Sleeping position reveals personality

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Whether it's curled up in the fetal position, flat on the stomach or stretched out across the bed, the way people sleep reveals their personality, a British sleep expert said on Tuesday.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service and a visiting professor at the University of Surrey in southern England, has identified six common sleep positions and what they mean.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious says about us," he said.

Crouched in the fetal position is the most popular sleep pattern and favored by 51 percent of women, according to the results of the study he conducted for a large hotel group.

Fetal sleepers tend to be shy and sensitive while people who assume the soldier position, flat on their back with arms at their sides, are quiet and reserved.

Sleeping on one's side with legs outstretched and arms down in what Idzikowski refers to as the log, indicates a social, easy-going personality. But if the arms are outstretched, the person tends to be more suspicious.

The freefall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6.5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious.

Unassuming, good listeners usually adopt the starfish position -- on the back with outstretched arms and legs.

Idzikowski, who identified the positions by comparing personality traits of people, their preferred way of sleeping and the most common positions, said once a sleeping style is adopted it is rarely changed.

"What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect," he added in a statement.

Originally posted by TekfunK
The freefall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6.5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious.

I'm part of the unusual.

SFH

Originally posted by Stanfield
I'm part of the unusual.

SFH

No shit. Everyone knows that.

[KiloWatts]

I'm a fetus apparently

[fuck logic]

Originally posted by Stanfield
I'm part of the unusual.

SFH

I think that 6.5% is an underestimate, but 'brash and gregarious' is pretty accurate, for me anyway.

[Adam D]

I sleep upside down like a bat...what does THAT mean?

[johnny861]

Originally posted by Adam D
I sleep upside down like a bat...what does THAT mean?

Something unholy... perhaps a revolutionary!

[hepkatmama]

i was part of the 6.5% before my car wreck

now i sleep on my back with a pillow under my knees

or all tangled up with my sweety, why isn't that on the list?

[Hey Bubu]

hmm what if we are a mixture of a couple of those and one that isn't even named?

flat on back, hands crossed on top of the chest, legs crossed

[Ash]

The freefall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6.5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious.



couldn't be more accurate.

[GX_]

<freefall

[proghouse]

Wow, that story was dead on for me! That is exactly my personality

[GX_]

me too. but I disagree with the percentage

[KiloWatts]

Originally posted by TypeH
hmm what if we are a mixture of a couple of those and one that isn't even named?

flat on back, hands crossed on top of the chest, legs crossed

actually I sleep like that fairly often... like a freaking corpse... it's comfy though, but after about an hour I just have to turn over