How well would you say you know yourself? Are you a leader or a follower? Do you tend to take charge and dominate conversations, or do you spend more of your time listening? Would people call you passionate or even-tempered? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, it might be time to look for them— in the length of your fingers.

Yes, your finger length, specifically the length of your ring finger, your index finger, and how they compare to one another! Like the way we sleep or the the way we write, things like the shape of our nails and the length of our fingers reveal more about our personalities than we realize— and, since it’s all unconscious and out of our control, those reveals are often a lot more honest. There’s a mind-body connection, and it’s showing us our true selves. Read on to find out what your finger length reveals about YOU, then keep reading to learn the science behind it all.

If your index finger and ring finger are about the same length . . .

. . . you’re as balanced as your hands look! People with this hand shape tend to be good listeners and good communicators, prone to hearing the secrets of others. Of course, you’d never reveal those secrets! According to Little Things, you’re “peaceful, compassionate, and warm, so you’re at your best when helping others,” but Higher Persepectives also says you probably “have a fiery core that while suppressed in normal day-to-day activities can be dangerous if unleashed.” So if you’re a nurturer and a protector? You probably have even fingers!

If your index finger is longer than your ring finger . . .

. . . you’re the person who gets. It. Done— whatever “it” happens to be. You probably don’t think of yourself as a leader, but you totally are one without even realizing it. You’re even-tempered and resourceful, so even when you come up against an obstacle, you power through and find a solution without even breaking a sweat. According to Higher Persepectives, you and others with your personality

love solitude in which to work and accomplish the things they need to do, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate introversion. They’re very goal oriented and don’t like to be disturbed. They appreciate what they have but often hunger for more.

People come to you to solve your problems, so even if you don’t recognize yourself in this description, think for a second: do you have a to-do list full of things you’ve promised other people? Is that to-do list going to get done, and get done early? You’re a natural leader, and you probably have a long index finger!

If your index finger is longer than your ring finger . . .

. . . you have confidence to spare! You’re charming and flirtatious – usually successfully so! – and maybe a little bit aggressive, both verbally and physically. You take risks and take charge, but you’re also a great problem-solver. Even if you get into trouble, you can probably talk your way out of it. Higher Persepectives calls you “the charming but pragmatic one,” and you’re probably somebody who tends to be in charge. You’re also more than likely athletic, analytical, left-brained, and have a good sense of direction. People with longer index fingers can usually be found charging into the lead of any path, and they like it there.

So how do we know these personality types are right, and where in the world did all of this information come from? Well, it’s all linked to a study of “digit ratio,” and levels of testosterone during a baby’s development in the womb. Discover Magazine explains:

In boys, “during fetal development there’s a surge in testosterone in the middle of the second trimester” that seems to influence future health and behavior, says Pete Hurd, a neuroscientist at the University of Alberta. One easy-to-spot result of this flood of testosterone: a ring finger that’s significantly longer than the index finger.
Scientists are not at the point where they can factor in finger length to arrive at a diagnosis, but they’ve gathered evidence that shows how this prenatal hormone imbalance can affect a person for life, from increasing or decreasing your risk of certain diseases, to predicting how easily you get lost or lose your temper.
Researchers continue to study what sparks these hormonal changes and have begun looking at environmental chemical exposure, stress levels and diet during pregnancy.

Basically, the same hormonal shifts that help a fetus develop into a boy or a girl also affect our finger lengths, and the ongoing hormones present in our bodies as we are born and as we grow into adult humans also affect our personalities and tendencies.

Of course, our ultimate fates and personal development are up to us! Still, it’s always interesting to learn more about why we might be the way we are, and to discover different aspects of our personalities we’ve never considered before.

What did you think of this finger length test? Does your hand type reflect your personality type? Were your results eerily on-the-mark or completely, utterly wrong?

Thanks to Little Things for sharing this fun test! Learn more about the personality secrets of finger lengths there and over on Discover Magazine, Higher Persepectives and Live Science.