In the December 2016 issue of New Ideas in Psychology, researchers asked 1,341 people (1,029 females, 312 males) to rate the characteristics of creepiness on a scale from 1 to 5. Here are the results:<div class="vert-display-toggle collapsible relative flex flex-col items-center "><div class="vert-unit mt-4 mb-3 top-20"><div ad-type="mobile-desktop" class="ad-wrapper vert min-h-boombox flex items-start justify-center" data-ad-mapping="inline" data-ad-slot="Discover/inline-ad" id="div-inline-ad-0"></div></div>Advertisement</div><figure class="fr-image-container fr-full"><img srcset="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41350/creep2-s.webp 480w, https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41350/creep2-m.webp 660w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 480px, 660px" src="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41350/creep2-s.jpg" title="creep2" loading="lazy" data-id="41350"><figcaption class="fr-figcaption">(Credit: John S. Dykes)John S. Dykes</figcaption></figure>Creepiest BehaviorWatches you before interacting: 4.55 
Touches you frequently during conversation: 4.24 
Steers conversation toward sex: 4.16 
Asks to take your picture: 4.11 
Asks for personal details of family: 4.09 
Opposite sex: 4.01 
Appearance: 3.87 
Never looks you in the eye: 3.74 
Significantly older than you: 3.72 
Shows little emotional expression: 3.62 
Talks a lot about personal life: 3.41 
Extremely thin: 3.18 
Displays a lot of emotion: 3.15 
Tall: 3.08 
Has facial hair: 2.89 
Dresses too formally for occasion: 2.64 
Crosses arms: 2.61 <figure class="fr-image-container fr-full"><img srcset="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41351/creep3-s.webp 480w, https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41351/creep3-m.webp 660w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 480px, 660px" src="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41351/creep3-s.jpg" title="creep3" loading="lazy" data-id="41351"><figcaption class="fr-figcaption">(Credit: John S. Dykes)John S. Dykes</figcaption></figure>Creepiest Hobbies25% of participants say collecting things (dolls, insects, bones, etc.)<div data-embedid="96d745d8-9e22-4359-b211-4752ea4d8873" id="insticator-embed-temp"></div>8% say some variation of observing things (bird-watchers and photographers of children were most frequently listed) <figure class="fr-image-container fr-full"><img srcset="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41352/creep5-s.webp 480w, https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41352/creep5-m.webp 660w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 480px, 660px" src="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41352/creep5-s.jpg" title="creep5" loading="lazy" data-id="41352"><figcaption class="fr-figcaption">(Credit: John S. Dykes)John S. Dykes</figcaption></figure><figure class="fr-image-container fr-full"><img srcset="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41353/creep4-s.webp 480w, https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41353/creep4-m.webp 660w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 480px, 660px" src="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/41353/creep4-s.jpg" title="creep4" loading="lazy" data-id="41353"><figcaption class="fr-figcaption">(Credit: John S. Dykes)John S. Dykes</figcaption></figure>Do Creeps Know They're Creepy?8.6% say yes
59.4% say no
32% say they’re unsure

creep1

DSC161101

The November 2016 issue of Discover Magazine

Mystery on Mammoth Island

Explore the creepiest behavior characteristics revealed by a study, highlighting what makes someone come off as creepy.

Mind

What Makes a Creep?

Article

News

Lacy Schley

Science

In the December 2016 issue of New Ideas in Psychology, researchers asked 1,341 people (1,029 females, 312 males) to rate the characteristics of creepiness on a scale from 1 to 5. Here are the results: (Credit: John S. Dykes) John S. Dykes Creepiest BehaviorWatches you before interacting: 4.55
Touches you frequently during conversation: 4.24
Steers conversation toward sex: 4.16
Asks to take your picture: 4.11
Asks for personal details of family: 4.09
Opposite sex: 4.01
Appearance: 3.87
Never looks you in the eye: 3.74
Significantly older than you: 3.72
Shows little emotional expression: 3.62
Talks a lot about personal life: 3.41
Extremely thin: 3.18
Displays a lot of emotion: 3.15
Tall: 3.08
Has facial hair: 2.89
Dresses too formally for occasion: 2.64
Crosses arms: 2.61 (Credit: John S. Dykes) John S. Dykes Creepiest Hobbies25% of participants say collecting things (dolls, insects, bones, etc.) 8% say some variation of observing things (bird-watchers and photographers of children were most frequently listed) (Credit: John S. Dykes) John S. Dykes (Credit: John S. Dykes) John S. Dykes Do Creeps Know They're Creepy?8.6% say yes
59.4% say no
32% say they’re unsure

Discover Magazine’s award-winning journalism inspires and informs, delivering thought-provoking content that sparks meaningful conversations. With a focus on groundbreaking developments in science, technology, and the world around us, Discover highlights the impact of these innovations on our daily lives.

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