5 Hidden Communication Styles: Unlocking The Vanessa Van Edwards Personality Test And Science Of People Insights

The Vanessa Van Edwards personality test is not a single, static assessment but a dynamic, science-backed framework rooted in the Big 5 (OCEAN) personality model and her proprietary research on nonverbal communication. As of December 2025, her work continues to be the freshest, most practical guide to understanding human behavior, moving beyond simple self-identification to actionable strategies for charisma and connection.

The core intention behind her assessments, promoted through her company Science of People, is to help "recovering awkward people" master social skills by decoding the secret language of body language and vocal cues. Her latest bestselling books, *Captivate* and *Cues*, provide the deepest dive into how to use these personality insights to succeed with people in any setting, from the boardroom to a first date.

Complete Biography and Professional Profile of Vanessa Van Edwards

Vanessa Van Edwards, born Vanessa Lynn Van Petten, is one of the world's leading experts in human behavior and a behavioral investigator who translates complex social science into practical, everyday skills.

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• Full Name: Vanessa Lynn Van Petten (now Vanessa Van Edwards)
• Date of Birth: May 17, 1985
• Primary Role: Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Lead Investigator at Science of People
• Notable Books: *Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People* and *Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication*
• Career Focus: Nonverbal communication, body language, charisma, and applied personality science. She has consulted for trillion-dollar companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon.
• Unique Background: She describes herself as a "recovering awkward person" who turned her social struggles into a science-backed system for connection.

The Core Framework: Vanessa Van Edwards's Big 5 Personality Test

While Vanessa Van Edwards offers various quizzes, the foundational "personality test" she consistently references and applies is the widely accepted, research-based Big 5 Personality Traits, also known by the acronym OCEAN. Her unique contribution is not the creation of the test, but the practical, real-world application of its results to improve communication and relationships.

Understanding where you and others fall on these five continuums is the first step in her system for increasing likeability and mastering social success. She provides tools and quizzes through Science of People to help users pinpoint their scores on each dimension.

The 5 Dimensions of the OCEAN Model (The VVE Personality Test Blueprint)

Vanessa Van Edwards uses the Big 5 as a blueprint to predict and understand behavior, fix communication problems, and build rapport.

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• Openness to Experience: This trait measures a person's level of creativity, curiosity, and imagination. High scorers are adventurous and enjoy new ideas; low scorers prefer routine and tradition.
• Conscientiousness: This measures organization, discipline, and goal-directed behavior. Highly conscientious people are reliable and thorough; low scorers are more spontaneous and laid-back.
• Extraversion: This is the degree to which a person seeks out social interaction and stimulation. Extraverts are outgoing and energetic; introverts are reserved and gain energy from solitude.
• Agreeableness: This measures how cooperative, compassionate, and kind a person is. High agreeableness correlates with being trusting and helpful; low agreeableness can mean a person is more competitive or skeptical.
• Neuroticism: This measures emotional stability, anxiety, and moodiness. High scorers are more prone to stress and worry; low scorers are generally calm and emotionally resilient.

By identifying these core traits, VVE's work provides a roadmap. For instance, knowing a colleague is high in Conscientiousness tells you they will respond best to detailed, organized communication rather than spontaneous, vague requests.

From Personality Traits to Charismatic Communication Styles (The 'Cues' Diagnostic)

Moving beyond the fundamental Big 5, Vanessa Van Edwards’s most recent and actionable work in her book *Cues* focuses on how personality manifests through nonverbal communication, or "cues." This is where her proprietary diagnostics, like the Charisma Quiz, come into play, helping you determine your current communication style and how to adapt it for maximum impact.

The book breaks down the secret language of charisma into four cue categories: visual, vocal, verbal, and spatial. Mastering these cues is the practical application of her personality science.

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The 4 Essential Cues for Charismatic Communication

Learning to read and send the right cues is the ultimate goal of her communication diagnostic. This is the "test" in action—the ability to instantly decode social interactions.

1. Visual Cues (Body Language): This involves your posture, hand gestures, facial expressions, and microexpressions. VVE teaches how to use "power cues" to convey confidence and "warmth cues" to build trust. Her "Test Your Body Language Skills" is a direct assessment of this ability.
2. Vocal Cues (Voice Tone and Pace): This is not *what* you say, but *how* you say it. It includes your pitch, volume, and the speed of your speech. Mastering these cues can make you sound more confident and authoritative.
3. Verbal Cues (Word Choice): This covers the specific language patterns you use, such as using "power words" or language that validates and values the other person. VVE stresses that one sentence can instantly make someone feel valued.
4. Spatial Cues (Proximity and Environment): This relates to how you use the space around you, including personal distance and how you arrange your environment (e.g., in a meeting or on a video call) to foster connection or convey leadership.

How to Apply Vanessa Van Edwards's Personality Insights for Social Success

The true value of taking any Vanessa Van Edwards personality test or quiz—whether it’s the Big 5, the Body Language Test, or the Charisma Quiz—is not the label, but the practical strategy that follows. Her methodology is all about turning research into actionable skills.

The final step in her process is to use the personality data you've gathered to "hack" your social interactions and build deeper, more authentic relationships.

• The 7-Day Social Challenge: VVE encourages people to actively practice new social skills. For example, if your personality test reveals low Extraversion, you can use her techniques to manage your energy in social settings, rather than trying to become a different person.
• Decoding Nonverbal Signals: Use her body language research to quickly assess a person's emotional state (e.g., spotting a liar or recognizing discomfort) and adjust your communication *cues* accordingly.
• The Triple Threat Communication: She advocates aligning your verbal message, vocal tone, and visual cues to ensure you are never overlooked or misunderstood. This is crucial for conveying leadership and likeability.
• Tailoring Your Approach: Based on the Big 5 results, you can tailor your interaction. For a person high in Openness, discuss abstract, creative ideas. For someone high in Conscientiousness, stick to the agenda and be punctual. This is the essence of her "Science of Personality" for business.

In essence, the "Vanessa Van Edwards personality test" is a comprehensive system designed to move you from social awkwardness to effortless charisma by providing the science-backed tools to understand and influence human behavior. Her latest work emphasizes that success is less about innate talent and more about mastering the secret language of social cues.