Cool or Just Complicated? What Makes Musk and Branson Global Icons

Image Source : Business Insider

A new crosscultural study has attempted to decode the elusive quality of “coolness,” and yes—Richard Branson and Elon Musk made the cut. Published by the American Psychological Association, the research surveyed participants across 13 countries to identify traits that define cool individuals. The results reveal a fascinating divide between being “cool” and being “good.”

Key Traits That Define Coolness

Cool individuals were consistently rated as more extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, openminded, and autonomous.
In contrast, “good” people were seen as warm, agreeable, traditional, secure, and conscientious.
While some traits overlap, coolness often includes qualities not typically associated with moral goodness.

Branson vs Musk: Context Matters

Richard Branson was cited as cool for his adventurous feats—ballooning across oceans, racing speedboats, and even venturing into space.
Elon Musk’s coolness is more polarizing. His traits—powerful, autonomous, and hedonistic—fit the cool profile, but his infamous marijuana moment on a podcast drew mixed reactions. College students found it rebellious; investors didn’t.

Cultural Nuances and Global Perception

The study spanned regions including the US, India, Germany, South Korea, and Nigeria, revealing that coolness is surprisingly consistent across cultures.
Researchers suggest that coolness is contextdependent and often tied to admiration, even if the admired traits aren’t universally “good.”

Sources: USA Today, Yahoo News, MSN, OpenTools.ai, American Psychological Association