THE PERSONALITIES OF OCTOPUSES.

THE PERSONALITIES OF OCTOPUSES. Carol Tavris had a review in the Times Literary Supplement for April 18 of PERSONALITY by Daniel Nettle. I was astounded years ago when I learned that a gene for shyness had been identified. Now Nettle says that personalities statistically cluster into five basic factors; extraversion (versus shyness); neuroticism (anxiety); agreeableness; conscientiousness; and openness to experience. With the exception of conscientiousness, these personality factors have been found in sixty other species, including octopuses (the review describes how studies are made of octopus personalities).