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