Eye Colour: A Physical Trait Correlates with Personality & Mental Health

Abstract

Background: Eyes are the window to the soul, eye is so closely linked neurologically to the brain that you might call it the only part of our brain you can see from the outside. It seems to hold vital clues to our brain function. Therefore the study was conducted to know the association between colour of eye relate with personality and mental health Methods: Study examined personality of 300 subjects selected purposively. The study was conducted on 143 were normal subjects (77male & 66 female) GHQ negative (score less than 3) subjects from the community formed the normal group for the study and 157 indoor & outdoor psychiatric patients (suffering with three type of disorder like schizophrenics, bipolar and conversion) (102 male & 55 female) admitted in Nirwan neuropsychiatric clinic Lucknow & Bareilly mental hospital, Bareilly U.P. India. Age ranging between 20-30, 40-50 & 60 and above served as participants. Sentence completion test (SCT) was administered on all the included subjects. Result: Light brown color of eyes male had high psychiatric morbidity (68.47%) then female. Conclusion: Colour of eye can be indicate the personality trait of human being black colour of eyes indicate negative traits of personality in female. We have all heard the clichéd expression that " eyes are the window to the soul, " We've all seen various personality tests that tell us a little about our fortune and personality like this one that says the door you choose reveals secrets about your soul, but our eyes are an actual physical part of us and can tell us even more. Scientists studied 428 subjects to see if their personalities were linked to the irises in their eye. They found that our eye color is affected by the same genes that form our frontal lobes, thus there are distinctly shared behaviors in people with similar irises. Dr. Anthony Fall one of Edinburgh University has studied the links between eyes and personality as well. " The eye is so closely linked neurologically to the brain that you might call it the only part of our brain you can see from the outside. It seems to hold vital clues to our brain function. "

Full text

The International Journal of Indian Psychology
ISSN 2348-5396 (e) | ISSN: 2349-3429 (p)
Volume 3, Issue 4, No. 56, DIP: 18.01.012/20160304
ISBN: 978-1-365-23992-2
http://www.ijip.in | July-September, 2016
© 2016 I R Chandola; licensee IJIP. This is an Open Access Research distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any Medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Eye Colour: A Physical Trait Correlates with Personality
& Mental Health
Rupali Chandola1*
ABSTRACT
Background: Eyes are the window to the soul, eye is so closely linked neurologically to the
brain that you might call it the only part of our brain you can see from the outside. It seems to
hold vital clues to our brain function. Therefore the study was conducted to know the association
between colour of eye relate with personality and mental health Methods: Study examined
personality of 300 subjects selected purposively. The study was conducted on 143 were normal subjects
(77male & 66 female) GHQ negative (score less than 3) subjects from the community formed the normal
group for the study and 157 indoor & outdoor psychiatric patients (suffering with three type of disorder
like schizophrenics, bipolar and conversion) (102 male & 55 female) admitted in Nirwan neuropsychiatric
clinic Lucknow & Bareilly mental hospital, Bareilly U.P. India. Age ranging between 20-30, 40-50 &
60 and above served as participants. Sentence completion test (SCT) was administered on all the included
subjects. Result: Light brown color of eyes male had high psychiatric morbidity (68.47%) then
female. Conclusion: Colour of eye can be indicate the personality trait of human being black colour of
eyes indicate negative traits of personality in female.
Keywords: SCT, Personality, Psychiatric patients, Eye colour.
We have all heard the clichéd expression that “eyes are the window to the soul,” We’ve all seen
various personality tests that tell us a little about our fortune and personality like this one that
says the door you choose reveals secrets about your soul, but our eyes are an actual physical part
of us and can tell us even more. Scientists studied 428 subjects to see if their personalities were
linked to the irises in their eye. They found that our eye color is affected by the same genes that
form our frontal lobes, thus there are distinctly shared behaviors in people with similar irises. Dr.
Anthony Fall one of Edinburgh University has studied the links between eyes and personality as
well. “The eye is so closely linked neurologically to the brain that you might call it the only part
of our brain you can see from the outside. It seems to hold vital clues to our brain function.”
1 Department of Psychology, Kumaun University Campus, Almora, Uttrakhand, India
*Responding Author

