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Why are we obsessed with personality types and labels?

These days the internet is full of tests that attempt to define who you are.

Are you an extrovert or an introvert? Do you enjoy small talk with strangers or do you do everything you can to avoid catching their eye? Type A or Type B?

Right now the internet is obsessed with these labels. Personality types, birth charts, attachment styles, Myers Briggs, colour coding your aura.

These days the internet is full of tests that attempt to define who you are by answering questionnaires, but the reality is more complicated. We go through these trends with Claudia Hammond, a psychologist and 麻豆社 presenter.

Plus we hear from 麻豆社 colleagues in other parts of the world. Yuna Ku tells us the trends around personality types in South Korea and Makuochi Okafor in Nigeria explains how Igbo culture defines people鈥檚 characteristics according to four categories.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Video producer: Baldeep Chahal
Producers: Benita Barden, Julia Ross-Roy and Rio Rennalls
Editor: Emily Horler

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11 minutes

Last on

Boxing Day 2025 03:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Christmas Day 2025 18:50GMT
  • Boxing Day 2025 03:50GMT

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