Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2025

An Application for Pairing with Wearable Devices to Monitor Personal Health Status
Published on: February 3, 2022
Human Personality Is Associated with Geographical Environment in Mainland China
Liang Xu1,2, Yanyang Luo2, Xin Wen2
1Department of Psychology, College of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.
Mountainousness influences personality in China. Higher elevations correlate positively with Big Five traits, while elevation variation shows negative associations, revealing cultural nuances in personality geography.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Geography
- Cultural Studies
Background:
- Geographical features, particularly mountainousness, are linked to personality variations in individualistic nations.
- Previous research suggests a connection between regional personality aggregation and environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between personality traits and mountainousness in a collectivist country, China.
- To determine if geographical topography explains personality clustering in China.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide survey of 29,838 participants in Mainland China.
- Multilevel modeling to analyze the association between Big Five personality traits and provincial mountainousness indicators.
- Machine learning analyses to compare the predictive power of different mountainousness indicators.
Main Results:
- Significant negative associations were found between the elevation coefficient of variation (Elevation CV) and the Big Five personality traits.
- Mean elevation (Elevation Mean) and standard deviation in elevation (Elevation STD) showed positive associations with personality traits.
- Elevation Mean was a strong predictor for neuroticism, while Elevation CV best predicted openness, with cultural differences noted.
Conclusions:
- Mountainousness is a significant factor in personality distribution within China.
- Findings highlight both universal and culturally specific links between environment and personality.
- The study reveals unique aspects of personality geography in a collectivist cultural context.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cultural Influences on Personality
Introduction to Personality Psychology
Early Theories of Personality
The study of...
Personality Theory by Eysenck and Eysenck
In the extroversion/introversion dimension, highly extroverted people are sociable, outgoing, and easily connect with others. In contrast,...
Trait Theory by Gordon Allport
Attribution Theory
Five-Factor Theory of Personality
Openness reflects creativity, curiosity, and openness to new experiences. Individuals scoring high in openness are imaginative, have a wide range of interests, and are independent...

