Style of Walking Can Tell if You Are Aggressive

The way people walk can give clues to how aggressive they are, according to a new study which found that the exaggerated movement of both the upper and lower body indicates aggression. Researchers assessed the personalities of 29 participants before using motion capture technology to record them walking on a treadmill at their natural speed. When walking, the body naturally rotates a little. As an individual steps forward with their left foot, the left side of the pelvis will move forward with the leg, the left shoulder will move back and the right shoulder forward to maintain balance. An aggressive walk is one where this rotation is exaggerated. The researchers asked participants to complete a questionnaire, which measured their levels of aggression. They also used a standard personality test called the ‘big five’ to assess personality traits. Together they can help map the way people think, feel and behave. Using motion capture technology, which records the action of humans and uses the information to bring to life digital character models in 3D computer animation, the researchers analyzed thorax and pelvis movements, as well as speed of gait. This research provides empirical evidence to confirm that personality is indeed manifest in the way we walk.