'Creepy' jobs and behaviour patterns identified in new survey

'Individuals who display unusual behavioural patterns are outside of the norm, and by definition unpredictable'

Roisin O'Connor

Tuesday 19 April 2016 12:12

(GETTY IMAGES)

Few psychologists have looked into the notion of “creepiness”, but some people definitely seem to have an ability to make others feel uncomfortable.

Francis McAndrew and Sara Koehnke, of Illinois College, have written a new exploratory paper published in New Ideas in Psychology, which says "creepiness" is what we feel when we think someone may be a threat but are not certain, leaving us "wallowing in unease".

The pair conducted a survey of 1,341 people with an average age of 29, and asked them to rate 44 different patterns of behaviour (eg. Avoiding eye contact), and rate different occupations and hobbies based on their perception of “creepiness”.

Several behavioural patterns and aspects of appearance were consistently rated as creepy characteristics, including “standing too close”, laughing at odd times, and displaying too much or too little emotion.

“While they may not be overtly threatening, individuals who display unusual patterns of nonverbal behaviour, odd emotional characteristics or highly distinctive physical characteristics are outside of the norm, and by definition unpredictable,” the researchers claimed.

The worst jobs for your health

Show all 10

1/10The worst jobs for your health

Overall unhealthiness score: 57.3 What they do: Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel and perform medical laboratory tests. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 69

Overall unhealthiness score: 57.7 What they do: Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 99 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 89 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 84

Overall unhealthiness score: 58.2 What they do: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 97 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 80 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 74

Overall unhealthiness score: 59.0 What they do: Prepare histologic slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 76 3. Exposure to disease and infections: 75

Overall unhealthiness score: 59.3 What they do: Investigate and inspect people, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the US or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 78 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 63 3. Exposure to radiation: 62

Overall unhealthiness score: 60.2 What they do: Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 87 2. Exposure to radiation: 69 3. Exposure to contaminants: 67

What they do: Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals and perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 81 2. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 75 3. Exposure to contaminants: 74

Overall unhealthiness score: 62.3 What they do: Administer anesthetics or sedatives during medical procedures, and help patients in recovering from anesthesia. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 94 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to radiation: 74

What they do: Provide personal services to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 88 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 77 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 69

Overall unhealthiness score: 65.4 What they do: Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 84 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 3. Time spent sitting: 67

They also ranked the top professions in order of “creepiness” according to the people they surveyed.

The four highest ranking were:

1) Clown

2) Taxidermist

3) Sex shop owner

4) Funeral director

Consistent with McAndrew and Koehnke’s theory that creepiness stems from ambiguity, participants admitted that the reason someone could make them feel uncomfortable was because their behavioural patterns were unpredictable.

Another study published in April 2016 revealed the best and worst jobs according to stress levels, risk, and pay.

Newspaper reporters were deemed to have the worst jobs for the third year in a row, thanks to a precarious industry due to a decline in advertising revenue, while jobs such as pest control workers and military service personnel appeared on the list due to the danger, stress and low pay involved.

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