Recent research from York U's own Katrina Fong in the Mar Lab reveals that certain personality traits are more readily identified in online avatars, including extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
When asked to rate the avatars of others, viewers were able to discern these personality traits more accurately compared to openness and conscientiousness, even without knowing anything about the avatars' creators.
If you want your avatar to make lots of friends, stick with open eyes, oval faces and brown hair, and a sweater (conveying warm fuzziness, I suppose). Avoid black hair, neutral expressions and occluders like hats and sunglasses.
When asked to rate the avatars of others, viewers were able to discern these personality traits more accurately compared to openness and conscientiousness, even without knowing anything about the avatars' creators.
If you want your avatar to make lots of friends, stick with open eyes, oval faces and brown hair, and a sweater (conveying warm fuzziness, I suppose). Avoid black hair, neutral expressions and occluders like hats and sunglasses.