Eye Colour: A Physical Trait Correlates with Personality & Mental Health
© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 120
A survey was conducted by Cyber Pulse, a division of Impulse Research Corporation in Los
Angeles, and commissioned by CIBA Vision. The survey questioned 1,016 women ages 16 to
35. The results found that women often associate different eye colors with specific personality
traits the study found that 34% of participants considered people with brown eyes intelligent,
kind, and trustworthy. In contrast, people with blue eyes were considered kind, sweet, and sexy,
but only 7% of participants described blue-eyes people as intelligent. Finally, 29% of research
participants said they considered green eyes, the sexiest of all the different colors, and their
owners to be creative, sexy and a bit devious.
Human eye has become more than a window into such medical problems as thyroid disease and
hepatitis. It is inspiring a host of cutting-edge studies on brain abnormalities and behavioral
conditions. Experts in cognition, epidemiology, ophthalmology, and neuroscience are
collaborating to explore the potential of our eyes to identify our risk for mood disorders, learning
disabilities, or cognitive impediments. The research largely remains preliminary, but it holds the
promise of providing new ways to diagnose impending problems involving the brain. In the
1960s, Raymond Cattell reported differences in cognitive styles between people with blue and
brown eyes. Since then, several other studies have drawn connections between eye color and
physiological or behavioral traits. But few scientists have been able to replicate those findings, in
part because the eye color effect appears to fade over the course of childhood. Researchers at
Orebro University in Sweden looked beyond eye color to find personality variables, focusing on
other features of the iris. Psychological scientist Mats Larsson and colleagues administered a
standard personality test to 428 volunteers and also took photos of their eyes they found that a
low number of squiggly lines, known as crypts, radiating out from the pupil were associated with
tender-mindedness, warmth, trust, and positive emotions.
Therefore the study was planned to investigate the relationship between colour of eyes relates
with personality and psychiatric illness.
METHOD
Participants
This study was conducted on 300 subjects of them 143 were normal subjects (77male &
66female) and 157psychiatric patients suffering with three types of mental disorder
schizophrenia, mod disorder and conversion disorder (102male & 55 female). They were hailed
from Nirwan neuropsychiatric clinic Lucknow U.P. & Bareilly mental hospital, Bareilly
U.P.India. GHQ negative (score less than 3) subjects from the community formed the normal
group for the study. Sentence Completion Test was administered on all the included subjects.

Eye Colour: A Physical Trait Correlates with Personality & Mental Health
© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 121
Tools:
General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12): The 12-Item General Health Questionnaire
(Jacob et al. 1997) is the most extensively used screening instrument for common mental
disorders, in addition to being a more general measure of psychiatric well-being.
Sentence Completion Test: This test is developed by Dubey and Dubey(2006) and it is
comprised of 50 incomplete sentence and the participants are instructed to complete every
incomplete sentence by the first appearing thought of their mind The objective of this test to
measure certain personality traits. An attempt has been made to measure three personality
characteristics through the responses of the subjects. These traits are (1) Sociability, (2) Self
Confidence, and (3) Ambitious. All the sentences are so framed that they lead to reveal the
positive or negative aspect related to one of the traits.
Procedure:
This study was conducted on 300 subjects of either sex. Participants taken from psychiatric
clinics and community both, psychiatric patients taken from the psychiatric clinic on the basis of
OPD & indoor setup with schizophrenia, mood disorder and conversion disorder, giving written
informed consent were taken as psychiatric patients. GHQ negative (score less than 3) subjects
from the community formed the normal group for the study. Sentence Completion Test Dubey
and Dubey(2006) was administered on all included subjects. The eye colour data in this study
only taken for observation basis of all the participants. Uncooperative subjects, having problem
in speech and communication which can impede the interview were excluded from the study.
Data was analyzed using chi square test.
RESULTS
Keeping in view the main objectives of the present study chi- square was employed to see the
difference between normal and psychiatric individual’s personality traits regarding eye colour.
2x2 contingency table and 3x3 contingency table has been used for knowing the significant level,
any cell was having an observed frequency less than 5, then Yates correction was applied for the
test significant.
The result of the present study has been given below and consecutively discussed.
Table-1Socio-demographic characteristics of the participants there is two groups include in this
study from the society. One group is normal and the other group is psychiatrically ill. Most of the
participant in both groups was married. Occupation wise most of the participant (48.25%)
employee and the psychiatric group (54.77%) were unemployed. Education level of the
participant in normal group almost found up to 12th and the psychiatric group (62.42%) found up
to be 9th standard.59.44% normal participant belonging from urban area and 64.96% psychiatric
patient belonging from rural area. Most of the participants in group one have middle economic

