The shape of you: do individuals associate particular geometric shapes with identity?

Through 2 online surveys we asked participants to associate a geometric shape, chosen among a circle, a square and a triangle, to each of three identities, namely “you” (the self), “a friend” or “a stranger”. Moreover, we investigated whether these associations are modulated by 3 personality traits: aggressivity, empathy and social fear.In the Experiment 1 such traits are investigated with three specific inventories (Aggression Questionnaire, Social Fear Scale and Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale). In the Experiment 2 we use the Italia Personality Inventory-G to assess if the aformentioned (and others) personality traits would have influence the shape-identity matching.

本研究通过两项线上调查，要求参与者从圆形、正方形与三角形三类几何形状中选取其一，分别与“自我”“朋友”“陌生人”三种身份建立关联。此外，本研究还探讨了攻击性、共情能力与社交恐惧三种人格特质是否会对上述形状-身份关联产生调节作用。在实验1中，研究采用三类特异性评估量表：攻击性问卷（Aggression Questionnaire）、社交恐惧量表（Social Fear Scale）以及平衡性情绪共情量表（Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale），对上述三种人格特质进行评估。在实验2中，研究采用意大利人格问卷-G（Italia Personality Inventory-G），以评估前述（及其他）人格特质是否会对形状-身份匹配结果产生影响。