How to Increase Your Self-awareness: An Overview of 4 Popular Personality Tests

Are you an ESTJ? Or, an INPF? 

What are these? 

Well, if you have already dabbled into personality tests and quizzes, you must have surely identified these “initials” as personality types from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). 

Though, MBTI isn’t the only test out there.

Over the last couple of decades, personality testing has increased multi-fold and evolved into a 2 billion dollar industry. Many offices, among others, have integrated these personal growth quizzes to assess the capabilities of their potential employees.   

It’s time for you to know more about the interpretation of these different personality tests and understand yourself better.

Take a look! 

1. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 

The original MBTI test was created by the mother-daughter duo of Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs and is based on the Jungian theory of psychological functions. The evaluation from this test is based on the determination of which of the functions between extroversion, introversion, thinking, intuition, sensation, and feelings is dominant on a particular individual. 

There are 16 unique types of personalities, represented by different initials that can be derived from this evaluation based on four spectrums: Judgment (J)/Perception (P), Extroversion (E)/Introversion (I), Feeling (F)/Thinking (T), Intuition (N)/Sensing (S). 

To interpret the results of this test, you will need to have a basic understanding of what these initials mean. Then, there are two things you should look at: Which initials you are allotted with and where you are on each spectrum (you’ll be given a percentage number).

For instance, if you are an INTP, it will mean that:  

• You are an introvert,  

• You rely on your intuition to understand the world,  

• Take a logical approach while thinking, and  

• You receive new informative positively. 

And so on! 

As this test is highly popular, you can easily take this test online and get a detailed analysis of what your type means for you. There are also many free resources available (which you can access to simply by googling) when you’re ready to dive in the world of MBTI types.

2. The Big Five Personality Test 

This test is based on the five-factor model or the Big Five Personality Traits that human beings possess. Popularised from 1980 onwards, this test is mostly utilised to understand the relationship between an individual’s academic behaviours and their personality. 

As per this test, there are five factors that make up the core of every human’s personality, namely:  

• Neuroticism 

• Extraversion 

• Conscientiousness 

• Agreeableness  

• Openness 

There are 60 questions under this quiz, based on which it will be evaluated which personality trait among the above 5 is most dominant in you. 

For instance, if you score higher on neuroticism, it will mean that you are prone to having unsettling feeling and thoughts. Extraversion refers to your ability to draw energy from social situations. 

Conscientiousness describes your ability to pay attention to details. Agreeableness refers to the extent to which you put others before you. And Openness means your tendency to think abstractly, whether you are creative and adventurous.

3. Helen Fisher’s Personality Test 

Have you ever wondered why you’re more attracted to one type more than the other?

Then this Helen Fisher’s test is for you!

It is designed in a way that can help you to understand several intrinsic aspects about yourself and tell you the type of person you are likely to be drawn to.

In this test, you will be assigned a personality, based on the trait constellations that you exhibit.  

• Explorer — Powered by Dopamine, these individuals are love to travel, explore and seek new possibilities.

• Builder — Powered by Serotonin, builders live a planned and routine-oriented life.

• Negotiator — Powered by Oxytocin, negotiators are empathetic beings and respond highly to emotions.  

• Director — Powered by Testosterone, such individuals tend to be decisive and independent. 

According to Helen Fisher, negotiators and directors tend to be attracted to each other while builders and explorers attracted to their own type.

4. Disc Assessment 

DISC is another popular personality test that has been integrated by several companies as a part of their employee assessment procedure. It is based on the DISC theory propounded by psychologists Walter Clarke and William Moulton Marston wherein individuals are categorised as per personality traits such as:  

• Dominance (D) – Those who are strong-willed and direct in their approach. 

• Influence (I) – These individuals are lively, talkative, and sociable. 

• Steadiness (S) – Those with this trait as the dominating factor in their personality are mostly soft-hearted and gentle. 

• Conscientiousness (C) – These individuals are analytical and always prefer to be logical in their approach. 

Depending on your results, you can interpret the nuances of how you behave under different scenarios and how you approach problem-solving. 

Apart from these, some of the most popular personality tests include the Birkman Method (to gauge your reaction to stress), Winslow Personality Profile (to assess success in career), the Personality Assessment System (to know a person’s skills and intelligence), etc. 

So, if you are eager to learn a bit more about yourself, take your pick from any of these tests and get started!