Eye Colour: A Physical Trait Correlates with Personality & Mental Health
© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 122
status and the other counterpart has lower economic status. Majority of the participants belong
from 40 to 50 year of age.
Table-1 Showing other socio-demographic detail of normal and psychiatric group
Variable
Category
Group I ( Normal)
Group II (Psychiatric)
N=143
%
N=157
%
Marital Status
Married
82
57.34%
86
54.77%
Unmarried
59
41.25%
68
43.31%
Other
6
4.19%
3
1.91%
Occupation
Unemployed
60
41.95%
86
54.77%
Employed
69
48.25%
40
25.47%
Semi skillful
18
12.58%
31
19.74%
Education
Up to-9th
43
30.06%
98
62.42%
Up to 12
59
41.25%
35
22.29%
Graduation
45
31.46%
24
15.28%
Residence
Urban
85
59.44%
55
35.03%
Rural
62
43.35%
102
64.96%
Income (monthly)
Below-6000
36
25.17%
78
49.68%
6000 to 12000
63
44.05%
56
35.66%
Above 12000
48
33.56%
23
14.64%
Age
20-30 year
33
23.07%
45
28.66%
40-50 year
69
48.25%
53
33.75%
60 and above
45
31.46%
59
37.57%
Table -2 Diagnostic distributions of the participants on the basis of eye colour
Colour
of eyes
Gender
Normal
Group
N=143
Psychiatric group
X2
Schizophrenia
Mood
disorder
Conversion
Total
Psychiatric
N=157
Light
Brown
N=119
Male
N=73
23(31.50%)
25(34.24%)
15(20.54%)
10(13.69%)
50(68.49%)
5.05
df-1
Female
N=46
24(52.17%)
12(26.08%)
7(15.21%)
3(6.52%)
22(47.82%)
Dark
Brown
N=120
Male
N=71
44(61.97%)
8(11.26%)
15(21.12%)
4(5.63%)
27(38.02%)
0.36 df-1
non
significant
Female
N=49
26(53.06%)
10(20.40%)
7(14.28%)
6(12.24%)
23(46.93%)
Black
N=61
Male
N=35
10(28.57%)
9(25.71%)
12(34.28%)
4(11.42%)
25(71.42%)
6.62
df-1
Female
N=26
16(61.53%)
5(19.29%)
2(7.69%)
3(11.53%)
10(38.46%)
Table-2 indicate that colour of eyes relate with normal and psychiatric population. Table indicate
that male having light brown color of eyes had high psychiatric morbidity (68.47%) then

