The secret of success? Just be relaxed and don’t worry

PERSONALITY traits play a major role in whether someone will become successful in life, as well as their education and background, a study has shown.

Scientists say both ‘nature and nurture’ determine whether a person is likely to achieve career and financial success.

A study of Scots who are now in their 80s looked at the influences behind changes in their social status.

The research, by Aberdeen University, has found climbing the economic ladder depends on characteristics as well as financial and social background.

It found that as well as childhood social class, a number of other factors were associated with upward social mobility.

These were higher intelligence, having a personality open to new experiences and an absence of feelings such as anxiety, worry and fear. The team used data obtained from volunteers born in Aberdeen in 1936 to examine the influences that drive social mobility – a person’s movement between social classes.

In work funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the team used factors such as childhood intelligence, education and personality from the information gathered up to 70 years ago. The findings have been published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

Dr Roger Staff, who led the study, said: ‘The study found that childhood social class, intelligence, a personality with openness and an absence of neuroticism (anxiety, worry and fear) were associated with upward social mobility. These positive effects were predominantly independent of the level of education received by the individual.’

He added: ‘Our results show where you end up in life is not only dependent on where you start and how smart you are but is determined by your personality.’