Does blood type influence your personality?

For some time now, the idea that blood type influences personality configuration has been popularized. Does it have the ability to modify behavior patterns? Find out what science says.

The relationship between blood type and personality is a topic of discussion in popular culture, which has gained strength in recent years. The idea that a person’s blood type influences their personality originated in Japan in the 1920s and has since gained popularity in other countries such as Korea and Taiwan.

However, despite the persistence of this idea among the general public, There is no scientific evidence to fully support the claim that blood type is related to personality.. All evidence indicates that this is a belief and not a fact as such. Thus, in this article we will show you some of the scope of science regarding the subject.

«It is a duty of man to undertake the conquest of his personality; It is necessary that its development be its own work.

~Pierre-Simon Ballanche~

Blood type and personality

Currently the ABO system is used to determine blood type. This system is based on the presence or absence of antigens A and B on the surface of red blood cells. Likewise, in the presence or absence of antibodies in the blood plasma. The four blood types that result from this classification are A, B, AB and O.

Since the 1920s, the idea has circulated that someone’s blood type can be related to their personality., due to differences in the chemical composition of blood or in the way certain enzymes work. The supposed correlation is the following:

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People with type A blood: perfectionists and careful.People with type B blood: creative and outgoing.People with type AB blood: intuitive and spiritual.People with type O blood: sociable and reliable.

However, the topic was addressed in a study carried out in Japan and published in PloS one. This research examined the relationship between blood type and personality, which was assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in a sample of more than 1,000 healthy Japanese.

The results showed a significant association between blood type and the person’s traits, more specifically the persistence trait. Nevertheless, The authors warned that the results should be considered preliminary and taken with caution, until more precise scientific evidence is obtained..

In this sense, the relationship between blood and personality lacks a solid scientific basis, even more so if we take into account that in the study cited above, several limitations were revealed, such as the fact that it did not consider aspects such as parenting style. , stressful life situations, socioeconomic level, among others.

Science and belief

Another investigation into this popular belief, this time in The Japanese Journal of Psychology, very specifically, indicates that there is no scientific consensus on a relationship between the ABO blood group and personality traits.

However, Within the Asian population, this idea seems to be so ingrained that it can even alter the results of scientific tests, due to “knowledge contamination.”

This is detailed in a study in the International Journal of Social Science Studies, where experts found that a relationship could exist, only the certainty of the fact is not asserted, because the respondents were too conditioned by popular belief.

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Why then do so many people think that blood type influences personality? There is no single answer to this. Some of the possible reasons are as follows:

Desire to find simple explanations: some prefer to believe in simple explanations for complex phenomena.Cognitive biases: People can have cognitive biases that lead them to believe supposed truths, without scientific evidence to support them.Mistaken beliefs: There are erroneous beliefs about the biology and chemistry of the human body. For example, some assume that certain substances in the blood specifically affect the brain, which is wrong.Cultural influence: In some countries, such as Japan, Korea and Taiwan, the idea that blood type characterizes personality is very popular. This hypothesis is perpetuated through the media, literature and everyday conversations.

Overcoming myths

It’s important to put attention on Personality traits are influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, upbringing, education and culture. And there is no verified connection with blood type.

Also, it is pertinent to exercise a critical analysis of the information we find online. It is best to go to reliable sources based on evidence, rather than accepting any statement as true.

In conclusion, although the idea that blood type is related to personality is popular in some places, greater scientific support for this claim is lacking.