From the confident, purposeful stride to the timid entry of an individual, every action of his provides an inkling about his personality. The way he sits and stands, talks and eats are all a manifestation of his inner traits. People give themselves away by specific behavioral traits. Hence, many companies while recruiting staff rope in a psychologist to get some clues about the candidate’s personality. Personality is reflected not merely in waking activities, and extensive studies by psychologists and sleep specialists reveal that the sleeping position of an individual also provides insights into his personality and health.

Most people fall asleep in a specific position, lying straight on their backs or on their side. However, their position changes through out the night, as has been witnessed in many sleep clinics. Two published reports used expansively in this connection include the groundbreaking analysis of two scientists, Dr. Samuel Dunkell, a renowned psychiatrist and Director of Insomnia Medical Services in New York City, and sleep scientist and professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service in England.

Dr. Samuel Dunkell has been studying sleep positions and other sleep related issues in hundreds of patients for over twenty-five years, and has concluded that the individual’s favorite sleeping position reveals his personality and the kind of partner he/she will make. It is his subconscious behavior that opens the door to his inner most traits and idiosyncrasies, and determines his waking reaction to real world situations. However, sleep positions change through out the night without the sleeper even realizing it. Thus the position that is the most enlightening is the one he goes off to sleep in. His famous statement, “he sleeps as he lives” has become a guiding phrase for sleep researchers and personality analysts. His analysis points to four different sleep positions taken by all human beings. These are:

1.The King- The position of lying straight on the back, arms on the sides, with the maximum amount of body skin being exposed, is that similar to a King who is confident, somewhat arrogant, and have a high degree of self involvement. He may seem narcissistic who will not receive compliments and attention beyond the bare minimum. Such people are extroverts, have a positive frame of mind, fun loving and gregarious, they love new experiences and places and enjoy being the focus of attention. Money and the pursuit of wealth is a motivating factor for such people who would pursue professions like acting, TV hosts, sales and so on.

2.The Peacemaker sleeps with knees slightly bent and on his side in a semi-fetal position, and is the typical social, laid back individual who compromises rather than confronts, is conciliatory rather than conflictive, is fair and always opts for the middle path. Such people are good judges and principals who have a strong sense of what is right.

3.The Controller sleeps with face down, in a dominating position in the bed and outside, occupying all the space, controlling and always wanting to be in charge. Always energetic, precise, neat and organized, punctual, scrupulous and perfectionists, they are rigid and need less sleep.

4.The Cuddler sleeps on his side but with legs pulled up and head bent in a full fetal position, they are the sensitive, insecure, emotional, artistic and vulnerable types who make excellent partners, loyal and affectionate who are not pursuing wealth all the time.

Almost everyone falls asleep when he lies down in a specific position each night.
According to Dr Damon Salzman, it is the person’s psyche that determines the position in which he will fall asleep. The onset of sleep is actually based on the body’s comfort, says Dr. Fred Jaffe of the Temple Sleep Disorder Center. However, this position never lasts throughout the night.

Chris Idzikowski has analyzed the sleep patterns of thousands of sleepers and concluded that all individuals adopt one out of six sleep positions that are reflective of their personality. In a detailed survey conducted on 1000 people he found that:

1.The Fetal position is adopted by 51% women, who are shy and sensitive, tough outside but soft at heart.

2.The Log position is adopted by 15% people who lie on their side with both arms down. Easy going and social, such people form part of the crowd, gullible and trusting even of strangers.

3.The Yearner sleeps on his side with both arms stretched out in front. 13% of the people sleep like this and this is indicative of their open nature, though may be cynical and suspicious who come to a decision slowly, but once taken, they remain unflinching in their stand.

4.The Soldier forms 8% of the sample of 1000. Such people lie on their backs with both arms pinned to their sides, are confident who set high standards of achievement for themselves and others, and tend to be reserved and quiet.

5.Freefall position points to lying on the front with arms around the pillow with head to one side. Forming 7% of the surveyed people they are brash and gregarious, who cannot tolerate criticism and do not like extreme situations.

6.The starfish sleepers lie on their back with arms around the pillow; they are friendly, good listeners, helpful but not attention seekers. They formed 5% of the sample surveyed.

These surveys have proved human tendencies and personality as reflected in the sub conscious state of sleep. Yet none of these can be proved or adopted as a rule of thumb, which will always be true. For instance, a section of the people surveyed stated that they fell asleep irrespective of how they lay down, and in any position. Would it mean that they have conflicting personalities? Similarly, the Singapore population accustomed to sleeping in air conditioned rooms may find the fetal position cozy, but then the entire population could not possibly have the same personality. Those sleeping with open windows may lie stretched out to “catch” the breeze, may not necessarily have “King” type personalities. The room temperature, the mattress quality, and a host of other factors combine to play a role not just in the quality of sleep but also the position in which people lie down. Hence, as Dr. Fred Jaffe rightly stated, sleep positions and its connection to the individual’s personality are something like horoscopes, which may be true but is not yet a science.

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