People's Fingers Can Actually Expose A Lot About Their Personality

Amazingly, the length of our fingers stems back to the womb, where research shows the amounts of hormones like testosterone and estrogen can impact their growth speed. But it’s the disparity between our index and ring fingers that can shed light on specific aspects of our lives, and if one is longer than the other, you could have some of the following traits.

If your ring finger is longer than your index finger, you may be less likely to stay faithful to one partner. It's all connected to testosterone exposure in the womb. High testosterone exposure often results in shorter index fingers. And according to research, there may be a direct correlation between faithfulness and higher testosterone exposure. Ergo, longer ring fingers may mean you're more likely to cheat. Wow.

Interestingly, there may also be a connection between high testosterone exposure and attraction to women. In a study by the University of California, more than 700 individuals of both sexes were questioned about their digit ratio and sexual preferences. And alongside all the heterosexual men, a significant number of lesbians with longer ring fingers than index.

According to research, people whose ring fingers are longer than their index fingers tend to be super confident and charming. That means they're more likely to take risks, too — and they're usually rewarded for it. Naturally, then, these individuals excel in the workplace. Is your ring finger longer? Then you might be perfect for working in sales, in the military, or anywhere in a high-up position.

Studies suggest that men and women with longer ring fingers (and therefore higher testosterone exposure) are likelier to pick fights with others, particularly when provoked. We're not just talking about getting into physical altercations, though; they also tend to have a sharp tongue.

Johannes Honekopp, a psychology lecturer at Northumbria University in England, says that a "pretty strong" correlation exists between higher testosterone levels in women and excelling in endurance sports. So, having long ring fingers might signify that you're a great long-distance runner. Ready to sign up for that marathon? It could also be advantageous when it comes to other sports like rugby, rowing, soccer, and basketball, too. Some researchers argue that finger size could be used as a team criterion when selecting recruits.

But it's not just in the sporting world that a longer ring finger appears beneficial. According to studies, you may have been exposed to more testosterone in the womb if you have a degree in mathematics. Bonus: you might be more likely to solve a Rubik's cube, too! You probably love puzzles in general.

If you're a man with a shorter index finger compared to your ring finger, well done you. That means you're more likely to be kinder to women. Hooray! A study published in the Personality and Individual Differences journal asked 155 people to categorize their recent social interactions. And it found that men with short index and long ring fingers were roughly 33 percent more agreeable in their experiences with the opposite sex.

People with minimal difference between their ring and index fingers were probably exposed to less testosterone and more estrogen in the womb. And unlike people with longer ring fingers, if your index finger is about the same length, you're far less likely to cheat. In addition, according to multiple studies, women in this group are more inclined to stay faithful. They are more interested in finding long-lasting relationships than repeatedly hitting the dating scene.

Research published in the Evolution and Human Behavior medical journal claims that women with higher levels of estrogen exposure are more likely to be settled down with a spouse. This also suggests that when choosing someone to marry, men are more likely to go for women with higher estrogen exposure, indicating a biological preference for characteristics that have traditionally been deemed more "female."

But can a lower level of testosterone impact an individual’s mental health? According to Pintzka at NTNU, those with similar-sized index and ring fingers are much more susceptible to depression and anxiety. And this could be why women reportedly tend to suffer in this area more than the opposite sex.

People whose ring and index fingers are of similar lengths are fantastic at things like remembering to take the trash out or not forgetting people's birthdays. In addition, low testosterone exposure in the womb is said to be associated with stronger performance in verbal memory tasks.

If you’ve ever wondered why you always seem to be a shoulder to cry on, then maybe you have a high digit ratio. Those with index and ring fingers of similar lengths are great listeners. And they also can comfort those in need while making them feel appreciated. These kind-hearted, peace-loving individuals are probably naturally suited to therapy, nursing, or social work jobs.

