The personality of physicists

Abstract The Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP) was given to 109 male and 133 femalephysicists and comparisons made with male and female population norms. Results confirm previous research with male scientists, showing them to be introverted and cautious (particularly careful, controlled, inhibited and unsociable). They were not, however, especially stable relative to same-sex controls. The personality profile of the female physicists showed a similar pattern to that of males (as regards comparisons with gender norms). Although significantly more tough-minded than women at large, female physicists could not be described as generally masculine.