I cannot recall a single moment when I wasn’t plagued by some sort of worry or fear. Even as a young child, I would lie awake at night, anxious about various situations and catastrophes. While the specific fears have changed as I’ve grown older, the underlying tendency to see impending disaster has remained.
This is not a unique experience, as negative thoughts and pessimistic fantasies are common traits of neuroticism. By asking simple questions such as whether one gets nervous easily, worries excessively, or is easily hurt emotionally, neuroticism can be measured. If someone answers “yes” to all these questions, they may fall into the highly neurotic category, along with approximately 30% of the population.
For a long time, high neuroticism was seen as a cause for concern, associated with poor mental and physical health, as well as reduced lifespan. However, recent research suggests that it may be beneficial to have a more balanced view of this trait. Some neurotic individuals use their worries to fuel creativity and, in some cases, may even have a lower risk of serious illnesses like heart disease and cancer.
The impact of neuroticism largely depends on how we choose to process and manage the feelings it produces. With this knowledge, we can all learn to effectively manage our negative internal conversations.
Neuroticism has been historically viewed quite negatively, stemming from early psychoanalysis perspectives by Freud and Jung in the 20th century. They believed anxiety was something to be cured, and this view persisted in the scientific investigation of personality traits, including neuroticism. Unfortunately, the research tended to oversimplify and led to black and white interpretations. Extroversion, for example, was seen as entirely positive, while neuroticism was seen as entirely negative.
Susan Cain, in her book Quiet, challenged this perspective by demonstrating the virtues of introversion. Similarly, neuroticism may require a change in image. The claim that high neuroticism contributes to worse physical health due to increased stress makes intuitive sense but is supported by conflicting evidence. Some studies find a link between neuroticism and illness, while others find no such connection. Surprisingly, a few studies even suggest that neurotic individuals have better health and longer lives compared to those with sunnier dispositions. These studies were well-conducted with large sample sizes, making it difficult to dismiss their findings.
Instead of treating neuroticism as a single concept, researchers are beginning to focus on its various manifestations in different people. Recent studies indicate that there might be different subtypes of neuroticism. For some, neuroticism manifests as general anxiety and tension, while for others, it may involve specific worries and guilt over past mistakes.
To understand if these differences influence health outcomes, such as mortality from cancer or cardiovascular disease, researchers analyzed the health records of hundreds of thousands of individuals. Their findings confirmed that people who scored extremely high on all facets of neuroticism had a slightly higher risk of mortality. However, those characterized by just one facet fared much better. The “anxious-tense” group did not have a significantly different risk compared to the general population, while the excessive worriers had a lower risk of illness and mortality.
Why this is the case remains unclear, but it’s possible that the excessive worriers are more attentive to their health, enabling them to identify potential problems before they become serious. The impact of worrying on health may also depend on other personality traits. For example, individuals who combine neuroticism with higher conscientiousness are more likely to take proactive steps to improve their health, such as not smoking and exercising regularly.
In the right circumstances, higher levels of neuroticism can also foster creativity. Neurotics tend to have overactive imaginations, allowing them to play out various scenarios and turn problems over in their minds. While this can lead to unhappy rumination, it can also lead to deeper thinking and original ideas. Some studies have found that successful artists tend to score higher in neuroticism compared to the average population, and laboratory experiments suggest that neurotics have better problem-solving abilities.
Comedians, in particular, seem to exhibit higher levels of neuroticism. Their sensitivity to social slights and embarrassing situations can contribute to their ability to come up with witty and comedic material, even after the fact. The act of transforming negative experiences into positive laughter may help comedians cope more constructively with their worries. Humor can also reduce stress and provide a useful strategy for managing neurotic thoughts.
In sum, it’s important to challenge the traditionally negative perception of neuroticism. It’s a complex trait with both advantages and disadvantages, depending on how it is manifested and managed. By understanding and embracing its potential benefits, individuals can navigate their neurotic tendencies more effectively and lead fulfilling lives.