Download - USPP 11 - Assignment 1
USSP 11: Introduction to Psychology
Assignment 1 – Personality Test
Terence Michale2010873386Omaha (Summer 2011)Prepared for:Madam Hajah Siti Aluyah Mohd Ali
Contents
I. Introduction 1
II. Personality Test
A. About Myers’-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) 3
Test
B. Outcome and Reflections 5
C. Actions and Changes 8
III.Conclusion 10
IV. Bibliography and References 12
V. Attachments 14
Introduction
As a part American Degree Foundation Program (ADFP) in INTEC, UiTM Shah Alam that
prepares us for American academic system, which emphasizes liberal academic system, we have
to complete a course on Introduction to Psychology (USSP 11) for the semester of Summer 2011.
In order to complete this course, we were assigned by Madam Hajah Siti Aluyah Mohd Ali on our
very first individual assignment on Personality Test.
According to Hajah Aluyah, she assigned us on this topic not just for us to fulfill our course
requirements but also to give us an opportunity to explore (experience) our inner self (behavior)
which are basic components of psychology – behavior and experience. Besides, she also intends
us to make full use of our true potentials through the reflections of the test’s outcomes and makes
changes on which it is needed. Hereby, I would have to state that those are the main components
that one would look forward in this assignment hereafter.
I suppose it is soundly that I define personality beforehand. According to WordWeb 6.5
(WordNet database©2006 by Princeton University), literally personality is the complex of all the
attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual.
Meanwhile, according to Encyclopedia of Psychology: 8 Volume Set by Alan E. Kazdin,
Personality refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and
behaving.1
This topic is undeniably composes a significant part of psychology branch of studies for it
deals with all aspects of human, namely from human behavior to human thinking. Hence, Kazdin
also described that the study of personality focuses on two broad areas: One understands
individual differences in particular personality characteristics, such as sociability or irritability. The
other understands how the various parts of a person come together as a whole. The pioneering
American psychologist Gordon Allport (1937) described two major ways to study personality: the
nomothetic and the idiographic. Nomothetic psychology seeks general laws that can be applied to
many different people, such as the principle of self-actualization, or the trait of extraversion.
Idiographic psychology is an attempt to understand the unique aspects of a particular individual. 2
1 Alan E. K. (2000). Encyclopedia of Psychology: 8 Volume Set. New Haven, Connecticut : American Psychological Association and
Oxford University Press2 Allport, G. W. (1937). Personality: a psychological interpretation. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.
Personality has been seen from many perspectives by psychologists throughout the history
through many approaches. There have debates on it too, namely ‘Freedom versus Determinism,’
‘Heredity versus Environment,’ ‘Uniqueness versus Universality,’ ‘Active versus Reactive,’ and
‘Optimistic versus Pessimistic’ Though one thing that all these issues had in common is that one’s
personality can be tested through numerous psychological tests. There are two types of tests:
projective and objective. Projective tests assume personality is primarily unconscious and assess
an individual by how he or she responds to an ambiguous stimulus, like an ink blot (eg. Rorscachs’
Test.) Objective tests assume personality is consciously accessible and measure it by self-report
questionnaires (eg. Holland Codes.)
As for this assignment, I would be doing on a type of objective personality test called
Myers’-Briggs Type Indicator Test. And the followings are the findings, reflections and course of
actions that I ought to take if any changes needed in my personality.
Personality Test: About Myers’-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Test
As soon as I heard that we are doing individual assignments on personality test, instantly it
came to my mind that I had taken a personality test before that somehow managed to describe me
almost perfectly but the outcome are yet to be explored deep enough. It was actually during my
Ethics and Moral Studies (CTES 20) course last Spring 2011 semester, in which I was asked to
take the Myers’-Briggs Type Indicator Test as a part of the syllabus by my lecturer, Madam Wan
Norliza Wan Abdullah, when she was teaching us a chapter on Personality.
Hereby, I would like to give a brief description about the test. Basically, The Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a psychometric questionnaire designed to measure
psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions.3 These
preferences were extrapolated from the typological theories proposed by Carl Gustav Jung and
first published in his 1921 book Psychological Types (English edition, 1923).4 Initially, it was
developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, to assign appropriate
war-time jobs for women according to their personalities during World War II.5 It, however, later
became one of the widely used personality test thereafter for its reliability that exceeds other
psychological instruments as well its validity of outcomes through various studies on it.