Unlike those with longer ring fingers, if your fingers are the same length, you probably don't leave anything to chance. Instead of making risky decisions and taking leaps of faith, people with high digit ratios are said to be considerably more pragmatic. These types of people prefer to avoid conflict, too. They are typically gentle souls who pride themselves on pleasing as many people as possible — often to their detriment. Their cheerful nature further explains why they're usually considered great confidantes.

If you're into palm reading, there are a few things you can learn about yourself by looking at the shape and size of your palms. If you have square palms and short fingers, you have what's known as "earth hands." And this is supposed to signify pragmatism, logic, and groundedness.

If your palms are long and slender, and you have long fingers, you might have what is referred to as "water hands." And apparently, this makes you someone who's very in touch with their emotional side. You like to lean into your intuition, too, rather than take a logical approach. But watch out, because this can make you sensitive, too. This hand type is also often associated with creativity.

Of course, there are other areas of the hand that are also said to reflect an individual’s personality. If you have a square palm, then you’re said to be intuitive, logical, and practical, as well as good with numbers. If it’s rectangular, then you’re a great problem solver with both an adventurous and sensitive streak.

The general size of your hands is also said to be relevant. If they’re tiny, then apparently you’re something of a risk taker. If they’re bigger than average, then the good news is that you’re considerate and hard-working. The bad news is that you’re melodramatic, impulsive, and the very opposite of punctual.

And the index and ring aren’t the only fingers associated with certain personality traits. The thumb is said to be linked to the drive for success and the middle finger expresses everything from growth and accountability to wisdom and security. Even the little pinkie is apparently meaningful when it comes to the style of communication!

If you want to find out your own digit ratio, here’s what you have to do. Measure the index finger from the base to its tip, and then do the same for the ring finger. Then divide the former number by the latter. You are likely to have been exposed to more testosterone in the womb if this figure is less than one.

This belief that finger size can act as some kind of crystal ball has gained further traction in recent years. It was spearheaded by John Manning, an evolutionary biologist at Swansea University who spent much of his career testing the theory. And over 1,400 different papers have been published since the 21st century about the supposed correlation.

Manning wasn’t the first notable name to notice a considerable difference between the finger sizes of men and women. That honor belongs to an anatomist from Germany back in the mid-19th century. But Manning was the first to truly evaluate how much testosterone levels impacted on the size of index and ring fingers.

The issue was explored further by Manning while working at a Liverpool fertility clinic on body symmetry. This was another area that’s believed to have links with the levels of hormones. And it was at the facility that Manning and his fellow researchers discovered that higher testosterone often resulted in a lower digital ratio.

A number of small children, some aged just two, were also used in the study. And they helped to prove that the disparity between ring and index fingers resulted from the womb’s hormone levels. Marc Breedlove, a Michigan State University neurologist, concurs, telling website Science.org, “I think there is no longer any doubt that these ratios in humans reflect prenatal androgen exposure.”

And it’s not just the living that researchers have used in their findings, either. Some have even tried to discover which sex was responsible for certain pre-historic paintings by measuring the ratios from handprints stenciled onto the walls of caves. Of course, not all of the scientific community is on board with the idea.

Douglas Curran-Everett, a biostatistician at Denver’s National Jewish Health, is one such dissenter. He told Science.org that he was “skeptical about every single finding” that involved the magical 2D:4D ratio. Martin Voracek, a psychologist at the University of Vienna, also expressed his doubts. He believes that finger sizing has as little bearing on personality as facial features or head shape.

Biology professor at Colorado State University Gary Packard also believes the numbers are ultimately meaningless. He told Science.org, “A conclusion based on a ratio is likely to be off-target and misleading.” And although University of Cambridge psychologist Melissa Hines once thought differently, she now argues that previous studies should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Hines told the same site, “I’m not saying androgen is not at all important for human behavior. It is. I just don’t think that finger ratios are a scientifically reliable measure of the early hormone environment.” Still, despite all the naysayers, over 20 new scientific papers relying on the digit ratio were published in 2019 alone!