Eye Colour: A Physical Trait Correlates with Personality & Mental Health
© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 123
female, the difference is statistically significant (p<.01) and the other combination male black
colour of eyes had very high psychiatric morbidity (71.42%) in comparison to female group this
difference is also statistically significant(p<.01). But in dark brown colour of eyes (61.97%)
found in normal male population there was no significant difference was found.
Table-3 Personality traits of normal male psychiatric male on the basis of eye colour
Table-4 Personality traits of normal female psychiatric female on the basis of eye colour
Table-3 indicate the colour of eyes relate with the personality traits. According to the table
normal and psychiatric male have light brown colour of eyes high (58.90%) level sociability,
self confidence and ambitiousness and the other combination dark brown eyes normal and
psychiatric male very low (25.35%) on these three personality traits. Statistically significant
difference (p<.01) was found in color of eyes between male group.
Table-4 indicate the colour of eyes relate with the personality traits. According to the table
normal and psychiatric female have high (44.89%) level of sociability, self confidence and
Color of
eyes
Total
Normal &
psychiatric
male
Personality Traits
X2
Sociability, Self confidence & ambitiousness
Very high
Average
Very low
Light
brown
Male
N=73
43(58.90%)
10(13.69%)
19(26.02%)
10.08
df-4
Dark
brown
Male
N=71
44(61.97%)
9(12.67%)
18(25.35%)
Black
Male
N=35
13(37.14%)
12(34.28%)
10(28.57%)
Color of eyes
Total
Normal &
Psychiatric
female
Personality Traits
X2
Sociability, Self confidence & ambitiousness
Very high
Average
Very low
Light brown
female=46
16(34.78%)
10(21.73%)
20(43.47%)
10.86
df=4
Dark brown
female=49
22(44.89%)
8(16.32%)
19(38.77%)
Black
female=26
2(7.69%)
7(26.92%)
17(65.38%)

Eye Colour: A Physical Trait Correlates with Personality & Mental Health
© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 124
ambitiousness and the other combination dark brown eyes normal and psychiatric male very low
(38.77%) on these three personality traits. Statistically significant difference (p<.01) was found
in color of eyes between female personality traits.
DISCUSSION
The study was conducted to explore the difference of personality between normal and psychiatric
population having different colour of eyes. The results show that male having light brown color
of eyes have high psychiatric morbidity (68.47%) then female, the difference is statistically
significant (p<.01) and the other combination male black colour of eyes have very high
psychiatric morbidity (71.42%) in comparison to female group this difference is also statistically
significant (p<.01). Other study regarding physical trait relation between baldness and mood
disorder was found to be statistically significant (p<0.00)(Tiwari & Singh,2014). Light brown
color of eyes in normal and psychiatric male population having high level of sociality, self
confident and ambitiousness traits of personality and the other counterpart light brown colour of
eyes normal and psychiatric female very low in all these personality traits. Some studies
reported that people with brown eyes are often individualists who are steadfast, serious, practical,
self sufficient, with a somewhat retiring nature, and a strong sense of commitment. Often
attractive, adorable, and enjoys making new friends kind, loyal and devoted to the special people
in their lives. 65.38% female having black colour of eyes very low social, self confident and
ambitious In comparison to male Studies related to black colour of eye have a dynamic character
full of vitality, people with black eyes tone to be hot-tempered, impulsive and often seek
dangerous adventures. They command respect, exhibit great dignity, but they are often
pretentious, secretive and mysterious.
CONCLUSION
Colour of eye can be indicate the personality trait of human being black colour of eyes indicate
negative traits of personality in female and light brown eyes indicate negative traits of
personality in male group.
Acknowledgement
Authors are grateful to the Director and staff of Bareilly mental hospital, Bareilly India &
Nirwan neuropsychiatric clinic, Lucknow UP, India. For permission of data collection and study
subjects study for their cooperativeness.
Conflict of Interest
The paper is based on the ongoing PhD work.
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How to cite this article: R Chandola (2016), Eye Colour: A Physical Trait Correlates with
Personality & Mental Health, International Journal of Indian Psychology, Volume 3, Issue 4, No.
56, ISSN 2348-5396 (e), ISSN: 2349-3429 (p), DIP: 18.01.012/20160304, ISBN: 978-1-365-
23992-2