Cognitive is the area I associate the most with the benefits of a PLN. I love learning and have always considered myself a lifelong learner. Learning things from other's perspectives allows me to see and solve problems in nontraditional ways. A jack of all trades is often better than a master of none.
I decided to take the three personality tests for my PLN. I have always taken these personality tests with a grain of salt. I have seen and experienced people falling into "groups" of personalities. Still, I generally assumed social or cultural norms influenced these traits, as we are primarily products of our environments. What I didn't like about these tests was that they ignored the shades of gray within people or situations and the habit of large businesses using them to weed out individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder, stating their "personality" doesn't fit their work culture preventing them from getting hired.
The first quiz I took was the FiveThirtyEight. I got an 88/100 for openness to Experience. This score makes sense, as I always like researching or learning about new things. However, I am apprehensive about trying new things without someone I trust. I got a 67/100 on agreeableness. This score also makes sense. I have been told I am a people-pleaser and have been slowly setting boundaries so I don't experience any more burnout. I do disagree with the low score in respectfulness. I have been told I am overly polite even when I do not need to. The low score in trustworthiness makes sense as I have been stabbed in the back, so I am slow to trust. I got a 46/100 on conscientiousness. This score is incorrect on two fronts. Keeping my desk space clean is challenging when I share it with three to four others. The other issue is that it doesn't consider the issue of coworkers affecting my productivity. Sometimes, I have to help them finish or redo their work because they are taking far too long on a task, making the patron line long, or have to fix an issue because they did it wrong in the first place. I got a 75/100 on negative emotionality. I am not surprised by this score, but it makes sense, as millennials have higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to other generations. The last score I got was 50/100 on extraversion. I am OK with this score. I've always seen myself as ambivert in personality. I am social to a point but enjoy my alone time.
The second test was the Five-Factor test. I scored 65% on extraversion, 91% on openness to Experience, and 73% on consciousness—agreeableness at 66% and 61% on Neurtoticism. The choice of the word neuroticism is noticeable as it is a negatively charged word in today's society. The word neurotic has been routinely placed on individuals of minority groups whose anxiety and depression are products of a society that wishes them harm.
The last test I took was the Personality type indicator. I have taken this one multiple times and typically get the same INFJ answer. To my surprise, I got INFP. It states, "You are imaginative, warm, idealistic, and compassionate. You are usually open-minded and accepting unless someone is violating one of your values." Yep, this is me to a T. It is actually on a plaque about the meaning of my legal name in my room.
What does "I am traditional" mean in the first place? Traditional clothes, politics, social norms? This is so vague?!
Thanks so much for posting the link to the article about personality tests potentially affecting hiring practices. That was really interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteHello! I think having a variety of skills and strengths makes you an asset to any PLNs. It reminds me of group projects I've done that have been successful. Typically people fall into roles that fit their strengths but they also can be flexible. I thought your observations about the "tests" you took were insightful. It is frustrating when I take these tests and I feel like I can't answer the way I really feel. Like maybe I'm apathetic towards the question or I would answer differently depending on different situation. But I still think taking them can offer some interesting insight even if it's just thinking about the questions asked.
ReplyDeleteHi Molly!
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost I loved your inclusion of the reference "a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of none". As someone who is also a life-long learner and dabbler in many circles, I love that saying. I also agree with taking personality tests with a grain of salt. As much fun as it can be seeing certain aspects of yourself reflected in a particular description, they can also be dangerous to the psyche. Like you said, personality is not all black and white, there are so many shades of grey influenced by culture, social influence, and/or whether or not someone identifies as being neurodivergent. Overall, the best way to know your own personality traits and skills is deep self-reflection.