How does personality influence income level?

The high level of stress suffered by modern societies causes high mental exhaustion, but in theory it can be expected that certain personality types protect us more from these effects and help us rise to the best jobs job. Personality traits, after all, are closely related to the way in which we experience our working lives.

A few days ago, the work "Is personality related to permanent earnings?" ("Is personality related with income level?") from the online Journal of Economic Psychology, by Terhi Maczulskij and Jutta Viinikainen. This report explains how the characteristics of our personality can directly influence our salary and professional career.

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Personality and income level

In the world of economics, the personality of individuals has been influenced on numerous occasions to determine the success or failure of each worker, depending on their psychological characteristics such as empathy, affection or emotional stability. To determine the personality-salary correlation, a crossover of various variables is made.

As a starting point, data from the CentER Saving Survey, from the Research Center of the Economics, from the University of Tilburg (Holland), a data panel that offers information on the personality. But, in addition to personality, the differences between the male and female gender are also taken into account. From the analysis of these data, curiosities have been found; for example, that men have a tendency to negatively consider empathy for salary success, while women value it positively.

The vast majority of the studies carried out regarding the effect of personality on future work conclude, broadly speaking, with the same precepts: the effect of personality can greatly affect professional success based on the money you earn, being this influence above that of the cultural level that is acquired in our environment.

He neuroticism, which amounts to a low level of emotional control, and emotional stability (planning, prudence, confidence) are by far the most explanatory factors of the relationship with job success, measured by promotion, appraisal and salaries. A study carried out in the United States with 5,000 individuals demonstrated in 2014 that self-control in adolescence was a good predictor of job success or failure.

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Personality, exclusive factor?

Returning to the topic described in the introduction, by Terhi Maczulskij and Jutta Viinikainen (2018), These researchers include a new element to determine and specify the study of personality. They resort to previous studies and cross-reference the data with studies with homozygous (with the same DNA) or dizygotic (with different DNA) twins. A study of almost 5000 twin individuals was carried out, 53% of them being women.

In absolute terms, the results have been revealing. Comparing monozygotic twins to dizygotes, the former present many more similarities between them in terms of salary, personality and demographics refers, while the latter present more disparity in these terms.

This research also shows that the level of neuroticism of each person is a determining factor. According to results, this has been the personal trait with the greatest effect on the chances of earning more or less, regardless of the culture and education of the individuals, although it is especially relevant in the women. Specifically, the less level of neuroticism, the greater the possibility of earning a lot of money. The authors affirm that personality is a key element in job success, but that it is not exclusive either, since biological factors also affect our personality itself.

In short, it could be said that everything is connected. Personality is influenced by biological effects; the cultural environment causes a concrete development in the personality and, ultimately, our cognitive level represents clear evidence of how we move in the labor market. The more education, assertiveness, happiness and self-control, the richer and more fulfilled we will feel.