What's your blood type, baby?

Rumor on the street is that Koreans believe blood type predicts a person's personality just like westerns look to astrological signs in the same way. Some of you are sitting there saying, I don't take that stuff seriously... well, serious or not, you all have at least read a horoscope and probably at one point or another said, yeah, that's me.

Well, in Korea (and many other southeast Asian countries), blood type tells a lot about a person. In fact, it is very common to be asked by a potential boyfriend, girlfriend, or employer (YES, EMPLOYER... they asked for a lot of things that Westerners would find a violation of rights but that is a topic for an entirely new blog) "what is your blood type?" I've even heard teachers say that their school won't hire people with B blood types! (you'll find out why in a sec...)

So, I did a little research (Internet research so take all this info with the understanding that it may or may not be based on any type of scientific study) on what blood types mean to Koreans and the personality traits associated. And since I'm a psych minor with a personal interest in social and behavior psych, this is like candy to me!

Here's the deal: In the 1920's, a Japanese scholar wrote a series of articles linking blood type and personality traits. The idea was resurrected about 30 years back by a Japanese writer who wrote a book called "Understanding Compatibility through Blood Types." But as you can see by the title of his book, he's now taken the idea a step farther and linked blood types to the success or failure of a relationship. This idea hit pop culture and still endures.

On the the juicy stuff. What are the personality traits associated with each blood type? Of course there are many websites and articles which have varying answers but all are relatively saying the same. I stole the following from a korean4expats website to share with you. It's a bit lengthy but like I said, I like this kind of stuff.

Blood Type A:

Positive Traits: Conservative, introverted, reserved, patient, punctual and inclined to be perfectionists.

Worst Traits: Obsessive, stubborn, self conscious and uptight.

Referred as ‘farmers’ in some descriptions, Type A’s are said to be considerate of others and loyal to a fault. Although they apparently don’t find it easy to like, they can also be secretive and reluctant to share their feelings. Apparently they don’t hold their liquor well, either.

Blood Type B:

Best Traits: Animal-loving, creative, flexible, individualistic, optimistic and passionate.

Worst Traits: Forgetful, irresponsible and self-centered.

Referred to as ‘hunters’, Type B’s have very independent natures and tend not to be concerned about what other people think of them. Although often described as shallow and lazy, they can be quite passionate about the things they hold dear. Patience is not their strong suit either. Type B men have acquired a very negative reputation in Korea and are not considered by many to be good husband material. Often described as ‘players’, they are perceived as being selfish and mercurial, quick to anger and not terribly reliable. That said, their bad boy image makes them very attractive to women, but not for the long term. (Type B women do not share in this bad rep, for some unexplained reason).

Blood Type AB:

Best Traits: Cool, controlled, empathic, introverted and rational.

Worst Traits: Aloof, critical, indecisive and unforgiving.

Referred to as ‘humanists’, Type AB’s are said to be controlled more by their heads, than by their hearts. They are rational, good with money, but unpredictable. Although inclined to be distant, they prefer harmony and as such, work well with mediators. Some consider them two-faced, and therefore untrustworthy.

Blood Type O:

Best Traits: Ambitious, athletic, robust and self-confident.

Worst Traits: Arrogant, insensitive, ruthless and vain.

Referred to as ‘warriors’, Type O’s are viewed as natural leaders and are often, also, natural athletes. They tend to be outgoing, expressive and passionate, but can also bore others to death with their obsessive drive for success coupled with their absolute convictions that they are winners. This certainty that they will always win explains why they aren’t afraid to take risks or gamble. They have a strong physical presence and are unlikely to ever be overlooked.

So, what do you think? Is it accurate? Can you guess what blood type I am?

Last week I had to get a physical so I could get my green card and health insurance. My results were casually given to another foreign teacher I worked with to be passed to my director. She opened them up in front of everyone and said, "Do you want to know what your blood type is?" I said I already knew but she beamed at me. Already knowing that I didn't have the bad blood of a B blood type, I didn't mind her declaring this to the other teachers that I am A+. However, I wonder what she would have done it had been B. She also announced my vision was very good and that I didn't have any diseases. phew :)

hopefully you found this fun and entertaining. Next up... Fan Death! Stay tuned... Em