Study Says There Are 4 Personality Types. Which Is Yours? Use this research to find out if you are an optimist, a pessimist, green with envy or a trusting soul.

By Dan Bova

Stephanie Rausser | Getty Images

Spanish researchers published a study in Science Advances that says that 90 percent of the world's population falls into one of four basic personality types: Optimistic, Pessimistic, Envious and Trusting.

The study was conducted by taking groups of people and pairing them into rotating teams of two. The teams were presented with social dilemmas and were given options that led to either collaboration or conflict.

Related: 7 Steps for Keeping Conflict Healthy

Breaking down the types, the study defines Optimists as those who made choices that benefited both people in the pair. Pessimists, the study found, typically chose the lesser evil. Envious types didn't seem to care about the method as long as the result benefited them over others and Trusting people favored cooperation and collaboration with no consideration on who, if anyone, would benefit in the end.

Related: Use This Secret Military Trick to Tell if Someone Is Lying

The study found that the most people fit into the Envious category. Which do you think you fit?

Dan Bova

BIZ Experiences Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at BIZ Experiences.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.

Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

Science & Technology

AI Isn't Plug-and-Play — You Need a Strategy. Here's Your Guide to Building One.

Don't just "add AI" — build a strategy. This guide helps founders avoid common pitfalls and create a step-by-step roadmap to harness real value from AI.