No published information on the personality characteristics of a significant proportion of any specialty of the medical profession has been available to date. The author presents the results from the application of a personality questionnaire (Cattell's 16 PF Form C) to sample of anaesthetists (n = 231). These show that this sample of anaesthetists differs from the general population in a number of dimensions. They are more reserved, intelligent, assertive, serious, conscientious, self-sufficient and tense and less socially bold and self-assured. They also differ from a sample of general practitioners. Within the sample of anaesthetists, there are significant differences on a cluster of factors relating to stability. Evidence is quoted, from part of the sample, of a significant relationship between personality profiles and behaviour and performance. The author puts forward a descriptive picture of the 'good' anaesthetists and the obverse and the possible implications for the assessment and selection of applicants for this shortage specialty.