Personality trait inferences from three-dimensional bodies in American versus Chinese individuals

A person’s body shape spontaneously elicits first impressions of personality traits (e.g., lazy, extraverted). Previous research on Americans identified a trait space structured by valence (positive vs. negative) and agency (active vs. passive) (Hu et al., 2018). Here, we explore the generalizability of this structure for Chinese participants. American (41 females, 39 males) and Chinese (40 females, 40 males) participants rated 140 three-dimensional bodies across 30 personality traits, categorized by the Big Five domains (Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Openness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism). For Americans, dimensionality reduction analyses of trait ratings replicated Hu et al. (2018)’s valence (explained variance: 60.73% for female bodies, 53.71% for male bodies) and agency (female: 8.23%, male: 8.82%) dimensions. The trait space for Chinese participants, however, exhibited dimensions of valence (female: 61.34%, male: 59.26%) and Extraversion (female: 10.32%, male: 9.01%). Multiple linear regression with cross validation showed that body shape parameters predicted the pattern of trait inferences, as well as specific traits for both cultures. Conscientiousness and Extraversion were best predicted for Americans; Conscientiousness, Openness, and Neuroticism were best predicted for Chinese. Cross-culture correlations on same bodies showed large-scale correlations (⍴ ranges: 0.24 to 0.81) that were higher for Conscientiousness and Openness than for Extraversion. Americans associated skinnier bodies with both Conscientiousness and Extraversion, whereas Chinese individuals associated skinnier bodies with Conscientiousness and sturdier body shapes with Extraversion. These findings underscore the cultural similarities in valence/Conscientiousness inferences and the cultural differences in agency and Extraversion inferences. Valence/Conscientiousness generalized across culture, suggesting its adaptive function for selecting healthy and successful partners. Conversely, agency and Extraversion varied culturally, showing social motivation in selecting higher agency and more extraverted partners for social exchange in Americans compared to Chinese individuals. This study pioneers the exploration of cultural influences on body trait impressions, contributing to the development of a theory with broader global applicability.