As Carl Jung proposed, this test tests an individual based on the existence of two
dichotomous pairs of cognitive processes:
Rational (judging) functions: thinking and feeling
Irrational (perceiving) functions: sensing and intuition
Jung's typological model regards psychological type as similar to left or right handedness:
individuals are either born with, or develop, certain preferred ways of thinking and acting. The
MBTI sorts some of these psychological differences into four opposite pairs, or dichotomies, with a
resulting 16 possible psychological types. None of these types are better or worse; however,
Briggs and Myers theorized that individuals naturally prefer one overall combination of type
differences.6 Hence, this would lead us to 16 pairs of personalities.
3 Myers, Isabel Briggs with Peter B. Myers (1980, 1995). Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing.4 Jung, Carl Gustav (August 1, 1971). "Psychological Types." Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 6. Princeton: University Press.5 Myers, Isabel Briggs with Peter B. Myers (1980, 1995). Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing.6 Myers, Isabel Briggs with Peter B. Myers (1980, 1995). Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing.
The four main components that this tests on are attitudes, pairs of psychological functions
and lifestyle. On the component of attitudes, Briggs and Myers recognized that each of the
cognitive functions can operate in the external world of behavior, action, people, and things
(extraverted attitude) or the internal world of ideas and reflection (introverted attitude). Meanwhile,
from the two psychological functions its tests one’s ability on perceiving, the information-gathering
functions, and judging, the decision-making functions. As for perceiving, one can be with either
sensing function or intuition function; meanwhile as for judging, one can be with either thinking
function or feeling function. Finally, the lifestyle component actually determines if one is judgment
or perceiving as their preference. This is part can be quite complicated. For extraverts, the J or P
indicates their dominant function; for introverts, the J or P indicates their helping function. For
example:
ENTJ types are extraverts; the J indicates that their dominant function is their preferred
judging function (extraverted thinking). ENTJ types introvert their auxiliary perceiving
function (introverted intuition). The tertiary function is sensing and the inferior function is
introverted feeling.
INTJ types are introverts; the J indicates that their auxiliary function is their preferred
judging function (extraverted thinking). INTJ types introvert their dominant perceiving
function (introverted intuition). The tertiary function is feeling, and the inferior function is
extraverted sensing.
Hence, that shows how well rounded the test is which enables us to determine one’s
personality precisely, as it touches many aspects of an individual. After the test, I got to know that
my combination of personality is INTP (Introversion, intuition, thinking, and perception.)
Psychology Test: Outcome and Reflections
After completing all the four sections of Myers’-Briggs Type Indicator Test’s questionnaire
(Attachment 1), I found out that I am an INTP type (introversion, intuition, thinking, and perception);
or also known as Intuitive Logical Introvert according to the Socionics theory developed by Jung.
As a matter of a fact, INTPs make only 1% of the America’s population7 and said to be the most
reserved of all the introverts.
Before I make reflection as a whole of my type’s profile, I would like explain each
components of INTP: introversion, intuition, thinking, and perception. Firstly, introversion refers to
individuals who are introverted in their behavior and attitude. Commonly, introverts are mistaken
for shyness, social phobia or even ‘avoidant personality disorder,’ when they actually can be
sociable but rather choose not to. Despite being defined as “Withdrawal from other people, ranging
from intimate relationships to the world at large; restricted affective experience and expression;
limited hedonic capacity” by American Psychiatric Association, I prefer to use Meriam Websters’
definition of introversion, which defines introversion as "the state of or tendency toward being
wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in one's own mental life” for avoiding
stigmatization of introverts as a social interaction deficit.
They are often found energized with activities in solitary, namely writing or watching
television for instance, than being around a large number of people.8 They are reserved at most
times which often puts them in solitude. However, this is normally their choice as prefer observing
before getting involved, unlike shy people (can be an extravert) who gets outcast from social
encounters due to fear not choice. Hence, introverts prefer to socialize in a small group of people,
in which trust holds a very important role in the relationship. I strongly agree with these statements
as I am person that people consider ‘a loner’ as I often spend time alone than being in a large
group of people. Ironically, when being called ‘a loner’ is not an ideal situation for many, I enjoy my
every second of solitude for I am able to observe things more from the outside. That is why most of
the time it takes time for me to get along with people at new environment for I observe with whom I
can get along; but once I’ve got myself comfortable, it would be easier for me to not being so
reserved.
