"Their findings were striking: While there's some cultural variation, the core characteristics of "cool" people are surprisingly consistent across societies. Importantly, these are perceived traits; not necessarily what people are really like, but how they're seen. Researchers also wanted to explore whether being cool is simply another way of saying you like someone or think they're a good person. Their findings revealed that while there is some overlap, perceptions of "cool" and "good" are distinct."
"If you're someone who takes risks based on what you think is right, then you might be on the path to coolness. Researchers found that qualities like extroversion, power, open-mindedness, and independence are some of the key traits associated with being cool. Cool people tend to challenge the status quo and embrace new ideas. That is why, researchers argue, coolness thrives in information societies. This is because such societies tend to value ideas, culture, and social innovation."
Over 5,900 participants worldwide rated people they considered cool, not cool, good, or not good and evaluated their personalities and values. Perceived coolness centers on autonomy, adventurousness, openness, hedonism, extroversion, power, and independence. Perceptions of coolness are largely consistent across cultures, with some variation. Perceived coolness overlaps with perceptions of goodness but remains distinct. Cool individuals tend to challenge conventions, embrace new ideas, and take principled risks. Coolness thrives in information societies that value ideas, culture, and social innovation. Perceptual judgments emphasize observed traits more than objective character assessments.
Read at Psychology Today
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