Study: Sleeping Position Reveals Personality Traits

Reuters to My Yahoo! ^ | 9-16-03 | Reuters Health Stringer

[Pharmboy]

LONDON (Reuters) - Whether it's curled up in the fetal position, flat on the stomach or stretched out across the bed, the way people sleep reveals their personality, a British sleep expert said Tuesday.

Wireless A-Go-Go Go wireless while on the road -- here's how. Plus, the scoop on service plans, security and more.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service and a visiting professor at the University of Surrey in southern England, has identified six common sleep positions and what they mean.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious says about us," he said.

Crouched in the fetal position is the most popular sleep pattern and favored by 51 percent of women, according to the results of the study he conducted for a large hotel group.

Fetal sleepers tend to be shy and sensitive while people who assume the soldier position, flat on their back with arms at their sides, are quiet and reserved.

Sleeping on one's side with legs outstretched and arms down in what Idzikowski refers to as the log, indicates a social, easy-going personality. But if the arms are outstretched in the yearner position, the person tends to be more suspicious.

The freefall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6.5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious.

Unassuming, good listeners usually adopt the starfish position -- on the back with outstretched arms and legs.

Idzikowski, who identified the positions by comparing personality traits of people, their preferred way of sleeping and the most common positions, said once a sleeping style is adopted it is rarely changed.

"What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect," he added in a statement.

[Pharmboy]

Information I can use...how 'bout you?

[Zavien Doombringer]

"spooning" isn't mentioned?

[Pharmboy]

I guess they all sleep alone ("No sex please, we're British.")

[Valin]

Sleep is a symptom of caffeine deprivation

[Tijeras_Slim]

What about when the wife makes you sleep on the couch?

[ch53gunner]

IMHO, a true waste of bandwidth (and your time)

[Gorzaloon]

The freefall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6.5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious

HAW HAW HAW! Yup, (slap on the back) That's ME!

[Zavien Doombringer]

I don't know, never had that happen in 18 years of marriage...However I suspect if you sleep on the couch the position would be a permanent hand on your neck the rest of the day....

[Zavien Doombringer]

PA-leeeese, I saw Monty Python's Meaning of Life...Babies falling out everywhere...

[CheneyChick]

"spooning" isn't mentioned?

Neither are "knifing" or "forking". Looks like they need to do more research.

[Mulder]

What a useless study.

I guess this is what the wusses do since they can't have real hobbies, like guns, over there.

Thank God for Andrew Jackson and George Washington ridding us of this scourge.

[.45MAN]

I like your statment..

[olorin]

Then why did you bother to post anything?

[LizardQueen]

What about "twisted into a pretzel, head and feet pointed in different directions, trying to avoid the snoring 100-lb Labrador taking up 80% of the bed"?

LQ

[Pharmboy]

Please do not waste any more of your time on this thread (and neither will I). Thank yew...

[lawdude]

Since all 9 dwarves (dem candidates) are lying, a**holes, it would follow that they all sleep the same way.

[Damocles]

You think this is useless?

Hang around a while for some series fun. It could be HUGH!!

[smith288]

Or what if a fat cat is laying across your neck?

[mitch5501]

what a bunch of hooey...my sleeping position is determined by the least amount of aches.

[isthisnickcool]

Some men have an "event" early in the AM. Where something "changes". "Pup tent time". Wink wink, nod nod. I wonder what that means in this study?