“Character is the only secure foundation of the state,” said Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States. I always quip that Midwesterners have more character because we survive such horrible winters. Of course, that applies to other areas of the U.S. as well! But, character produced from bracing the cold may be just the “tip of the iceberg,” so to speak!
Despite having to bundle up in layers, boots, gloves, and goggles, we Midwestern residents, are also, apparently “more friendly and conventional” than folks from many other parts of the U.S. according to a 2013 Cambridge University study, reported in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. As covered in “EurekAlert! The Global Source for Science News”, more than 1.5 million individuals were studied, over 12 years, through social media, surveys, etc., and researchers came up with psychological profiles.
The “Big Five” Traits — “openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism” — were identified. Regions had, for the most part, distinct personalities. New Englanders were found to be temperamental and uninhibited; Western and Eastern coasters, were more relaxed and creative. And Midwesterners, along with many from Southern and Southeastern states, were deemed the friendliest; if also concurrently, less affluent, educated, and healthy; more Protestant and politically conservative. Does this still hold true two years later?
Gregg Werner, of Barrington Hills had this to say: “My observations are aligned…dealing with and overcoming adversities, either physical or mental, makes one stronger. Cold and snowy winters usually present both kinds of adversities.” He added, “I have also observed that a much higher percentage of people from the northeast and the west (especially Southern California) are less friendly than Midwestern and Southern people. They might start out friendly but they can quickly lose interest if and when they determine that you cannot do anything to further their ability to make money or garner fame. Whereas, it seems that most people in the Midwest and South are quite willing to be friendly regardless. I don’t have a theory as to why this is.”
Darlene Kober of Barrington concurs that living in cold weather creates character. “Maintaining daily life in the face of subzero temps requires character traits of preparation, grit, organization that develop folks into hardy individuals. The shared suffering of life in extreme cold builds community and fellowship that extends to improved courtesy throughout the year.”
Mary Jo Howard, of Hawthorn Woods, is not sure about the findings: “I don’t know about our weather building character, but it sure does make for some good stories!” She added, “I’ve met friendly people from all over the country, so I don’t think I can say that one region is more friendly…. it’s on an individual and case by case basis!”
Oscar Menoyo of Hoffman Estates shared his experience: “From a corporate world of sales as well as my occasional operatic adventures… I have observed a more laid back and friendly deportment in the Midwest and South than in the East or West. In the Eastern big cities there is a competitive nature that seems to prevail more often than not…in the 80’s my New York sales colleagues would seriously refer to anything outside New York as the hinterlands. There was New York City and outside New York City…period. I think things may have softened a bit. However, I do actually like the sarcasm, and the generally more developed ability to take it and dish it out; many times followed by laughs, as it wasn’t meant to be that serious… In the West, I have heard, and have at time experienced, that people tend to be to themselves and thrive to “out-unique” each other… In the end, this is a great country where differences are minor enough to where I think I could live anywhere and be happy.”
Donna Hannay, of Barrington Hills offered her view: “I’m afraid I have a native prejudice. I’m from New York…from the past couple of years, the tristate area of New England also had terrible weather, and they rolled with the punches… Saying that the Midwest has character makes a great couple of punch lines but that’s about it. I was in New York three years ago… you could not have wanted to have any other group of people, who were concerned about their neighbors, than the masses of people from all over the world who were there during Hurricane Sandy. They were just pooling resources whenever they could…you really can’t say any group of people is better than any other. I’m not putting down Midwesterners, but it’s unfair to put them on a pedestal. The East is really a very resilient place. When push comes to shove, I really do have faith in human nature.”
As do I!
Stay warm, Chicagoans! Kimproductions@sbcglobal.net.
Kimberly Albrecht is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press
