Your Fingers Actually Say A Lot About Your Personality

Well, it all has to do with the level of testosterone around us when we’re developing in the womb. Research has shown that higher amounts of the male sex hormone may lead index fingers to grow more slowly. This has the knock-on effect of creating a bigger disparity between the size of the index compared with the ring finger.

The difference in length between the second and fourth finger has been dubbed the 2D:4D ratio. This is said to impact on everything from the likeliness of a person suffering a heart attack or developing an alcohol dependence. It could even shed light on weight gain or the type of profession a person adopts in life. Men typically have a lower ratio than their female counterparts.

That’s right: instead of testosterone, females typically receive a greater exposure to estrogen while still in the womb. But can this difference really affect us all later on in life, or is all this just pie in the sky? Well, if you’re having any doubts, here comes the all-important science bit.

Northumbria University’s senior psychology lecturer Johannes Honekopp has spent much of his career researching the subject. He told Cosmopolitan magazine that in the animal kingdom, “Testosterone exposure very early in life has permanent effects on adult behavior.” And according to other experts, it’s a similar situation in the human world.

One such voice is University of Alberta neuroscientist Pete Hurd. Referring to male fetuses, he told Discover magazine, “During fetal development there’s a surge in testosterone in the middle of the second trimester.” And Hurd believes this has a significant effect on the baby’s behavior and health in the future. Here’s a look at some examples.

If your ring finger is longer than your index finger then you may well have more of a promiscuous streak. The journal Biology Letters published a study in which nearly 600 different adults were asked about their sexual behaviors. And it was found there was a direct correlation between faithfulness and higher testosterone exposure.

Perhaps that’s because those with longer ring fingers are apparently blessed with the ability to charm pretty much anyone they like. These individuals are also said to be much less wary when it comes to making decisions. And when they do take a big leap of faith they’re usually rewarded.

Of course, this type of confidence could also be interpreted as cockiness and even aggressiveness by some. But it’s a quality that can undoubtedly be harnessed in the workplace. Those exposed to higher levels of testosterone are perfect candidates when it comes to working in a sales force or high up the corporate ladder.

This sense of aggression can also come out in other ways, though. Both men and women with longer ring fingers are apparently more likely to start a fight, particularly when provoked. And they also possess an ability to cause just as much carnage with their sharp tongue as their fists.

A study conducted at the University of California also found an attraction to women is an effect of greater testosterone exposure. More than 700 individuals of both sexes were questioned about their digit ratio and sexual preferences. And alongside all the heterosexual men, there was a notable number of lesbians with a longer ring finger than index.

Could the likes of Paula Radcliffe and Mary Jepkosgei Keitany have longer ring fingers than their index ones? That may well explain why they were so dominant in the world of long-distance running. Honekopp argues that there’s a “pretty strong” link between endurance sports abilities and the exposure to testosterone.

As well as long-distance running a lower digit ratio is also said to be advantageous when it comes to rugby, rowing, soccer, and basketball. In fact, some researchers argue that finger size could be used as a criteria when selecting new recruits. Yes, the NBA drafts of the future may depend on how much testosterone a player was exposed to in the womb.

But it’s not just in the sporting world that a longer ring finger appears to be beneficial for. If you have a degree in mathematics, for example, you may well have been exposed to more testosterone in the womb. Likewise, if you possess the ability to solve a Rubik’s cube within minutes.

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology researcher Carl Pintzka once conducted a study on the brain function differences between the sexes. And after measuring the fingers of his female participants, he gave them all either a placebo or drops of testosterone. The doctor then set various spatial exercises to determine any effects.

Pintzka found the most successful group at tasks like 3-D environment navigation was the one that had been given the testosterone. He determined that increased exposure to the same hormone in the womb would have a similar effect in the real world. This included skills such as the ability to undertake simple arithmetic.

But if your longer finger is the index one, then fear not. There’s plenty of good qualities associated with this type, too. You’re much more likely to be a born leader, for example. Those exposed to lower testosterone levels are said to be the go-to person for advice and guidance as well as being calm, composed, and resourceful.

Could this mean the majority of those with a seat in Congress have longer index fingers? Apparently, politician is the ideal job for someone with such a digit ratio. Teaching and writing books of a self-help nature are also said to be highly suitable professions for this group of people.

Considering the reputation of politicians, you probably won’t be surprised to learn those with shorter ring fingers are said to be less amiable than those with longer. A study conducted by McGill asked 155 people to make note of all their five-minute-plus social interactions over the course of 20 days. It was found that men with higher digit ratios were roughly 33 percent less agreeable in their experiences.

Just don’t expect this particular group to throw caution to the wind too often. Those with shorter ring fingers are typically reluctant to take risks and much prefer to bide their time when it comes to making decisions. This analytical approach may be frustrating for the other party, but it often reaps its rewards.

So what about if the length of your ring and index fingers are pretty much the same? Well, you’re far less likely to be a Tinder regular. The study conducted by Biology Letters discovered that women in this group were more interested in forging long-term relationships than repeatedly hitting the dating scene.

And research published in the Evolution and Human Behavior medical journal appears to back that up. The 2000 report stated women with a higher level of estrogen were more likely to be wedded. This also indicates that, when it comes to their partner, men have a biological preference for characteristics deemed to be “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 conditions such as depression and anxiety. It might be why women reportedly suffer in this area way more than the opposite sex.

And it’s not just a person’s mental health that can be affected by finger size. One particular study discovered that men with oral cancer typically had a higher digit ratio compared to those without the disease. Another found this group was also disproportionately represented when it came to prostate cancer.

They say that elephants never forget. And apparently humans without a noticeable difference between their index and ring fingers shouldn’t, either. People exposed to lower testosterone levels in the womb are said to have much better memories and therefore less of an excuse for forgetting a birthday or taking out the trash.

If you’ve ever wondered why you always seem to be a shoulder to cry on then perhaps you have a high digit ratio. Those with index and ring fingers of similar lengths are apparently the ideal listeners. And they also have the ability to comfort those in need while making them feel appreciated, too.

In fact, those with a lower level of the male hormone are said to be great at helping other people in general. They are also considered to be kind-hearted, peace-loving, and full of compassion. This means they would be particularly well suited to a job in the fields of therapy, nursing, or social work.

Unlike those who have longer index fingers nothing is left to chance, either. Instead of taking risky decisions, people with high digit ratios will be considerably more pragmatic, believing that hard work and hard work alone will help achieve goals. And they are far less likely to cause a ruckus, too.

In fact, those with equal-sized ring and index fingers usually prefer to swerve any kind of conflict altogether. They are typically gentle souls who pride themselves on pleasing as many people as they can — often to their own detriment. Their positive nature further explains why they’re often considered great confidantes.

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!

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.

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!