Who likes psychological or personality tests?

[Bruce]

Greetings all,

If you like Psychological, Personality or Intelligence Tests, check out the Website : www.tickle.com -
I think it?s great because I?m a bit of a test junkie, but if you do every single test on the site, that will be the finest profile about every aspect of your personality you have ever known.
Which is a tremendous information data collection for anyone who wants to use it.
I?m not too happy about people collecting so much data about me so I?ve only done a few of what I consider the most important.
They are indeed good for self awareness and could also be used in your CV - Resum? - Personal Record when applying for a job. I would certainly use mine.
I recommend the I.Q. test and Rorschach test in any case.

What do think about such tests?
Do you enjoy them?
Do you think they help to understand yourself and other people?
Are you angered that such tests could be used against you?
Do you think it can and does lead to a form of social elitism?
What do you think of the idea of including such tests in your letter of job application along with your C.V., Resum? etc.?

Best Wishes, Bruce.
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[NinaZara]

Hello Bruce,

Welcome (back?) to the forum. I am Nina from Malaysia, currently working in Japan and though I am still very green in this forum, I think this forum rocks!

[Bruce]

Greetings NinaZara,

Many thanks for your detailed comments.
I?m in a bit of a rush but I don?t want to leave it too long before
I answer you.
I just wanted to say that I have found that most of these tests
confirm basic character molds from such esoteric subjects as
astrology (eastern & western) and enneagram number personalities.

In fact, the most exact of the two methods, I can definitely say is
the Enneagram Personality.
Ennea = nine 9 ; Gram = drawn / written. Check out Wikipedia at :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enneagram

There is an American Psychologist called Helen Palmer who has
interviewed 1000?s of people to see if the system works - and it does.
It?s amazing. The reason is because your Enneagram Number is taken
from the digital root of your birthday, which most rational people consider
absolute humbug and think you have to believe it all for it to work.
Of course they want a sensible scientific reason for why it works.

Example of the digital root number of a birthday :

12.03.1945 = 1+2+0+3+1+9+4+5 = 25 ... 2+5 = 7

The number seven ... 7 ... is the Enneagram Number in this case.
By the way the numbers 2 & 5 also have a meaning.
You can read more about that in a book called "The Life you were Born to Live" by Dan Millman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Millman

http://www.enneagramworldwide.com/the-trifold-school/helen-palmer/

Anyway what I really want to say is that when you know the birthdate of a person
you can really know alot about them without doing a psychology test.
Althought an intelligence is quite a good idea.

What do you think NinaZara?
How seriously do people in Asia (Japan?) take esoteric subjects like Astrology,
Feng Shui, Vaasthu etc. ???
I do know for example that the number 4 is supposed to be unlucky in China,
where as the number 13 is unlucky in the western world.
For me personally the number 13 has always been lucky and I even walk under
ladders on purpose or speak to black cats.

Speak soon. Bruce.
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[Jamie (K)]

When I was training in martial arts 15 hours a week, a potential employer (who wound up hiring me) gave me a psychological test. Once the HR rep had scored the test, she said, "According to this test, you're perfect for this job, because you're not very active!" I had to point out that the test didn't prove I wasn't active, but simply that I didn't play football, basketball or baseball, and that I didn't box.

When I was 17, I took one of the standard psychological tests, and it rated me below the 10th percentile on what it called "heterosexuality". You can imagine that a VERY heterosexual teenage boy would be highly disturbed by this score. The psychologist then explained to me that the test doesn't measure attraction to the opposite sex, but something more like dependence on having a relationship. People who are highly independent usually score low on this component and high in "autonomy". Sure enough, my score in autonomy was above 95. My brother scored near zero on "autonomy" and extremely high on "heterosexuality". It seemed to me that if this test did not measure one's actual attraction to the opposite sex, that "heterosexuality" category should have had a different name, such as "relationship dependence".

Then there is the classic definition of IQ tests that my college psychology professor gave us: "IQ tests are tests that measure whatever it is that IQ tests measure."

[NinaZara]

Hello Bruce,

I went through the links you gave and they are very intriguing. They are fascinating but I am not sure whether I believe them. Anyway, a very famous motivation speaker in Malaysia had done a 25 year research on people's characters based on the month of their birth. Most of his works are in the Malay language, including this research. Here I’ve translated the characteristics of people born in April. (Being an April born myself).
Here, take a look.
APRIL
- Active and dynamic
- Decisive but tends to regret decisions
- Very attractive and knows how to pamper oneself
- Have a very strong mental power
- Love attention and compliments
- Very diplomatic, good at consoling people and sociable and very good at solving others’ problems
- Love adventure
- Loving, courteous and giving
- Emotional
- Revengeful (unforgiving)
- Aggressive and chaotic (always eager to finish work fast)
- Strong memory
- Powerful instinct
- Good at motivating oneself and other people
- Tendency of having sickness around the head and chest area
- Jealous/envious

Well, I don’t like admitting that I am a jealous person but I do have a migraine and was asthmatic before. I guess he got that right.

