New research reveals the 6 personality traits that make someone officially cool

1. Extroversion

You don’t have to be the center of attention to radiate cool, but being comfortable in your skin—especially around others—is a huge part of it.

Extroversion, according to the Big Five personality framework, is about how much energy you draw from social interaction. It includes traits like sociability, enthusiasm, and assertiveness.

In other words: people who are energized by connection.

In that 2025 study, participants across cultures consistently rated extroversion as a marker of coolness. It makes sense—extroverts tend to be expressive, emotionally warm, and open to new social experiences.

But here’s the nuance. This isn’t about dominating every conversation or cracking a joke every two minutes. It’s about being engaged. Present. Unafraid to make eye contact, initiate a chat, or laugh a little too loudly when the moment hits.

Extroverts have a way of making other people feel included. And that’s one of the most quietly powerful things you can do.

2. Hedonism

Let’s clear something up: hedonism isn’t about reckless pleasure-seeking. At its core, it’s about savoring life.

Psychologists define hedonism as a value orientation that prioritizes enjoyment, comfort, and sensory pleasure.

One of the findings of the study was that participants consistently associated coolness with people who feel easy to be around. People who know how to have a good time without sucking all the air out of the room.

Cool people don’t perform joy—they embody it. They’re the ones who’ll order dessert without guilt, dance like nobody’s watching, or take spontaneous detours on road trips just to chase the sunset.

3. Power

Power shows up differently than people expect. It’s not about controlling others—it’s about controlling yourself.

In personality psychology, power is often linked to assertiveness, independence, and leadership tendencies. But what stood out in the coolness study was how this power was perceived: not intimidating, but respectable.

Cool people don’t need to dominate. They hold their own.

You can feel their sense of direction, even if they don’t say much. They make decisions without flinching. They don’t scramble for approval. And when they speak? You listen.

This inner authority creates a natural gravitational pull. People with a strong personal compass are hard to ignore. They lead without chasing followers.

That’s real power. And it never needs to announce itself.

4. Adventurousness

Every genuinely cool person I’ve met shares this: a sense of play.

Adventurousness, as a psychological trait, is about openness to risk, novelty, and uncertainty. It overlaps with curiosity, courage, and an ability to tolerate the unknown.

Whether it’s backpacking across unfamiliar countries or just trying that oddball sushi roll nobody else at the table wants, these people lean in.

They don’t fear looking stupid. They’d rather explore something weird than stay in the safe zone.

And there’s a reason this trait stands out. The human brain is wired to crave novelty. When we encounter something new or unpredictable, our brain releases dopamine—the same “feel-good” chemical tied to motivation and reward.

That hit of dopamine makes us feel good and grabs our attention. People who chase novelty, who live with a kind of experimental spirit, naturally trigger that response in others. They seem more alive. More engaged.

That’s why adventurousness feels magnetic. It signals, “I’m not afraid to experience the unfamiliar.” And in a world where so many people stay stuck in comfort loops, that stands out.

5. Openness

If adventurousness is about doing new things, openness is about thinking in new ways.

This is another pillar of the Big Five model—often tied to imagination, curiosity, and appreciation for art, ideas, and alternative perspectives.

Cool people tend to be mentally flexible. They’re not locked into one worldview. They’re the types who’ll quote Marcus Aurelius, listen to Wu-Tang, and then binge a foreign documentary—without needing to explain why it all makes sense to them.

They also tend to embrace ambiguity. According to research, people high in openness show greater tolerance for uncertainty and complexity.

That’s why they make such good conversationalists. You don’t feel judged. You feel invited. Their minds are playgrounds, not courtrooms.

And in a world obsessed with being right, that’s undeniably cool.

6. Autonomy

This might be the most underrated trait on the list—and maybe the most important.

Autonomy means living on your own terms. It’s not about rebellion for rebellion’s sake—it’s about alignment. Your actions match your values.

Cool people don’t follow trends blindly. They don’t shape-shift to fit in. And they sure as hell don’t wait for permission.

They wear what they want. Say what they think. Take the path that makes sense to them. And even if it’s unconventional or misunderstood, they own it.

Psychologist Edward Deci, co-creator of Self-Determination Theory, calls autonomy one of the three basic psychological needs for human flourishing.

When it’s present, people feel more motivated, fulfilled, and stable. When someone lives with autonomy, you feel it. It’s grounding. It’s attractive.

You don’t always agree with them—but you respect the hell out of them.

Final thoughts

So, what actually makes someone “cool”? Turns out, it’s not just style or charisma—it’s substance.

The traits that emerged from the study—extroversion, hedonism, power, adventurousness, openness, and autonomy—paint a picture of someone who’s confident, alive, and comfortable in their skin.

You probably know someone like that. Maybe you are someone like that. Or maybe, like the rest of us, you’re still growing into it.

The good news? These traits aren’t locked in. They’re learnable. Strengthen your autonomy. Explore your openness. Lean into a little hedonism.

Ultimately, cool isn’t about impressing others. It’s about being grounded enough not to care who’s watching.