What Do Your Habitat Preferences Say About You? ...by Bill Knell
Years ago I began to notice that a person's habitat preferences says a lot about who they are. I call this Habitat Psychology for lack of a better description. I'm believe there are many things that cause us to develop likes and dislikes about our personal environment. For example: I grew up near New York City. That means we experienced cold weather at least six to seven months out of the year. However, summers were often hot and humid in most uncomfortable way.
The prevailing thought which existed in my area, during my childhood in the 1960s, was that air conditioning for homes was not a necessity, or even a priority. My parents were born in the 1930s making them Depression Era kids. Their priorities were less about comfort and more about need. You needed heat, hot water and electricity. You didn't need air conditioning. If you were hot you bought a fan, took a shower or went for a swim somewhere.
Recalling those sweltering summers when it was too hot to sleep made air conditioning a priority for me as an adult, no matter where I lived. That says that personal comfort is important to me. I value the ability of technology to keep me comfortable and have no problem going through the expense needed to achieve that comfort. I would not like to abandon that technology by going camping or sleeping outdoors were the prevailing weather determines my level of comfort. I have a need to control my environment and may not be a risk taker.
If I left the light on when I wasn't in my room my parents would say, “Turn off the light unless you have stock in the electric company.” However, I preferred subdued lighting like a small lamp with a low wattage bulb instead of a ceiling light. In my mind I was saving electricity. The downside was that it wasn't connected to a wall switch. I would have to remember to walk over and shut it off.
I preferred less light. It made me feel comfortable. Sometimes I would start reading in the evening when it was still light outside and not bother to turn on my lamp as it got darker. That would bring more comments from my parents. They would say, “Turn on a light. You're gonna go blind!” Lights were a necessity for them that should be used, but sparingly. My choice of subdued lighting is a personal preference that provides me with my much valued personal comfort.
I have found that most people who prefer subdued lighting tend to be less aggressive, less argumentative and more introspective. Those who use ceiling lights, bright lights or many lights will tend to be impatient, easily annoyed, loud and zealous about having enough personal space. More so if they are forced to endure a room or environment with less light for an extended period of time. On the good side, they may be more outgoing, have the ability to speak their mind regardless of the consequences and tend to be more motivated.
The amount of space you prefer in your habitat displays your ability to accept or reject situations you confront. People who have decided they need a certain amount of living space regardless of the cost or their ability to pay for it will tend to be fiscally irresponsible, unrealistic and disorganized. They will not accept situations they confront that put them I'll at ease. People that settle for less living space in favor of being able to afford it tend to be more focused on other things that tap their finances. They may be less motivated and more self concerned. They would be willing to work around situations they confront and do not like.
Habitat decoration appears to speak to the value we place on things and people, as well as revealing some personality traits. Do you decorate to satisfy your personal tastes without any concern about how others might react? If so, you are probably self confident, self assured, somewhat selfish, lack sincere empathy and tend to value things over people. If you decorate to impress others you might be a people pleaser, value people over things and more sensitive to the feelings of others.
Today the impersonal nature of our online culture tends to have us more concerned about how many friends we have on social media and what they say about us than anything else. Reality smacks you in the face when people visit you and your habitat in person. Moreso when and if you decide to share it with a friend or lover. That's why we should all take a look at our habitat and decide what it reveals about us. That gives you a unique opportunity to look inside yourself and see what others see on the outside.
As a professional writer Bill accepts various paid writing assignments. Articles on most any topic are his specialty. He is also a non-fiction ghost writer for people who have an idea or story to tell without the skills to create a submittable book manuscript. Sorry, he does not accept term paper or technical writing assignments. Bill can be contacted on
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