For too long, people have been taking personality tests without any thought or concern given to the situation they’re in. This leads to a perception of personality tests as inaccurate, vague, and stereotypical. That’s why I’m launching a new 16 personalities test that takes context into account. Find out your personality type at work, vs your personality type at home, or in relationships.
You’re often going to show up differently at your work than you would at home or with friends. But personality tests act like you’re one personality type – and that this personality type predicts everything you do. In reality, managers quickly realize that the guy who tested as ENTP on their personality test might show up as an ESFJ in their job role. They don’t know why.
“…with the possible exception of intelligence, highly generalised behavioral consistencies have not been demonstrated, and the concept of personality traits as broad dispositions is thus untenable.”
Did the person lie on the test? It could be, of course. Many people adjust their answers based on perceived expectations from the job and the role. I’m not going to say I hate talking to people when applying to a customer-facing role. Would you?
The biggest reason, though, is that we, as human beings, have complex, multifaceted needs. I need to be social and connect with others. Most of the time, I already get my social needs met at work. I have frequent meetings. I walk around and mingle with my colleagues. So being able to take a break to recharge on my own, that’s really nice. At work, I get to be analytical and a problem-solver, so at home I’m happy to let go of my “thinking brain” and engage in spiritual practices like Qi Gong, journaling, and meditation. These are not contradictions – they’re different sides of myself coming forward.
Why the 16 personalities make people feel stereotyped
How did you first feel when you took the 16 personalities test?
The 16 Personalities test says, “It feels great to finally be understood”. But many who take a personality test feel the opposite. They feel misunderstood. Sure, I’m 51% sensing, but I can still enjoy discussing ideas and theories, and I would still consider myself creative. This is not just people going “Yes, but…” or trying to excuse or deny personal preferences. They’re just saying that their preferences are nuanced.
“Many people act out of character through free traits… I am — and this surprises my students — a very introverted person. I’m off the bottom of the scale as an introvert. But because of something that matters dearly to me — which is the personal project of professing with passion… I will act as an extrovert when I’m lecturing… We can do this. It’s called ‘professionalism.’ It’s also called ‘love.’ But we may pay a price if we act out of character for a long period.”
Norway is a country with a lot of rainfall, but it can still be sunny in Norway. So, saying that Norway is never sunny is a generalization. The same goes if you say that a Feeling type can’t think logically or wouldn’t appreciate the facts. A Feeling type might very well work in a scientific job and might show up as a Thinking type at work. Inside, they may still feel like and identify as Feeling types, too.
If your goal is to make people understand, and personality psychology is how you do it, you do people a disservice by pigeon-holing them into one type. People may be aware of how they have changed, how they used to be more proactive and goal-oriented, but how they’ve become more laid back and easygoing later in life. We can’t deny or ignore a person’s history when taking a test. They might answer based on how they are and feel today. And that’s also why they might get a different result in six months.
Some of these changes are normal, healthy variations. I’ve found that most people have some static, unchanging traits, and some dynamic, changing traits. That’s very human. Some personality traits may be seen as your core – others depend on the situation. What is something you’d never change about yourself? And what is something you would be fine to compromise on in order to get along better with your partner, or to get a promotion at work?
“Research shows ‘that as many as three-quarters of test takers achieve a different personality type when tested again,’ writes Annie Murphy Paul in The Cult of Personality Testing, ‘and the 16 distinctive types described by the Myers-Briggs have no scientific basis whatsoever.’”
“Human beings are far too dynamic and complex to be typed. Assessments suggest direction with regards how we may want to grow and develop, using it to define ourselves and others is such a disservice!”
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