In this book, Who’s Your City, Richard Florida examines why people choose to live where they do and (sort-of) gives city-choosing guidance. The book is largely worthless for my purposes, but one illustration really struck me…this map is based on the five dimensions of personality.
Look how few of these even touch NYC:
1. Openness – appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, imagination, curiosity, and variety of experience.
2. Conscientiousness – a tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement; planned rather than spontaneous behaviour.
3. Extraversion – energy, positive emotions, surgency, and the tendency to seek stimulation and the company of others.
4. Agreeableness – a tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others.
5. Neuroticism – a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression, or vulnerability; sometimes called emotional instability.
The author describes Woody Allen as the quintessential New Yorker; clearly not extroverted, agreeable, or conscientious. Very neurotic and very creative.
I wonder if this is why NYC was such a good fit for me.
…or maybe this is just how the city changes people.
Tags: neurotic, nyc, personality, woody allen
