Perhaps this is why your personality is also described as “sweet.” In fact, scientists have discovered that people who enjoy eating sweet things are generally more cheerful and are also considered more sociable.
According to a study published in the Journal of Research in Personality, people with a preference for sweet foods tend to have a kind and empathetic nature. This research, conducted by researchers at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, revealed a link between the preference for sweet foods and cheerful behavior.
To explore whether this connection is global, researchers recruited 1,629 participants and asked them to complete a survey measuring their levels of openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism. The participants were then asked to rate 10 sweet items—such as candy, maple syrup, and raisins—on a scale from one to six, where one meant “extremely disliked” and six meant “extremely liked.”
Finally, participants ranked their preferences for sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy foods to determine where they fell on the flavor spectrum. The study found a cultural connection between agreeableness and a preference for sweetness. The researchers concluded that “a preference for sweet foods is a global human trait that is perceived positively.”
While several factors may contribute to this connection, the researchers concluded that it is more related to language than the psychological effects of sugar. They wrote that people may associate sweetness and agreeableness through metaphors, believing they are either friendly or sweet-loving individuals. People may try to see themselves as someone who is kind and enjoys sweet foods, as these traits align with their personalities. Metaphors might serve as a way to test this alignment.
Ultimately, the researchers concluded that the exact mechanisms behind these effects cannot be determined, as the study is correlational. It is still unclear whether people who enjoy spicy foods are truly quick-tempered, or if those who prefer salty foods have a “salty” personality, or if those who like trail mix are a bit “crazy.” However, previous research has shown a link between a preference for bitter tastes and psychopathic, antisocial, and sadistic personality traits.
