Comments on: I Hate Personality Tests

By: Claudia C Evans

Claudia C Evans — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 02:41:10 +0000

Great post. I hate personality tests too – and often like to point out to MBTI fans that it originated with a mother daughter duo (a Ms. Briggs and Ms. Myers) who never had any specialized qualifications on the subject of psychometric testing. I found this in Ken Robinson’s bestselling book, The Element.

By: Save Me from Hippies & “New Age” in Psychometrics! « GeneSys Specialist

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 04:13:52 +0000

[...] discussion began with Sean’s post I Hate Personality Tests which was followed by psychologist Maria Skarveli’s, I have a love/hate relationship with [...]

By: Stubborn Mule

Stubborn Mule — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:34:23 +0000

There’s no doubt that part of my dislike of these test stems from chafing against being pigeonholed too.

By: A

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:31:06 +0000

Helping people to realise that everyone is different – good. Pigeon-holing people and focusing on differences – argh. Yet they’re somehow addictive. I feel like I’ve wasted quite a bit of my life worrying about my Myers-Briggs type (I guess it shows that I’m one of those flaky INFPs – or was that INTP? Or INFJ?). But I simply can’t be reduced to, or my fate decided by, a string of four letters.

By: I Have a Love/Hate Relationship With Psychometric Testing | Stubborn Mule

I Have a Love/Hate Relationship With Psychometric Testing | Stubborn Mule — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:20:14 +0000

[...] while ago, I had a bit of a rant in the post I Hate Personality Tests. Responding in this guest post, Maria Skarveli (who knows far more about psychology than I do) [...]

By: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle | A Stubborn Mule's Perspective

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle | A Stubborn Mule's Perspective — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:33:50 +0000

[...] I Hate Personality Tests [...]

By: Murray

Murray — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:25:51 +0000

Hi,
Have vaguely read comments, apologise if I repeat.

I am an INTP though was 1st deemed an ISTP. I’m sure this problem was a result of my inaccurate answers due to the time stress and aggrovation from excessive questions.

I would recommend those unsure of their type to read quick summaries of similar types and see if they are more accurate.

Oh, and when I say I’m a INTP, I mean I’m 80% INTP, 15% ISTP and 5% INFP.

Also, Finding this out about myself has ended a 3 year period of uncertainty in my life, convinced me to trade business degree for science, and hopefully will help me with women… hahah what a loser.

By: Dawning Truth

Dawning Truth — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:06:53 +0000

I have tried the HBDI and other personality tests. I think they are reasonably reliable in a big picture way. The problem is they force you to make a choice. This biases the results, and can lead to tremendous inaccuracy, as you are effectively forcing a stress response.

I think a preference method that allows you to rate how you are, and what you prefer would be more meaningful.

Also context can play a big role. When I’m writing php source code, I’m very analytical. When I communicate I tend to be more strategic. When I’m with my wife more emotional.

However I do still have a dominance for Strategic thinking, and Driver. Which was identified by HBDI, as well. And verified by my wife, when I argued the results. HBDI said I’m good at business, which is true. I am a natural entrepreneur.

I’ve had bosses before who were administrative, and I didn’t get on well with them. Which is predicted by HBDI.

So I do see validity, even though the Brain Science is a bit wonky, the principles can be easily empirically verified.

By: stubbornmule

stubbornmule — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:14:06 +0000

@Angelica: that’s easy! The alternative is not to waste time on HBDI. There’s plenty of other things in life to keep us occupied.

By: Angelica

Angelica — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:57:16 +0000

And there is what some alternative? ;)