Anyway, according to my birthday, I am a one. (1+9+8+2+0+4+0+4=10, 1+0=1) What does it tell you? The link you gave me suggests that I am a perfectionist. Honestly I don’t think so. I am very flexible .The only thing (so far) that can get me all worked up is tardiness! Oh this one really bugs me, it can make me swear. It can ruin my whole day. My friends think I’m scary on that department.

[Conchita]

[Bruce]

Greetings Jamie(K),
Your experience with that test is rather ambiguous.
I mean the definitions are not clear. Unless the test is at
specific levels like : Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Spiritual
or something to that effect. That kind of test would definitely
irritate me if it was not clearly defined what it?s supposed to filter out.
Naturally if you got the job and didn?t question it too heavily who gives
a damn. But ... if you failed the test, what then? You could be be defined
or characterised in a false light, and if that information is made available
to other potential employers through some kind of old boys network then
that would not be funny. Especially if the information was kept secret from you.
I think Pyschological, Personality and Intelligence Tests should be shared and explained.
Everybody has their strong points and weak, talents and abilities.

I know one of the most popular employment tests used by employers is the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Test which is based on Carl G. Jungs work.
I also think it?s quite a valid test. Check out the following Websites :

http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator

or try out the test at :

www.tickle.com

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

There is also another valid test based on 16 factors called the 16PF test.
Created by psychologist Raymond Cattell is covers just about all possible
human factors. I think it is also quite good. Check it out at :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16_Personality_Factors

or

http://www.chimaeraconsulting.com/16pf.htm

I think you can also do this test at : www.tickle.com

What do you think about these tests Jamie(K) or NinaZara???
Would you be happy to take them prior to employment???

Speak soon. Bruce.
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[Englishuser]

Hi,

Are you familiar with the Rorschach inkblot test?

All the best

EU

[Alan]

Hi EU,

Me oh my! You'll be talking next about looking at the tea leaves at the bottom of your cup. If you're really cunning like me, you'll use tea bags. Ink blots? Come on! What next?

Alan
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[Yankee]

.
I got the impression that EU had addressed his/her question to Bruce in a simple attempt to further the discussion of various psychological tests...
.

[Bruce]

Greetings Yankee (Amy), Englishuser (EU) and Alan,

1. Yankee (Amy) - Yes, you are right ... but I have met Alan in real life and he is quite a jolly fellow.
His humour does sometimes come across as a gouding cynicism which reveals a rational realist.
I can confirm that Alan?s big cheshire cat grin is for real and not a Hollywood show.

2. Alan - I can understand your thoughts about the Rorschach Inkblot test which tries to interpret a persons attitude and view of the world.
I tried it for the very first time at the "tickle" Website - www.tickle.com - and was quite pleased with the result.
Of course, only the nicest things were said about me. I?ll try it again another day with some other answers and see what happens.
It?s a multiply choice test anyway, but you can see if you choose the dark answers you will get a dark report. I was actually honest with all my answers, thinking I would probably be a bad guy but I was quite surprised to find out I?m not too bad after all. Ho,ho,ho.
But talking about psychological tests - it?s possible to analyse somebody "till the cows come home".
At the end of the day, you just want to know if he is worth his salt.

It reminds of my very first psychological test from an employer.

I went to get a job on a building site at the age of 16 and the Foreman at the site said to me,
"Who told you I needed labourers here on my site, I haven?t even given the word out yet".
I said, "my best friend Tom at school who got the information from his uncle who works for you".
"Really" he said, "That was bloody quick, I only told the bloaks (men) yesterday.
I like to work with people who are quick on the uptake".
Then came the psychological test.
He looked me up and down and asked me if I could ride a bike - (who needs to ride a bike on a building site? ).
With a big grin and like a shot from a gun, I roared the answer, "You bet your boots".
He laughed loudly for a minute and then said, "You?ve got the job".

I think he could just as well have asked me to look into a bucket of cement and ask me what I could see in there, just like a Rorschach inkblot test. But then I think I would have said, "cement" and he would have laughed just the same and I would have still got the job.
He wasn?t actually interested in whether I could ride a bike or not.
I knew he liked me "on the spot". He just needed a daft (silly, humourous) question for me to answer, so that he could say, "OK, you?ve got the job".
The Foreman was indeed a tough guy with a great sense of humour and was respected by everybody.
That was psychological testing in the good old days.

