University of Tartu‑Warwick Study Finds 10% Are ‘Personality Mutants’

Researchers from the University of Tartu in Estonia and the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom examined the personality profiles of more than 4,000 participants from the Czech Republic and Estonia. Using the widely accepted Big Five (OCEAN) model, they found that fewer than one in ten respondents displayed an unusual combination of traits that did not fit the typical patterns of correlation—such as high openness paired with low extraversion or high neuroticism with high agreeableness. The team labeled these outliers “personality mutants.” While most people’s scores align with expected relationships (e.g., extraversion often coincides with openness), the identified mutants break these trends, suggesting rare but genuine variations in personality structure.

The study highlights that personality assessment tools may encounter atypical cases, prompting further research into the underlying causes and implications of such divergent trait configurations.