Do you think that you match your listed zodiac sign traits? Do you know the characteristics of your aura color? Do you think that you match the results of various personality texts?
It is a popular pastime to take tests in order to ascertain your personality traits. Like fortune-telling and reading your horoscope, most people are curious to see the results of their favorite choices on various tests.
Personality Tests for Self-Evaluation
How closely do you think you match the personality traits of the categories that you fall into? Do you also match some of the traits of other selections? Do some of the listed characteristics not fit your personality?
Do you try to follow the advice given in your fortunes? Some tests offer to help you find your strengths in order to pursue the right choices and careers, while also pointing out your weaknesses so that you can avoid choices for which you do not have the aptitude.
Personality Tests for Employment
Personality tests are given to many job applicants to assess motivation, judgment, behavior and ability to prioritize, before making a final decision on hiring. The American Management Association performed a study which surveyed employers and found that 39 percent presented the personality test to possible new hires. (Blinkhorn)
Personality tests are also used for direction. They can suggest what a person should do—attain more education or special training, select work in a field that coincides with skills and desires. These tests can predict job satisfaction. If an employee enjoys their work their overall performance will increase.
Personality tests, however, are also dependent on a person’s honesty in answering or interpreting what answer might be best in the situation or how accurate they are in determining their own personality. Further, the agency and individual reviewing of the test must be well-trained and skilled in interpreting the results of the test.
The Forer Affect
In taking various personality tests or in reading one’s horoscope or fortune, a person may see in the results many traits that match one’s own personality.
Some people agree readily to results given in a variety of tests and see themselves as well-portrayed by test results. Well, at least they agree with the better qualities listed as character traits.
The Forer Effect refers to subjective validation where one sees general statements as accurate and pertaining to one’s self.
Psychologist Bertram R. Forer developed this theory after presenting a number of people with personality statements and asking them to rate the accuracy against their own personalities. Approximately 85 percent of those given the profile said that it was very accurate. The people who took the test had differing personalities and were given the exact same test, yet the vast majority agreed with the resulting statements about their personalities. Those taking the test saw these very general questions as very personal and correct.
Sources
Internet IQ Tests and Personality Tests
Blinkhorn, S., Johnson, C., & Wood, R. (1988). Spuriouser and spuriouser: The use of ipsative personality tests. Journal of Occupational. Psychology, 61, 153-162.
“The Forer Effect.” HumanHand.com.
Paula I. Nielson - Paula I. Nielson, Ph.D., holds credentials and interests in anthropology, archaeology, religion, the Middle East and Asia.
