9 Examples of Likeability

John Spacey, updated on May 11, 2019

Likability, also spelled likeability, is a personality trait that corresponds to being widely liked by others. This is one path to influence, leadership and generally enjoying a productive social life. Likeable people have diverse traits and there is no definitive set of attributes that make a person likable. The following are illustrative examples of likability.

Coolness

Coolness is an ability to be confident in yourself such that you lead without obsessing about others. This allows an individual to escape behaviors that tend to be unlikable such as gossiping, complaining, arguing and dramatizing.

People Person

People are more apt to like people who like them. If you genuinely like most people you meet, they may tend to reciprocate.

Authenticity

People who are putting on an act have little chance of being likable. For example, a reckless politician who always speaks their mind freely may be more likable than a stable politician who is always trying to say the "correct" thing.

Humor

The ability to make people laugh and to enjoy humor yourself is a highly likable trait.

Charisma

Charisma is a charming or fearsome personal presence that immediately signals that an individual is not to be taken lightly. Charismatic individuals are usually both widely liked and disliked. In other words, they tend to elicit an emotional response.

Cultural Capital

Generally speaking, it easier to be liked by people when you are well versed in their culture. This can include traditional culture, super culture, subculture and organizational culture. For example, a politician who has the same language, mannerisms and enthusiasms as the vast majority of the population may be more likable than a politician who is perceived as elitist.

Agreeableness

Agreeableness is a personality trait described as kind, sympathetic, warm and cooperative. Generally speaking, this is highly likeable. This is not to say that highly disagreeable people who are combative, cold and unsympathetic can't be likeable. However, it is easier to be likable if you are agreeable.

Unaffectedness

Being indifferent to who likes you may be an advantage to likability because people are usually suspicious of those who try too hard to ingratiate themselves. This can be seen in social tropes such as a teacher's pet who tries hard to gain the favor of a teacher only to become unlikable to others in the class.

Faults

Virtues such as humility are often cited as being elements of likability. However, it is often the case that individuals who have many faults remain highly likable. It is possible that certain faults can be considered charming in a particular individual such that they add to likability.

Notes

Likability is the preferred spelling in the United States, likeability is the preferred spelling in most English speaking countries outside the United States.