Personality may be determined by first grade. A study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science examined 1960’s data from approximately 2,400 ethnically diverse 1-6 graders in Hawaii. Researchers compared teachers’ personality ratings with videotaped interviews of 144 of the students 40 years later. Four types of personalities were noted. As adults “talkative” students tried to control situations, “adaptable” students were more cheerful, “impulsive” ones had a wide range of interests and “self-minimizing” students were insecure. It seems that at a very young age personality traits are strong predictors of adult behavior – personality becomes personal.
At an adult age the Internet isn’t for everyone. According to a survey of 2,252 adults by the Pew Research Center, 21% of adult Americans don’t use the Internet; and only 10% of those non-users say they are interested in using it in the future. But doesn’t everyone use a cell phone in 2010? According to the Federal Communications Commission, there are 280 million cell phone subscribers. However, billionaire Warren Buffett, New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley aren’t among them. For some people the same technology that can save time can also monopolize it.
It seems something else monopolizes the time of iPhone users. The online dating and social networking service OKCupid did a poll of 9,785 30-year-old smartphone users. According to the results, female iPhone users had an average of 12.3 sex partners, while female Blackberry users had 8.8 and female Android users had 6.1. According to the same poll, male iPhone users had an average of 10 sex partners, while male Blackberry users had 8.1 and male Android users had 6. Based on this not-too-scientific data, we may now know the significance of the bite missing from the Apple logo.
Based on more scientific data, men experience menopause too. Up to 25% of men have low testosterone levels by age 40. In some cases this results in hot flashes, headaches, moodiness, fatigue, insomnia, weight gain and lack of sex drive. Between 1999 and 2008 U.S. prescriptions for testosterone therapies increased more than 400% to 3.3 million prescriptions. Unlike female menopause, men’s symptoms are gradual and not always noticeable. Only about 5% of men have symptoms warranting testosterone therapy, which can increase risk of heart disease and stroke. Although it’s officially known as late-onset hypogonadism, many women may hope the condition gives “men-a-pause” for empathy.
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