7 Keirsey, David (1998). Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company. pp. 205.8 "Changing Minds: Extraversion vs. Introversion". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/extraversion_introversion.htm
INTP types are introverts; the P indicates that their auxiliary function is their preferred
perceiving function (extraverted intuition). INTP types introvert their dominant judging function
(introverted thinking). The tertiary function is introverted sensing, and the inferior function is
extraverted feeling. The N component, i(N)tuition, refers to the abstraction in perceiving
information. Those who choose this type over sensing will look into the bigger picture rather than
the details. Future possibilities are much more important than immediate realities.9 This is one of
my characteristics, too, for I prefer painting a bigger picture of a situation to make it perfect instead
going for the details that can waste my time and energy. Meanwhile, the T component, (T)hinking,
refers to the logical approach in making decision over personal preference. 10Choosing this type
over feeling function gives them more objective solutions in making decision. I, too, am a person
who never let emotion into my decision making for I believe it will bring no good as emotion can
change when logical reasoning will stay the same. Finally, the P component, (P)erceiving, shows
their way of life that chooses not to choose which means that they prefer exploring options before
deciding and often let their options open considering future changes in circumstances.11 Like I said
before, my thinking is based on logical approach which takes some times to decide, hence, I often
find myself either making choices at a slow pace or not making decision at all.
INTPs dominant function of cognitive process is introverted thinking. This function exhibits
great precision in languages and thoughts that such person is able to put a point into right words
and get it straight across the table for their analytical thinking that enables them to sense essence
in everything that they observe and distinct the finest difference among the others.12 This reflects
myself perfectly for I often find myself think of things that observe in daily life during my time in
solitude and analyze it to get some answers. Mostly I do it at night before going to sleep as a
routine, actually. I, too, think a lot to put things into right words that can be quite complicated
sometimes. In short, they are enabling me to analyze things critically, solve problem, and refine
concepts or ideas.
Extraverted intuition is the auxiliary function of INTPs cognitive processes. This means that,
such person will actively explore all possibilities around him or herself to help them understand the
9 "Changing Minds: Sensing vs. Intuiting". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/sensing_intuiting.htm10 "Changing Minds: Thinking vs. Feeling". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/thinking_feeling.htm11 "Changing Minds: Judging vs. Perceiving". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/judging_perceiving.htm12 "Cognitive Processes: Introverted thinking (Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi, Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code – Telos Publications, 2004)". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from http://www.cognitiveprocesses.com/introvertedthinking.html
world from different perspectives. They also interpret underlying meanings in everything and paint
the picture of the world by identifying patterns.13 Like I mentioned above, I make myself afford to
explore my options before getting on hand with it. This not only gives my space to make the best
decision but also to understand things around me and define its suitability with me and people
around me. This process enables me in effective brainstorming, combining possibilities and
imaginative thinking through cross-contextual thinking.
Introvert sensing is the tertiary function of an INTP’s cognitive process. This involves their
ability to compare and contrast different situations at different times.14 They are able to recall
similar or different event or idea or even words immediately at time of occurrence to review and
record for future references or as a lesson. I rarely weigh in similarities and differences in things
around me – only in some cases that I am obligated to weigh to make one in decision making – for
I do not prefer arguing my stand especially with others. This enables me to get clear picture of
things around me my eyes for details.
Finally, extroverted feeling would be the inferior function of INTP’s cognitive process. This
actually involves their ability to create a harmonious surrounding through expressing appropriate
feelings and actions.15 Extraverted feeling often revolves around social gestures that often please
people, namely being friendly, considerate, and so forth. These gestures make them respond to
peoples need accordingly. Finally, extraverted feeling is the function that I could relate to at all. I
have problems in picking up social cues, what more I can give out harmonious gestures. I find it
hard to please people all the time that I always avoid this kind of circumstances. If I ever forced to
be in such situations, I would start feeling self conscious and awkward as well. A quick example
would be my inability to engage in small talks as I tend to throw away things on my mind once I
have analyzed it thoroughly. This can enable me to have a better conversation without feeling self
conscious.
