Are you susceptible to persuasion?

Researchers at Edge Hill University in England have helped identify personality traits which make people more (or less) susceptible to persuasion than others. They asked 316 people to complete online questionnaires revealing their personality traits and how easily they might be persuaded. From this they identified three main personality profiles which they named ‘fearful’, ‘malevolent’ and ‘socially apt’.

They found fearful people who are typically shy and anxious were more likely to follow the crowd and be persuaded to do something by people in authority. Those with a more extrovert, self-oriented and manipulative personality (malevolent profile) were less likely to be influenced by authority figures, less willing to return a favour and more likely to be persuaded if something was only available for a limited time.

Lastly, they found that agreeable, extroverted and conscientious ‘socially apt’ people were more likely to be persuaded to do something if it helps maintain their commitment to something they've done before.