There are plenty of reasons why we might choose the self-checkout lane at the store. But licensed psychologist Dr. Brandy Smith, PhD, reveals that this little quirk could reveal a lot more about your personality than you think.
OK, it isn’t always that deep—sometimes you only have a couple of items and want to get in and out of there quick. But if you always find yourself forgoing the regular cashier lanes, it does paint a better picture of your overall character. Maybe you exude confidence effortlessly, taking errand-running into your own hands. Or maybe you’re someone who prefers a quieter shopping experience. Either way, a psychologist says that if you always prefer self-checkout, you most likely have nine personality traits.
For starters, do you hate awkward small talk with the cashier? Are you somewhat impatient and always opt for a faster checkout experience? If yes, you’re most likely a self-checkout person.
Dr. Smith sheds a bit of light on why self-checkout lovers are the way that they are. For that and everything else she has to share, keep scrolling. The psychologist breaks down exactly why certain people make a beeline for this experience and why some people, on the other hand, won’t go near it.
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What Does It Say About Someone if They Prefer Self-Checkout?
Again, choosing self-checkout doesn’t always have to have a deeper meaning. Sometimes, you just want a faster checkout experience, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, Dr. Smith explains that there are a few other interesting reasons why someone might want to choose this method instead of cruising up to the regular counter.
“Things it could possibly say are that the person thought it would be faster and/or easier to do self-checkout, or that they prefer to ‘do it’ themselves,” she tells Parade. “[Rather] than have someone else do it, [they] may prefer to limit interactions with others.”
Basically, you might be a bit antisocial if you always prefer self-checkout (we’re all guilty of this at times) or you’re just someone who’s independent and prefers to do things on their own. Further, it could also signify that you like to have more control over your experience, choosing to keep things like your PIN and card number safely tucked away from prying eyes.
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9 Traits of People Who Prefer Self-Checkout, According to a Psychologist
1. They like to be speedy
Most of the time, people who prefer self-checkout don’t like to waste time, and Dr. Smith points out why.
“Many people view self-checkout as faster, so they go that route,” she states. “When a person is working to maximize time efficiency, going the route they view as fastest makes sense.”
2. They prefer their own way of doing things
Dr. Smith says that people who always choose self-checkout are usually pretty particular—a bit more type A, if you will. As she mentioned previously, instead of letting other people handle their items, they’re inclined to go it alone.
“This could mean [they like] the way they check out, bag or just the overall experience of doing it themselves,” she adds. “A preference for their way of doing it could be specific to groceries or broader to a general preference for control.”
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3. They’re often shy or uncomfortable with social interaction
While this isn’t always the case, people who actively avoid the regular checkout line probably prefer less social interaction while running errands.
“While it is not a guarantee that using the self-checkout option will allow for no interaction with an employee, it does increase the odds of not having to interact with someone,” Dr. Smith says. “Someone who is shy, anxious or uncomfortable about interacting with others may be drawn to self-checkout.”
4. They tend to purchase only a few items at a time
Let’s be honest, self-checkout isn’t usually conducive to a massive grocery haul. According to Dr. Smith, people who always prefer self-checkout are not people who are buying a ton of stuff. And that could be because it goes against their practical nature.
“Most self-checkout options do not have much space, so someone who always uses self-checkout is someone who likely buys only a few items at a time rather than a lot at once,” she adds.
5. They’re interested in the increased possibility of privacy
Dr. Smith says if you’re buying something “embarrassing,” you’ll probably naturally gravitate toward self-checkout.
“Using the self-checkout can reduce what is being purchased from being seen by others,” she explains. “This may relate to concern about judgment or embarrassment about what is purchased and a desire to have fewer people to possibly see it.”
On the other side of this coin, though, it could also mean that you just prefer privacy when it comes to your debit or credit cards, or your payment methods in general. It’s easy to look over someone’s shoulder in the regular checkout line. Choosing self-checkout increases security a bit since they’re more spaced out.
6. They have a desire for autonomy
People who always prefer self-checkout are highly independent people, Dr. Smith stresses. They always like to have more control over their experience, and self-checkout allows them to self-guide their entire trip. This provides more freedom in a sense and speaks to independent people on a deep level.
7. They dislike waiting and lines
No one likes to wait in long lines, but Dr. Smith says that the type of people who choose self-checkout consider the concept of lines and of waiting in them in general a big “no” for them. If they can maximize their time, best believe that they’re going to. While there are definitely times self-checkout isn’t as fast as it could be, they still choose it due to the nature of it.
“Self-checkout is not always faster, but oftentimes it is because people using it tend to have fewer items to purchase,” she states. “Even if there is a little bit of a line when a customer reaches the self-checkout area, the customer may overall wait in line for less time.”
8. They’re sometimes impatient
It’s probably no surprise based on Dr. Smith’s earlier statement, but she also says that self-checkout-users are often impatient.
“While many people may use the self-checkout to move faster, others may take it to the point of being impatient,” she shares. “[They most likely] feel like the self-checkout reduces their impatience meter, going as high as in a cashier-checkout option.”
9. They’re more aware of their surroundings
When you’re in the regular checkout line, it’s easier for people to be close to you, increasing the risk of being pickpocketed. Self-checkout areas are often a bit more spaced out, and Dr. Smith says that people who choose this are often more aware of their surroundings. They know who and what is around them, so they’re less susceptible to pickpockets or general theft.
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Why Do Some People Avoid Self-Checkout?
On the other hand, there are certainly people who avoid self-checkout like the plague, and that’s OK too! There are plenty of reasons people might shy away from using self-checkout, and Dr. Smith breaks down a few.
“Some people avoid self-checkout because of the amount of items they have and their view that self-checkout is best and/or easiest when one has fewer items,” she explains.
Some may even skip it for deeper reasons, choosing to support store employees, she adds.
“Other people avoid self-checkout because they view it as robbing an opportunity from a paid employee—the sense that if too many people use self-checkout, it will lead the establishment to reduce employment opportunities,” she tells Parade.
On a similar note, Dr. Smith mentions people have said to her that they don’t use self-checkout because they don’t want to do a service that someone is paid to do.
“[They stress the] idea that shopping is supposed to be ‘full service’ when it comes to being rung up and having their items bagged,” she shares.
Some even avoid self-checkout simply because the machines are often finicky and it doesn’t end up being a faster experience. Then another group of people might be afraid to try something new if they’ve never used it before.
“[They] may feel unsure and/or intimidated by the self-checkout process,” she adds.
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About the author
Shawna Hudson is a lifestyle writer specializing in social behavioral content backed by licensed psychologists and trending fashion stories featuring insight from celebrity stylists.