3. Englishuser (EU) - So, I think I have answered your question now.
As you can see, yes I do know what an Inkblot Test is.
It?s a test created by a Swiss psychologist basically to see where people are coming from (in their head).
We can laugh about it, but it has got it?s validity and like it or not these tests will be used and the results will be taken seriously.
It?s simply a way to find if a person sees a glass as half full or half empty ... only going into it in a lot more detail of how a person projects his thoughts into the world which usually comes from environmental programming etc. etc.

So, Englishuser (EU), have you already done the Rorschasch Inkblot test?
If so, where and why?

For reference and background, check out :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorschach_inkblot_test

Best wishes,
Speak soon, Bruce.
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[Yankee]

.
I'm glad you think it's acceptable for me to have an impression, and it's also good to know that Alan has apparently never been anything but rational and realistic with you.
.

[Englishuser]

Greetings Bruce,

[Bruce]

Greetings Englishuser (EU),

If the Rorschach inkblot test did not reveal anything new about your personality that may be viewed in two ways.
1. Either you know yourself very well and can be set in your ways and at the same time a down to earth reliable person etc. etc.
or
2. you may be a person who is not happy with too many changes in your lifestyle and taking to many stressful work situations.
These are just two of MY thoughts about your test and they are in no way judging or negative. Also it shows that the Rorschach inkblot test works (for you at least).

It is obvious that everybody has their strengths and weakness or probably better or more diplomatically expressed as things they like to do and things they don?t. Somebody may be a wonderful creative cook being able to make very delicious meals but may have two left hands when it comes to woodwork or metalwork. At the same time they may have a strong & charismatic personality and be able to lead people and at the same time not cut out to be self-employed and start his/her own business.
There are business entrepreneurs who have started giant companies and employ thousands of people but would be useless at anything practicle and may be talented artists and paint pictures or write poetry.

I always remember John Paul Getty?s comment in his book called "How to be Rich" where he said that there are basically four - 4 - types of people as far as work is concerned.

1. The first is the pioneer. He has initiative and loves to take risks, blaze a new trail by starting a company and doing something original.
2. The second is the manager / leader type who will take on great responsibilities but wants to receive his salary with big bonuses every month and is not prepared to risk his neck and money.
3. Then the third type are the specialists / tradesmen who can solve a problem quickly, enjoy the social recognition, don?t want to take on any great responsibilities and would rather receive orders, tasks or contracts and look forward to their monthly income with perhaps bonuses and want predictability in there life.
4. Finally, the fourth type are the labourer / task orientated who definitely don?t want to think or take on any responsibilities, want to do as little as possible for a regular wage and are always looking at the clock for next break or end of work signal.

That?s roughly what his experience is and really refers to mentalities about work. You can read more details at the following links :

http://www.sowpub.com/story-getty.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Paul_Getty

I would be inclined to classify the four types with a bit more dignity by referring to Hippocrates - the Four 4 Temperaments paired with the four elements like this :

1. Choleric = Pioneer / Leader / Entrepreneur (Fire)
2. Sanguin = Boss / Manager / Administrator (Air)
3. Melancholic = Specialist / Expert / Artist-Artisan (Water)
4. Phlegmatic = Organiser / Teacher / Farmer-Artisan (Earth)

that?s roughly the classification, but I?m open to criticism of course.

There is a list of typical jobs, work & professions for the four temperaments which I?ll find and write next time.
As far as mentalities are concerned that can be a bit more complicated because that will actually reveal itself when somebody is at work.
You can never really how honest somebody is with themselves and life experiences can change our attitudes to work and home life.I think the main thing about pyschological, personality and intelligence tests that irritate a lot of people is that they tend to either tell the truth or miss the mark.
Anyway nobody really likes to be stereotyped and classified, least of all me.
If somebody is a resentful type they will rebell either way to the results of such tests.
In India (Mahatma Ghandi?s country), the so called Caste System still exists and if I remember correctly people could be graded in a similar way to the four temperaments and elements.

1. Brahmins (Spiritual teacher / Leader) - Fire
2. Kshastriyas (Soldier / Administrator) - Air
3. Vaishyas (Merchants / Artisans ) - Water
4. Shudras (Labourer / Farmer) - Earth

These castes refer to positions at birth with the view that their will not be much improvement or change of lifestyle in this life. With the exception that somebody decides to become a Yogi or Yogini and try to free themselves from their lot and reach enlightenment (Samadhi / Nirvana) in this or a future life.
If there are any Forum Members from India out there I would be grateful for your comments.
I have only touched the surface here and don?t want to make any stupid mistakes.

By the way Englishuser, have you tried any of the Tickle Tests at : www.tickle.com - yet?

OK, that?s it for now.
Speak soon. Bruce.
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[Alan]

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for the (at least I presume they were) compliments. You're certainly a bundle of energy on the forum as you are in real life! Great to have met you last month. And what about the moussaka!

Alan
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