Study: iPad Owners Selfish, Lustful, Elitist D-Bags?

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Jennifer Latkiewicz

According to a recent study of the psychological profile of iPad owners, those who own the Apple tablet can be summed up in two words: “selfish elites.”

The study, conducted by consumer research firm MyType, analyzed the opinions of 20,000 people about Apple’s iPad and found that of the five distinct opinion segments that emerged, two profiles were the most striking: the haves (owners) and the have-nots (critics).

The less-than-scientific results suggest that iPad owners tend to be 30 to 50 years old, wealthy, sophisticated, well-educated, over-achieving and power-hungry as well as unkind and non-altruistic. Critics, on the other hand, are characterized as “independent geeks” – self-directed young people who look down on conformity and are interested in video games, computers, science, electronics and the Internet. They also tend to be more insecure and neurotic than their iPad-owning counterparts.

Some more interesting info:

iPad Owners

-People interested in business and finance are significantly more likely (more than 50%) to own an iPad.

-People who identified lust as their biggest sin are 70% more likely to own an iPad, while self-professed gluttons are 88% more likely.

-Owners are twice as likely to lack self-direction than Critics.

iPad Critics

-Mac users are more likely to be iPad Critics than Windows users. Windows users are more likely to just not be interested.

-Critics are less imaginative. enthusiastic and extroverted than the average person.

-Libertarian are 2 times more likely to be Critics than those not interested in politics.

-Critics are significantly less wealthy and educated than Critics.

-Teenagers are 4.2 times more likely to be Critics than people ages 40-49.

iPad Awareness

-Kind. humble people are unlikely to know what an iPad is

-The devoutly religious are most likely to be aware of what an iPad is.

-People interested in sports, business, news and current events are most likely to know what an iPad is, those interested in dance, nature and/or outdoors and pets are least likely.

So why does the iPad apparently appeal to self-centered workaholic d-bags who could care less about other people? MyType suggests that the tablet’s high price tag could be a factor, as well as a desire to stay engaged and connecting to information in a new way.

MyType admits that any interpretation of results are purely subjective but affirm that data was “collected with reasonable rigor.” To make your own conclusion, check out the full report here.