Understand the traits described by the Big Five personality theory
Explain the person-situation debate
Discuss how personality stays the same or changes over time
Personality Tests
Take at least ONE of the personality tests listed below (or another similar test). Note that you do not need to pay for any of the tests or results (unless you want to!), but you can take the simple free versions to get your results and look up more detailed reports about your results online. For each test, consider the following questions:
Do you feel the questions posed did a good job of asking questions that revealed insights into your personality?
Do you think this test gave you accurate results?
Do you think you’d get the same results if you took the test again? Were there answers where you might have gone with a different choice?
Do you think if a family member or friend took this test for you that they would get the same results?
What value do you see in this personality test?
Click on these links to access some common personality tests (note that some of the tests were already found within the readings in this module).
Big Five personality test. This measures five broad dimensions of personality: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Openness to experience measures an individual’s openness to new experiences, imagination, creativity, and intellectual curiosity. Conscientiousness measures the degree to which a person is organized, responsible, and dependable. Extroversion measures the degree to which a person is outgoing, sociable, and assertive. Agreeableness measures the degree to which a person is cooperative, empathetic, and helpful to others. Finally, neuroticism measures the degree to which a person is emotionally unstable, anxious, and prone to negative emotions.
A Myers-Briggs type test. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality assessment tool that categorizes individuals into one of 16 personality types based on their preferences for four dichotomies: extroversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving. Participants get a 4-letter profile based on these categories. Extroversion vs. introversion describes where individuals direct their energy, either outward or inward. Sensing vs. intuition describes how individuals process information, either through concrete sensory information or abstract concepts. Thinking vs. feeling describes how individuals make decisions, either based on logic or values. Judging vs. perceiving describes how individuals approach the external world, either in a structured or flexible manner.
Kiersey Temperament Sorter. This test is similar to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The Kiersey Temperament Sorter (KTS) is based on the theory of psychological types developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, which suggests that people have innate preferences for how they process information, make decisions, and interact with the world around them. The KTS categorizes individuals into one of four temperaments: guardians, artisans, idealists, or rationals, based on their preferences for two pairs of opposing traits: extroversion vs. introversion and sensing vs. intuition. Guardians are practical and organized, with a focus on following rules and traditions. Artisans are spontaneous and enjoy taking risks, with a focus on living in the moment. Idealists are empathetic and value relationships, with a focus on helping others. Rationals are analytical and logical, with a focus on problem-solving and innovation.
Eysenck Personality Inventory The Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) is a self-report questionnaire that measures personality based on the two dimensions of either introverted or extroverted or neurotic/stable. Extroversion measures an individual’s sociability, assertiveness, and energy level. Neuroticism measures an individual’s emotional stability and tendency to experience negative emotions. Based on these two dimensions, the Eysencks’ theory divides people into four quadrants—those originally described by the Greeks: melancholic, choleric, phlegmatic, and sanguine.
Enneagram Test or others. The Enneagram is a personality assessment tool that categorizes individuals into one of nine different personality types based on their underlying motivations, fears, and desires. The nine types are written as either numbers or by their description: the reformer, helper, achiever, individualist, investigator, loyalist, enthusiast, challenger, and peacemaker.
Cattell’s 16PF questionnaire. This is a comprehensive personality assessment developed by Raymond Cattell in the 1950s. The 16PF is designed to measure a wide range of personality traits and provides a detailed profile of an individual’s personality. The 16 primary personality factors are: warmth, reasoning, emotional stability, dominance, liveliness, rule-consciousness, social boldness, sensitivity, vigilance, abstractedness, privateness, apprehension, openness to change, self-reliance, perfectionism, tension
The Hartman Personality Profile, or the color personality test. The Color Code Personality Test divides people into four main color categories, each of which represents a different core motive or driving force: Red: The Red personality is driven by power, achievement, and success. They are often competitive, assertive, and focused on results. Blue: The Blue personality is driven by intimacy, connection, and relationships. They are often empathetic, loyal, and focused on harmony. White: The White personality is driven by peace, clarity, and understanding. They are often analytical, objective, and focused on accuracy. Yellow: The Yellow personality is driven by fun, freedom, and adventure. They are often optimistic, creative, and focused on possibilities.