Dr. William Neutra, a psychoanalyst– in the 1950’s believed that the method an individual uses to hold a cigarette shines a light onto their inner selves, exposing their character type, moods and insecurities.
“The way a person hold their cigarette – along with such personal gestures as how they walk, sit, nervous habits and hand motions – is a sure sign of their inner self.”
1950s were a different time, when smoking a cigarette was seen as the epitome of intellect and sophistication, and people were largely unaware of any negative consequences.
This article, from a 1959 issue of Caper Magazine, shows a few examples of what psychoanalyst Dr. William Neutra hypothesized after observing the ways people chose to smoke. According to his psychoanalysis, the body language of the method an individual uses to hold the cigarette shines a light onto their character traits, hinting towards their personality type, moods, and insecurities.
Scroll down to see if you can relate?
A. Just a guess for this female mannerism: insecure, afraid to lose that cigarette. She probably holds on to her man like glue.
B. Typical grasp of a female bored with her date. She has to concentrate on the tip to keep from yawning.
C. Dr. Neutra claims this person is an intellectual, a very brainy type, a contemplative character.
D. This person is generally unreliable, weak, hard to live with, and inclined to excessive lying.
E. Very tense individual, direct, straight-forward, inclined towards stubbornness.
F. A hail fellow, well-met character who enjoys high living. Sort of the Texas millionaire type.
G. This guy’s obviously daring, calculating, literally likes to “play with fire”.
H. A dreamer, always off on a tangent.
I. Very pessimistic, excessive in business caution.
Bizarre or for real? What do you think?