Personality is something we all share, but the different ways we think and feel also make us unique.

Personality is relatively stable and influences nearly every aspect of human life, from academic performance and career choices to health behaviours and longevity. For example, someone who is responsible might avoid taking risks or alcohol and drug use.

Our new study, published in Nature, has linked personality with more than 1,200 common genetic variants, highlighting its central role in understanding human experience.

This was only possible because 1.14 million people contributed their DNA and time to 46 research studies in 13 countries that measured personality in the same way.

How did we measure personality?

Scientists summarise thousands of personality traits with five relatively independent factors called the Big Five:

extraversion – being sociable, assertive, and energetic

extraversion – being sociable, assertive, and energetic

agreeableness – being compassionate, cooperative, and respectful

agreeableness – being compassionate, cooperative, and respectful

conscientiousness – being responsible, productive, and organised

conscientiousness – being responsible, productive, and organised

neuroticism – being emotionally reactive, anxious, and depressive

neuroticism – being emotionally reactive, anxious, and depressive

openness to experience – being curious, imaginative, and preferencing variety.

openness to experience – being curious,........

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