Updated

Updated · Upworthy · Jun 19

Psychologist Links Fast Walkers to 7 Traits Including Conscientiousness and Low Neuroticism

Updated

Updated · Upworthy · Jun 19

Psychologist Links Fast Walkers to 7 Traits Including Conscientiousness and Low Neuroticism

Q: Is your walking speed a personality tell, or just a product of your city?

It is both: walking speed can reflect personality, but it is also heavily shaped by where you live and by your health. Psychological research cited in the report suggests fast walkers are more likely to score higher on traits such as conscientiousness, extraversion, assertiveness and ambition, and lower on neuroticism. Clinicians say a brisk pace often signals goal-directed behavior, confidence, energy and emotional steadiness. In that sense, gait can act as a small nonverbal clue about how someone tends to think and behave. But it is not a pure personality test. City life can push people to walk faster regardless of temperament. Dense, time-pressured urban environments, crowded sidewalks, long commutes, traffic signals, heat, street design and the general rhythm of public space all influence pace. A person in New York, London or Tokyo may walk faster out of necessity than the same person would in a quieter suburb or smaller town. Health may matter even more than either personality or place. Walking speed is widely treated as a basic health indicator because it reflects muscle strength, balance, heart and lung function, and sometimes cognitive health. Age, sex, fitness, pain, arthritis, heart disease and other conditions can all slow or speed a person’s gait. So a brisk walker may indeed be purposeful and outgoing, but speed alone cannot tell the full story. It is best read as a mix of personality, environment and physical condition, not a definitive character verdict.

1 articles · Updated · Upworthy · Jun 19

Seven traits are associated with fast walkers, psychologist Christal Castagnozz says, led by conscientiousness, extraversion and low neuroticism.
Research cited in the report ties quicker walking to goal-directed behavior, higher activity levels and greater emotional stability, suggesting fast walkers move with more intention and confidence.
Castagnozz also links a faster pace to openness, agreeableness, assertiveness and ambition, though some traits may influence speed only in certain situations such as walking with a partner.
The article is an updated version of a piece first published last year, framing walking speed as a visible habit that may reflect broader personality patterns.