Experts say that the way a person takes off their shoes can say a lot about their personality Psychology has analysed the ways in which people take off their shoes Many people come home and take off their shoes without going through the process of untying their laces. This simple act has been analysed by several psychologists around the world. One of them is expert Olga Albaladejo, who claims that the way people take off their shoes is a representation of their personality. The expert spoke to the Cuerpo Mente portal about this type of behaviour.
“It may seem like an insignificant gesture, but our daily habits say more about us than we imagine. Taking off your shoes without untying your laces is not just a matter of comfort; it is a small reflection of how we relate to effort, self-care and limits,” said Albaladejo.
One of the reasons people prefer to do this is fatigue. The human brain sometimes chooses to save energy and performs these activities automatically. ‘Approximately 40% of the actions we perform every day are not conscious decisions, but automatic habits. Our mind constantly seeks ways to reduce energy expenditure on repetitive tasks, to reserve resources for those that really need them,’ he said. When arriving home after a day of work or study, the brain may omit making conscious decisions like this.
Another cause of this phenomenon is the so-called ‘autopilot.’ When people disconnect from their present actions. This can be dangerous if people tend to do this while driving or crossing the street. ‘When the body acts without mindfulness, we are faced with a pattern of disconnection. The gesture is performed, but there is no conscious participation in it,’ said the psychologist.
Other reasons
The psychologist explained that the culture of immediacy also has to do with this type of behaviour. Many people take off their shoes without untying their laces just to do it as quickly as possible. Without realising the possible effects this practice has on their footwear. This behaviour may also be due to control issues. If someone feels they have no control over their life, they may use small gestures to feel liberated.
‘If someone takes off their shoes in this way systematically, it may reflect a particular relationship with norms. We are not talking about conscious rebellion, but small liberations in the details,’ says the expert. The final explanation is that some people do this simply out of habit, something they have built up over the years. However, for psychology, it is necessary ‘to distinguish whether we are dealing with a neutral gesture or a form of behaviour that is part of a more complex pattern’.