13 "Cognitive Processes: Extraverted intuition (Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi, Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code – Telos Publications, 2004)". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from http://www.cognitiveprocesses.com/extravertedintuiting.html14 "Cognitive Processes: Introverted sensing (Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi, Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code – Telos Publications, 2004)". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from http://www.cognitiveprocesses.com/introvertedsensing.html15 "Cognitive Processes: Extroverted feeling (Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi, Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code – Telos Publications, 2004)". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from http://www.cognitiveprocesses.com/extrovertedfeeling.html
Psychological Test: Actions and Changes
Through the reflections that I have made in the previous part of this assignment, I see that
some of my characters in my type of personality bring no good for me. It might be easier for me to
say that “that is just me and I’m fine with, so why would I even care to change;” but if my real self
with number of flaws benefits is interesting, I cannot imagine how interesting could it get with
myself without almost any flaws – considering the fact that no human can be perfect all the time.
Hence, there are things about me that I believe can be changed for greater goods.
To begin with, I think my introverted function should be improvised to a certain extent so
that it would inhibit my social interactions completely from the outside world. This is for I often let
myself wander off in my own thinking that I diminish the need for others. Maybe I should be more
attentive to what others have to say, which will not only let me get to know them and their needs
very well but also have an opportunity to develop effective conversation with them. Besides, like
what Boston College psychologist Maya Tamir said, introverts who tend to give out neutral
emotions at all occasions in which others are present should try to be an extravert for not only
have an effective social interactions but also to create an energetic surroundings that often people
find inviting to be around.
Besides, my critical thinking due to my dominant function of the cognitive process,
introverted thinking, I can be often misunderstood, seen as difficult to know, and seldom perceived
as for my level of competency16. This, I believe, is for my tendency to be precise in every thought of
mine that I can be considered as a perfectionist. Psychologist Linda Kreger Silverman PhD, who
once did a paper on perfectionism, highlighted that perfectionism is "chiefly an affliction of the
gifted" and that it "indiscriminately mingles idealism, introversion, preoccupation with one's flaws,
fear of not being able to live up to others' expectations, and making unfair demands of others." 17Hence as a way to make full use of my perfectionism through some of the way suggested by
Elaanor Chin, an executive and life coach, in her article "Perfectionism and Productivity: Visions of
Success or Fear of Failure?" in the Positive Psychology News Daily.
She suggested that instead of seeing as process or event as a measure of performance,
look at it as a learning process which will enable me to be focused and learn if there are any 16 Myers’-Briggs Type Indicator: General Profile – INTP (pdf.) Purdue University, Retrieved on May 24, 2011 from http://www.purdue.edu/usp/pdfs/mbtiresources/INTP.pdf 17 Linda Kreger Silverman, Ph.D., "Perfectionism: The Crucible of Giftedness," Gifted Education International, Vol 23, p. 101; p. 1, 5-6, 10; originally published in Advanced Development, 1999. Also in B. Hoylst (ed.), Mental health in a changing world. Warsaw: The Polish Society for Mental Health, 1990.
mistakes. Besides, she also suggested that my critical thinking should be used to analyze the
benefits that I can get rather than finding faults in everything, which I often do. Put everything in
perspective is what she said whenever I come across something complex to be thought over, let
say in a conversation, so that there would not be redundancy. Finally, I need to monitor my
intuition in analyzing mistakes made by others and myself so that I would not be too critical that I
stop trying the next time due to the fear of failing.
As for the minor flaws that often puts me in dilemma such as the lack my inferior function
which is extroverted feeling that often make me inconsiderate of others’ needs and wants for I
always have things on my mind that keeps me busy. For this case, David Streaker suggested in
his book “Changing Minds” to make full use of written responses. What he tried to mean is that I
should focus my thought in writings to put it into right words, which is one of my strength as an
INTP, so that I would have a clearer idea on it for future references. For example, I might want to
write the simplest thing such as someone’s birthday or even an appointment so that I do not
overlook it whenever in my own abstract thinking. It also gives me some time to think it over as I
tend to explore all options before making decisions; besides giving me a chance to keep track of
my thoughts as I tend to throw away my thoughts once I have scrutinized it.
In a nutshell, I have identified the flaws in my personalities that I can improve for a better
projection of myself to others around me. Moreover, I also found ways to amplify my strengths as
an INTP for my benefit instead of diminishing it for something that inhibits me from the outer world
such as my introverted thinking.
