Anyone who has hesitated over the “Send” button and found themselves rereading an email for the fourth, or even the fourteenth time, is far from alone. Recent psychological analysis, as reported in a June 2025 article by VegOut Magazine, shines a revealing light on this common digital-age phenomenon. For Thai professionals in burgeoning service and communication-driven sectors, understanding the deeper personality traits behind this habit holds special relevance for personal productivity, workplace harmony, and well-being.
Obsessively reviewing outgoing emails is often dismissed as laziness or simple perfectionism, but according to interviews with communication experts, psychologists, and firsthand accounts, this behavior is rooted in a much richer psychological profile that can shape both one’s strengths and challenges at work. The findings identify eight key personality traits that play a role: high personal standards, conscientiousness, empathy, social anxiety, respect for others’ time, a sense of professionalism, risk aversion, and a practice of deliberate self-reflection. Rather than seeing repeated email reviews as a quirk, the research encourages us to view these habits as markers of deeper personal qualities, which—when managed well—can be transformed into powerful assets.
In Thailand, where hierarchical office interactions and subtle politeness (“kreng jai”) are culturally significant, the compulsion to carefully reread digital communication before hitting send takes on extra weight. Mistakes or ambiguous language in messages can result in misunderstandings, reputational setbacks, or even loss of face, increasing anxiety for many. The pressures of rapid digitalization in Thai workplaces, from multinational banks to SMEs and start-ups, make clear written communication ever more critical. Demanding work environments often reward those who demonstrate meticulousness and emotional intelligence in their inter-office communications.
The first trait described by researchers is holding oneself to exceptionally high standards—the classic perfectionist profile. Clinical psychology expert Dr. Gordon Flett describes this as self-oriented perfectionism, where individuals are driven by relentless personal standards and the desire to avoid any appearance of carelessness. For many Thais, reflecting the value placed on “rak san ya” (keeping promises or face) in written communication can turn even everyday emails into meticulously crafted mini-projects (VegOut Magazine).
The second strong trait is conscientiousness, a cornerstone of the so-called Big Five personality traits. Experts like Dr. Deniz Ones have linked high conscientiousness to superior accuracy and reliability on detail-heavy tasks, a valued asset in sectors such as finance, law, and education. Those with this trait often adopt a methodical approach: reviewing messages to ensure deadlines are clear, instructions are unambiguous, and little is left open to misinterpretation—even if it means spending extra minutes on a simple task.
Empathy also features prominently. Individuals who visualize how a recipient might emotionally respond before sending a message tend to exhibit high affective empathy. According to renowned researcher Dr. Brené Brown, “clear is kind”—and this philosophy resonates deeply with Thai values emphasizing harmony and considerate social interaction. For those high in empathy, each reread is less about error-hunting and more about smoothing possible friction and ensuring the tone is gentle, especially in feedback or sensitive discussions.
Social anxiety emerges as a fourth trait driving this behavior. As communication professor Dr. James McCroskey found, those who fear negative judgment rehearse and polish their messages far longer, gravitating toward written channels that allow for more control than in-person or phone communication. Thai employees, especially those in customer-facing or client management roles, report similar anxieties about appearing careless or unprofessional in English-language emails and official correspondence.
Another more altruistic motivation is respect for recipients’ time and mental bandwidth—a trait reminiscent of the minimalist aphorism: “words should earn their space.” Harvard cognitive scientist Dr. Steven Pinker argues strong communicators act like “mind readers,” packaging ideas so efficiently that recipients can process them without unnecessary confusion. In practical Thai business settings, this means stripping out irrelevant details, tightening structure, and providing actionable points, sometimes at the cost of extra effort.
Professionalism and a focus on credibility are equally powerful motivators. Individuals who thoroughly check for jargon, tone, and appropriateness signal a deep understanding of how written communication projects professional standing and builds trust. In Thai business culture, where deference to hierarchy and subtle markers of status matter, the polish and clarity of one’s written words can leave a lasting impression—sometimes even more so than spoken communication.
Risk aversion and future orientation further explain the urge to repeatedly review emails. Those with these traits are quick to imagine potential fallout from an ambiguous message or overlooked detail, echoing the age-old wisdom that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In high-stakes Thai corporate or government environments—where procedural mistakes can have wide-ranging consequences—this cautiousness often helps avert small errors from escalating into crises.
Finally, self-reflection completes the profile. Such individuals treat each email as an opportunity to learn, tweak, and grow. Mindfulness researcher Dr. Ellen Langer describes this trait as active engagement with one’s own thought process—constantly observing, revising, and occasionally cataloguing mistakes to avoid repetition. For Thai professionals, adopting this mindset can foster continuous improvement in both language skills and workplace communication etiquette.
Experts highlight both the positive and potential drawbacks of these traits. While meticulous review can boost trust, reduce misunderstandings, and prevent mistakes, it can also become inefficient if overdone. With workloads rising and digital communication demands mounting across Thailand, psychology specialists advise setting rational limits—for example, a “three-read” maximum for routine messages—and reserving extra scrutiny for critical or high-risk correspondence.
From an educational perspective, these findings offer actionable insights. Thai teachers and trainers can use them to help students and employees understand their own communication habits and develop balanced strategies for both clarity and efficiency. For example, integrating digital communication skills into curricula and professional training can address rising workplace anxieties and promote healthier patterns early on.
Historically, the value placed on careful, indirect, and face-saving communication in Thailand has likely reinforced the widespread prevalence of these personality traits among local professionals. “Kreng jai,” the deferential reluctance to inconvenience others, is deeply embedded in Thai society and often manifests in extreme politeness and caution in written exchanges—a cultural dimension confirmed by studies of Thai organizational behavior (Comparative Studies in Asian Management).
Looking ahead, demand for clear, efficient, and emotionally intelligent digital communication is only expected to grow as remote and hybrid work deepen their roots in the Thai economy. Emerging research points to the need for new digital well-being practices, as overanalysis and perfectionism in written communication can contribute to workplace stress and decision fatigue (Harvard Business Review). Future workplace wellness initiatives in Thailand may increasingly target not only technical skills in written English and Thai, but also psychological resilience and mindful email practices.
For Thai readers seeking practical takeaways, experts recommend the following: recognize when “email perfectionism” serves productivity and when it drifts into unhelpful territory; implement systems such as message templates, checklists, and scheduled reviews to streamline routine writing; cultivate mindfulness about communication-related anxieties; and foster a supportive work environment where occasional errors are treated as learning opportunities rather than sources of shame. Finally, remember that respectful, well-crafted emails reflect not only personal identity, but also broader Thai values of care, consideration, and community.
For those who see themselves in the profiles described, the advice is clear: celebrate the diligence, empathy, and professionalism that drive careful communication—but don’t let the quest for error-free emails paralyze progress or sap creative energy. After all, as digital communications become ever more central in Thai education, business, and daily life, the ability to balance polish with pragmatism will remain a key marker of effective 21st-century leadership.
Read the original feature on VegOut Magazine: vegoutmag.com.