for mountainous areas may be an echo of the personality types that sought new lives in unknown territories.”
The researchers wanted to distinguish between the direct effects of physical environment and the “sociocultural influence” of growing up where frontier values and identities still hold sway.
To do this, they looked at whether mountainous personality patterns applied to people born and raised in these regions that had since moved away.
The findings suggest some “initial enculturation” say researchers, as those who left their early mountain home are still consistently less agreeable, conscientious and extravert, although no such effects were observed for neuroticism and openness.
The scientists also divided the country at the edge of St. Louis – “gateway to the West” – to see if there is a personality difference between those in mountains that made up the historic frontier, such as the Rockies, and eastern ranges e.g. the Appalachians.
While mountains continue to be a “meaningful predictor” of personality type on both sides of this divide, key differences emerged. Those in the east are more agreeable and outgoing, while western ranges are a closer fit for frontier settlement theory.
In fact, the mountainous effect on high levels of “openness to experience” is ten times as strong in residents of the old western frontier as in those of the eastern ranges.
The findings suggest that, while ecological effects are important, it is the lingering sociocultural effects – the stories, attitudes and education – in the former “Wild West” that are most powerful in shaping mountainous personality, according to scientists.
They describe the effect of mountain areas on personality as “small but robust”, but argue that complex psychological phenomena are influenced by many hundreds of factors, so small effects are to be expected.
“Small effects can make a big difference at scale,” said Götz. “An increase of one standard deviation in mountainousness is associated with a change of around 1% in personality.”
“Over hundreds of thousands of people, such an increase would translate into highly consequential political, economic, social and health outcomes.”
/s
To our “friends” in England — we rescued England when all hope was lost. Ungrateful? Don't forget it!
A lot of Americans have family connections to Great Britain and most left the “sh!th0le” that was England. That gave new immigrants to the United States and appreciation for Freedom, Liberty, and “Independence” (a little play on words) and a very strong aversion to government involvement in our lives. The promise of Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness was fulfilled ten fold.
Sadly we Americans have become lazy and complacent.
Explains why this Southerner is looking at Wyoming!
There are places you have no idea of...
You left out Aspen. A direct hit on that town by a large meteor on President’s Day would make the USA a much better country.
Fear the wild FReeper deplorables!
FMCDH! (long-timers, recall that?)
I disagree with some of these conclusions. I grew up in a rural area of a high desert in the Intermountain West. The people are independent, self-reliant and private and don’t take kindly to lazy beggars but if one of their neighbors happens on hard times, these people are the first to mobilize help for them. If a barn burns down, they will help rebuild it. If a man gets seriously ill, neighbors will bring in his harvest. If a tractor breaks down, neighbors will help repair or lend their own machines. If a flood threatens animals, others will pick up and pasture them until the emergency is over.
And not one mention of “The American Redoubt”.
Europeans have always had a obsessive fascination with western individualism to the point of it being almost perverse in the sense they cannot conceive of being that way themselves but are intensely voyeuristic in their consumption of it.
“These are the tourist from back East and California.”
and visiting Europeans.
Pirsig wrote that Americans on the East Coast tended to copy Europeans.
” If a man gets seriously ill, neighbors will bring in his harvest.”
My GF’s family live in a rural area. A few years back a neighbor passed away. His son’s had a hay crop that was needing cutting and baling at the time. The neighbors did if for them without being asked.
LOL. Pseudoscientists treat an attitude of self-reliance and freedom as some sort of disability. Typical of the baaing sheep of Academia.
How bout, they were the ones that survived the hard life.
and they liked the view
“Montani Semper Liberi”
Chuck said that.
Include the N GA mountains in that too.
The FIRST big move most of these people made was to forsake their homelands and cross a wide ocean to get here. Desiring to become Americans and make a life for themselves. Unlike many recent arrivals, who merely want to latch onto a government teat and live off of others.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.