The Way You Hold Your Drink Reveals Key Personality Traits, Claim Psychologists

     

The way people hold their drink reveals their personality, a new study claims.

All revellers fall into one of eight different personality types which are given away by their drinking techniques, a leading psychologist has concluded.

Dr Glenn Wilson, a consultant psychologist at King’s College, London, observed over 500 drinkers in bars last month.

He analysed drinkers’ body language and then advised on their openness to being approached.

He has categorised them as the ‘Flirt’, ‘Gossip’, ‘Fun-Lover’, ‘Wallflower’, ‘Ice Queen’, ‘Playboy’, ‘Jack the Lad’ and ‘Browbeater’.

He said the most open to being chatted up were "the flirt, the playboy, and the funlover". Harder to crack are the jack the lad, the ice queen, the wallflower and the gossip. The browbeater should be avoided.

Dr Wilson said: "The simple act of holding a drink displays a lot more about us than we realise – or might want to divulge.

When Hillary Clinton was on the campaign trail in the US, commentators picked up on the fact that she used her left hand to raise a pint, even though she’s right-handed.

"She might just have been posing for a shot but some people suggested that it was an insincere gesture.

"The next time you’re in a bar, it might be worth thinking about what you’re saying to the people around you just by the way you’re holding your glass."

The study was carried out for the Walkabout bar chain. The eight types identified are:

1. The Flirt: Usually a woman, who holds her glass with dainty, splayed fingers and uses it in a provocative way. She may position it over her cleavage so as to draw attention to her attributes or peer over the rim to make eye contact when taking a sip. She may "tease" the rim of the glass with her finger, perhaps dipping it into the drink and sucking it dry. Assuming her agenda is appealing, the best way to approach is with reciprocal flirtatious gestures.

Celebrities: Jordan, Paris Hilton, Kate Walsh (from The Apprentice)

2. The Gossip: This (mainly female) drinker tends to cluster in all-female groups talking about other people, and can be critical. She holds a wine glass by the bowl and uses it to gesticulate and make points in conversation. She is inclined to lean over her drink, in towards others so as to speak confidentially. This person already has a close-knit social group with little inclination to extend it, therefore advances from outsiders are not usually welcome.

Celebrities: Kate Moss, Sadie Frost.

3. The Fun-lover: This type of drinker may be a man or a woman, who drinks to be sociable and values togetherness. A convivial individual, he / she enjoys being with their friends, and likes a laugh. Swigs taken from bottled drinks are short, so they don’t miss out on chipping in with the conversation. The bottle is held loosely at its shoulder for ease. This type of person is always happy to extend their social circle. The best way to approach them therefore is to leap directly into light, good-humoured conversation and make them laugh.

Celebrities: Sarah Harding, Helen Chamberlain (from Soccer AM)

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