#Coolness

Scientists have unlocked a universal code to what it means to be “cool”—and it turns out, these qualities transcend cultural boundaries. According to groundbreaking research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, people around the world, from the United States to China, Nigeria to Germany, consistently identify a set of six core personality traits that define the elusive concept of “coolness.” The findings are reshaping our understanding of how global media, social trends, and cultural exchange converge to create modern social archetypes, with important implications for Thailand’s own youth, education, and cultural landscape.

Psychologists have finally cracked the code on what it means to be “cool”—and it turns out, the definition is strikingly universal. New research involving diverse participants from around the globe has identified six core personality traits that make someone universally perceived as cool: extraversion, hedonism, power, adventurousness, openness, and autonomy. This breakthrough challenges the idea that coolness is purely cultural or subjective and provides new insights into how these attributes transcend borders and societies (New York Post, The New York Times).

A new international study has turned a spotlight on the ever-elusive concept of “coolness,” revealing that the quality might be less about trendsetting or attitude, and more about six key personality traits. Published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, this research offers fresh insights not just into pop culture, but also into the ways global media and Western values shape our perceptions—even here in Thailand, where local and global cultures intersect constantly (NYTimes).