06.01.08
Bleeding Love
In the West, we get next month’s relationship predictions from the back of magazines based on our astrological horoscope sign. What has become more and more popular among East Asians is compatibility and personality descriptions based on blood types.
Originating from Japan, this trend has spread to South Korea, China, and many South Asian countries as well. Surprisingly, blood type personalities is a notion that has been around since the 1930s due to Furukawa Takeji’s responses to the scientific racism of Asians at that time. Since then, blood types have become equal to horoscopes in judging personalities.
Type O:
Type O’s are outgoing, and very social. They are initiators, although they don’t always finish what they start. Creative and popular, they love to be the center of attention and appear very self confident. Worst Traits: Vain, careless, ruthless. O is most compatible with O, and AB
Type A:
While outwardly calm, they have such high standards (perfectionists) that they tend to be balls of nerves on the inside. Type A’s are the most artistic of the blood groups. They can be shy, are conscientious, trustworthy, and sensitive. Worst Traits: Fastidious, over earnest. A is most compatible with A and AB
Type B:
Goal oriented and strong minded, type B’s will start a task and continue it until completed, and completed well. Type B’s are the individualists of the blood group categories and find their own way in life. Worst Traits: Selfish, irresponsible, arrogant. B is most compatible with B and AB
Type AB:
Type AB’s are the split personalities of the blood groups. They can be both outgoing and shy, confident and timid. While responsible, too much responsibility will cause a problem. They are trustworthy and like to help others. Worst Traits: Critical, indecisive. AB is most compatible with AB, B, A and O
While some of us truly see this as just for fun, for others blood type has taken on the role of relationship science. For example, many South Koreans believe that type B men are hot headed and unreasonable and therefore women tend to avoid dating type B men. The movie My Boyfriend is Type-B, although made in jest, highlights this cultural belief that blood type determines personality.
It goes without saying of course that there is no science behind these beliefs just as there is no science behind horoscopes. It is easier to argue the nature vs nurture of personality development than it is to defend the science behind blood typ”ology”.
Do you find the descriptions to be true for yourself? How about compatibility with your significant other? Knowing that there is no justified science behind it does not deter many. I myself guiltily check my horoscope in the back of dirty celebrity gossip magazines and always enjoy it when my cousin in Taiwan texts me my blood type mood of the day.
For the single person, it seems that there is security in knowing that there exists a successful counterpart to your personality. For those in a relationship, blood types may serve to confirm worst suspicions about a doomed relationship or explain the honeymoon feeling of the successful one.
Information concerning blood types and compatibility in the above entry can readily be found at:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art22988.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_blood_type_theory_of_personality