Conclusion
From this assignment, I believe, it is clear now that personality can tell so much about a
person that we cannot observe with naked eyes. Even if we assume something out of the behavior
of someone, chances are it can have some other connotative meaning underlying it that might be
too subtle to be understood. Hence, we realized that personality tests that psychologists have
developed can somehow tell the characteristics of someone inside out. For this instance, Myers’-
Briggs Type Indicator exhibits the best example of detailed personality test among the others.
This test does not only evaluate one by his or her behavior but also through one’s
information-gathering (perceiving) function as well as decision-making (judging) function. This is an
example of holistic approach to one’s personality. This enables us to get a better perception of
someone without focusing on only aspect and letting other aspects overlooked that may affect the
outcome of the test. Moreover, this approach makes every outcome is special in its own way. It
does not stereotype any personalities for it defines each personality as the basic for everyone’s
behavior and it is only the matter of how each individual portray their personality.
Besides, personality tests also acts as flag for us to get to know our strength and
weaknesses. For example, I realized my strength in having such a precision in thought and
languages that can enable me understand things around me easily as well to make others
understand it; meanwhile my inferior feelings makes me insensitive to others’ needs that can – in
the future – make my partner or even people around me think that I take them for granted. That is
why we were asked to come up with course of actions that we need to take to patch up our flaws
and also to amplify our strength for greater good through this assignment.
However, we need to understand that we cannot rely completely on the outcome of
personality tests to determine one’s personality. This is for personalities can change due to
personal experiences, growing up environment and some other elements that need to be factored
into the equation. Hence, if a test does not really reflect one exactly, he or she might have had a
change in behavior, attitude, or thinking at some point of their life.
So let us not fret in any inconsistency in an outcome of a personality test and take it as
blessings from God for making unique in our own way instead. After all, we are creations of God
that said to be the most complex among the others; so understanding it needs a lot of energy and
effort and time. From a brighter side, our inability to comprehend something in life will make life
even more interesting to live in. Life is an adventure that never tells us what it holds for us in the
near future, so let us cherish it and live it the right way.
Bibliography and References
Alan E. K. (2000). Encyclopedia of Psychology: 8 Volume Set. New Haven, Connecticut :
American Psychological Association and Oxford University Press
Allport, G. W. (1937). Personality: a psychological interpretation. New York: Holt, Rinehart,
& Winston.
"Changing Minds: Extraversion vs. Introversion". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from
http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/extraversion_introversion.htm
"Changing Minds: Sensing vs. Intuiting". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from
http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/sensing_intuiting.htm
"Changing Minds: Thinking vs. Feeling". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from
http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/thinking_feeling.htm
"Changing Minds: Judging vs. Perceiving". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from
http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/judging_perceiving.htm
"Cognitive Processes: Introverted thinking (Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi,
Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code – Telos
Publications, 2004)". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from
http://www.cognitiveprocesses.com/introvertedthinking.html
"Cognitive Processes: Extraverted intuition (Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi,
Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code – Telos
Publications, 2004)". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from
http://www.cognitiveprocesses.com/extravertedintuiting.html
"Cognitive Processes: Introverted sensing (Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi,
Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code – Telos
Publications, 2004)". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from
http://www.cognitiveprocesses.com/introvertedsensing.html
"Cognitive Processes: Extroverted feeling (Adapted from Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi,
Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the Personality Type Code – Telos
Publications, 2004)". Retrieved on 2011-05-23 from
http://www.cognitiveprocesses.com/extrovertedfeeling.html
Jung, Carl Gustav (August 1, 1971). "Psychological Types." Collected Works of C.G. Jung,
Volume 6. Princeton: University Press.
Keirsey, David (1998). Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence. Del
Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company. pp. 205.
Linda Kreger Silverman, Ph.D., "Perfectionism: The Crucible of Giftedness," Gifted
Education International, Vol 23, p. 101; p. 1, 5-6, 10; originally published in Advanced
Development, 1999. Also in B. Hoylst (ed.), Mental health in a changing world. Warsaw: The
Polish Society for Mental Health, 1990.
Myers, Isabel Briggs with Peter B. Myers (1980, 1995). Gifts Differing: Understanding
Personality Type. Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing.
Myers’-Briggs Type Indicator: General Profile – INTP (pdf.) Purdue University, Retrieved on
May 24, 2011 from http://www.purdue.edu/usp/pdfs/mbtiresources/INTP.pdf
Attachments