Mats Larsson1
The Rayid Method of Iris Interpretation (Rayid) is a personality model that has two basic assumptions; (i) that specific fiberpatterns in the iris of the eye are inherited, and (ii) that those in turn can be associated with specific personality traits. The model's first basic assumption has received some support. Twinstudies have documented that it is possible to diagnose genetic similarity between two individuals just by comparing the visual similarity of irispatterns (A. Burkhardt, 1992, Antrop. Anz. 50(3), 235-170). The model's second basic assumption has only been tested once showing a possibility towards its support (J. J. Bruno, 1990 A dissertation presented to the faculty of the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, 152 pages). The main purpose with this study is to test if specific fiber structures in the iris are stable genetic markers for specific personality traits in The Five Factor Model (FFM). The iris factor was investigated by creating 4 experiment groups (n=10), in accordance with the criteria's for Rayids four basic personality types, and a control group (n=29) which was randomized. The personality factors that measure the basic personality typed behaviors according to the Rayid Model were operationalized by choosing 34 items from the FFM personality inventory for each experimental group. The result showed significant differences between the mental and the emotional type, and between the extreme type and the control group. Furthermore, the items that were operationalized to each type could, in two of three cases, predict the subjects to their theoretical type. The results indicate the possibility for significant differences between Rayid's basic personality types in a large sample. The possibility to map the DNA sequences that are responsible for the fiber patterns in the iris, as well as using irispatterns as a methodology to identify candidate genes in personality research are discussed.
Address: Mats Larsson, University of Orebro, Institution for Social Sciences, Psychology section, 701 82 Orebro, Sweden. Phone: +46 19 303185. Fax: +46, 19 301484. E-mail: mats.larsson@hoe.se
1University of Orebro, Institution for Social Sciences, Psychology section, 701 82 Orebro, Sweden.