Many people believe that the way they dress, the belongings they own, or the music they listen to are reflexive of their personalities. However, these are all active choices that people make in order to convey a certain message about themselves to others. In reality, our daily, mundane actions serve as greater reflections of our personality because of their subconscious nature. Somewhere around my sophomore year of high school, I began noticing that the way people interact with doors can be very indicative of their personalities.

As you walk through a door, it is common courtesy to hold the door open for those behind you. This norm demonstrates politeness and consideration, and has become a cultural expectation. It is the duty of the individual to receive the door, thank the person ahead of them, and hold it for the next person. This system that has developed over time represents the order of society, wherein each person who enters the door has a responsibility. However, when people break these norms, we are given insight into their personal values.

For example, most people will only hold the door for someone if they are a few steps behind them. But we have all encountered the person who will hold the door open for someone farther away than what most would consider a reasonable distance. This action reflects kindness, humility, and an inclination towards helpfulness. Because the person approaching the door is far away, the one currently entering has no cultural obligation to hold the door open for them. However, choosing to go out of their way and take the extra time to assist someone else when not obligated to do so indicates a heightened concern for others.

There is a similar personality type that could be described as being too kind. I have observed instances where someone serves as a doorman by standing next to the door and holding it for multiple groups of people to pass before they themselves enter. This reflects a passive nature that could translate to being a doormat in one's personal life and being taken advantage of by others. People will choose not to accept responsibilities for themselves because they expect that the doormat will be kind enough to do it for them. As nice as it is to put others before yourself, we must all draw the line at some point.

I have often observed groups of people walking through a door together, allowing someone to be their doorman, and sometimes, not even thanking the person for holding the door. Other times, only one member of the group will say "thank you" on behalf of everyone entering. This lack of initiative and unwillingness of the rest of the group to speak for themselves reflects a sheep or bystander mentality. Members of these groups will often continue their conversations and choose not to acknowledge the fact that someone is holding the door for them, which can often reveal a level of privilege or an expectation of others to serve them, since they do not find it necessary to thank someone for going out of their way to help them.

Similarly, there is a type of person that will walk through a door that someone else is holding without receiving the door for themselves or acknowledging the person who held it for them. This demonstrates a sense of entitlement and expectation of others to do things that they are fully capable of doing for themselves without expressing gratitude. By not fulfilling their personal responsibility, they communicate a disinterest in participating in the order of society.

Then, there is the type of person that we have all encountered at some point—those who squeeze through a door as it is closing and let it shut on the person directly behind them. This person clearly lacks common courtesy, but their action may also reflect a level of personal interest in getting ahead and a lack of concern towards the next person. Allowing the door to close in a person's face reflects a shameless disregard for others.

And lastly, double doors. When there is high traffic entering and exiting through double doors, for some reason, one of the two doors will often remain unopened. People will enter through one door at a time, preventing traffic from flowing in both directions. Each person watches others pass as they wait for their turn to enter the building, instead of opening the second door. This, again, represents a passive, sheep mentality, where no one takes action because they are waiting for someone else to create opportunities for them. Finally, someone will approach the entrance and immediately open the second door. This person's initiative is rooted in common sense and serves to decongest traffic for everyone. It reflects an ambitious personality, wherein one opens the door to opportunity, rather than waiting for opportunity to knock.

Observing these interactions in others is a good way to understand people because the way that one interacts with strangers can communicate certain personality traits. This is why people will often look to the way that someone interacts with their server at a restaurant as indicative of the type of person that they are. These small and seemingly insignificant actions can also be reflexive of people's personalities and outlooks because they are instinctual. Our instincts are shaped by our experiences, upbringings, and cultural expectations, therefore, they communicate volumes about a person. And because these are such quick, mundane actions, they reflect the way that one would naturally act with little to no thought. Choosing to abide by or break these social norms often implies one's personal values, and it is often in small, subconscious actions where people's true selves are revealed.