What Makes You Cool? Six Personality Traits That Define It
Image: AI Generated
Are you cool? A global study reveals six personality traits that define coolness across cultures—from autonomy to adventurousness.
Everyone wants to be cool, but few people could tell you exactly what that means. Is it a look? A vibe? A personality? We recognize it when we see it, but defining cool has remained elusive—until now. A groundbreaking study has identified six personality traits that define coolness across cultures.
From São Paulo to Seoul, these traits remain surprisingly consistent. And they’re not just surface-level attributes—they reflect something deeper and more enduring about how people show up in the world.
So what exactly is cool?
According to the researchers, coolness is “a socially desirable blend of autonomy, confidence, and charisma.” It’s the ability to stand out without trying too hard, to bend norms without breaking integrity, and to leave a strong impression without uttering a word. Cool people don’t follow trends—they start them. They aren’t afraid of attention, but they don’t need it either.
In this article, we’ll break down each of the six core traits of coolness and explore what actually separates the effortlessly compelling from the conspicuously ordinary.
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Inside the Study
The study surveyed nearly 6,000 people across more than a dozen countries. Using well-established personality and values frameworks—including the Big Five and the Schwartz Portrait Values Questionnaire—participants were asked to rate various traits and profiles on perceived "coolness."
What emerged was a remarkably clear pattern: regardless of cultural background, six traits consistently surfaced in people perceived as genuinely cool. These weren’t fleeting trends or superficial behaviors—they were personality signatures.
The Six Traits
Let’s break down the six traits that define coolness, according to science:
Extroversion
Cool people tend to be naturally expressive and socially confident. They engage with others easily, make people feel seen, and are often the magnetic center of a room—without being overbearing.
Hedonism
There’s a zest for life that defines cool individuals. They take pleasure seriously—whether it’s great music, bold experiences, or indulgent moments. They exude the sense that life is to be lived.
Power
This doesn’t mean dominance—it means presence. Cool people carry an internal sense of influence. They don’t demand authority; it’s simply felt. Their confidence is quietly commanding because they walk in their inner power.
Adventurousness
They’re the first to try something new, whether it’s travel or fashion. Cool people embrace risk—not recklessly, but willingly. They thrive on novelty and tend to explore paths others haven’t yet considered.
Openness
Creativity, curiosity, and nonconformity define this trait. Cool people are often quite imaginative—not just because it looks good, but because they’re deeply attuned to what’s original and interesting.
Autonomy
Perhaps the most essential of all—coolness rests on a foundation of independence. Cool people don’t need approval to act, and do things in their own time and way. They’re guided by their inner compass, which makes them impossible to imitate.
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What’s Not Cool
To be clear, “not cool” isn’t the same as being bad or unlikable. But when someone feels overly cautious, desperate to fit in, or uncomfortable in their own skin, it becomes clear that they’re missing the mark. The opposite of cool is contrived. Trying too hard. Over-curating. Obsessively trend-chasing.
Coolness requires ease, and ease only comes from self-possession. You might not be uncool because you’re quiet. But you could be uncool if you’re inauthentic. Or if you copy rather than create. Or if you dim your own light to avoid standing out.
Cool Isn’t Universal
While the traits of coolness are surprisingly stable across borders, that doesn’t mean everyone agrees on what looks cool. Style and status symbols shift—but the internal qualities behind them remain strikingly consistent.
Coolness used to belong to the margins. Think: Black jazz musicians in the 1940s, beatniks in the ’50s, punk rebels in the ’70s. But today, it’s been absorbed into the mainstream—not diluted, but evolved. Now, cool is as much about originality and openness as it is about rebellion.
The through line? Cool people never quite fit in—because they’re too busy shaping what’s next.
Can You Become Cool?
Here’s the nuance: the six traits are rooted in personality, which makes them relatively stable over time. In other words, you can’t force cool. But you can cultivate its conditions. Start by:
Saying no to things that don’t feel aligned
Making space for curiosity and play
Expressing your taste without apology
Leaning into the things that light you up
Ironically, the moment you stop trying to be cool is the moment you start to become it. It’s not your outfit, your followers, or your playlist. It’s your spirit. Your freedom. Your energy. Your ability to enjoy life, question norms, and own your individuality without seeking applause.
Coolness isn’t something you wear. It’s something you are—when you move through life on your own terms, lit from within.
